The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-10
AMNESTY AND THE CONVENTION.

If President HARRISON does not issue
that amnesty proclamation before the meet
ing of the Minneapolis convention, we APP
prehend there are two votes which will be
cast for somebody else for the Presidential
nomination. That is to say, the two Utah
votes will go to another candidate provided
the delegates chosen by the straight out
Republicans shall be admitted, SIS we as
sumo they will be, the National Republican
committee having recognized the divlsionist
branch of the party as the Republican or
sanitation for the territory, and advised the
Liberal wing to get into line. 1t is on the
strength OF the said-to-be promised procla-
nation of amnesty that the Republicans
have done and are doing more or less effec-
tive campaign work in Utah, the idea being
conveyed that the President is well-dis-
posed towards the majority class here.
The delay in sending out that amnesty for
past offenses, which was to have teen is
sued IN February, is having its effect and
II the proclamation does not come before
the convention, the Utah delegates might
experience difficulty in explaining if they
were 10 vote for Mr.. HARRISON.
And calling up this matter causes US to
wonder what kind of plank the Minneapo-
lis convention will put in the platform con-
corning the Mormons! The trainers of the
platform of thirty-six years ago got in some
anti Mormon work. and regularly every
four years the Republican conventions
have aimed at Utah, the Republican Con-
crosses following up the business. The
Illumination of 1856, at the birth of the Re-
publican party, was as follows:
That the constitution confers upon Congress
sovereign power over the territories of the
United States for their government, and that in
the eXircise OF this power it is both the right
and the imperative duty of Congress to pro
hbit IN the territories those twin relics of bar
barism-polygamy and slavery.
That was long time ago, when middle
aged men of today were in their cradles.
1t was so long ago that the incident would
have been forgotten but for the quadren-
NAL reminders that the Republican party
hates Mormons on general principles.
Thirty-six years ago, and for generation
thereafter, polygamy was the alleged Of
fensive feature in the Mormon church, but
in 1883, plural marriages having practically
ceased, the song was varied somewhat, q
new verse being incorporated for the pur-
pose OF expressing hatred towards the Nor
mons. Four years ago at the national con
vention in Chicago, the Republican party
said:
The political power Of the Mormon church in
the territories, as exerted in the past, is q
menace to free institutions, danger no longer
to be suffered therefore we pledge the Republi
| can party TO appropriate legislation asserting
the sovereignty of the nation in all the terri
tories where the same is questioned. and in fur
therance of that end to place upon the statute
books legislation stringent enough to divorce
the political from the ecclesiastical power ant
thus stamp out the attendant wickedness O
polygamy.
In the shadow Of these promulgations
covering more than third of a century
and without single break in the chain
one naturally wonders what will be said q
Minneapolis next month. He cannot hell
but wonder, and to ask, in his mind, if thu
Utah delegation will be influential enough
to prevent the customary assault upon th,
Mormons by the G. o. p.
Altogether the situation must be grow
ing interesting to local Republican can
vsssers who have been trying to enlist tn,
Saints by telling them that the Republican
! party is their friend and President HAIR
RIsoN is on the eve OF granting amnesty
for past offenses against the snti-polygam,
laws. The failure of the amnesty procla
nation TO make Its appearance is having
9 discouraging influence, and if the conven
:, ton should put an anu-Mormon plank il
the platform, the hearts of the campsigner
a who have been so generous with promises
would be broken.