The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-23
THAT AMNESTY PETITION.

THAT AMNESTY PETITION.
Tie petition for amnesty to those men
who have violated the anti-polgamy laws
does not seem to have inspired in the Presi-
dent desire to dislocate any of his limbs
IN mad rush to grant the prayer Indeed.
the petition appears to have been again
pigeon-holed in the department of Justice
or executive mansion where it may lie for
months collecting dust unless accidentally
stumbled over as was the case when preyi-
ously discovered.
There is something very mysterious
about this petition. The whole business
has been "worked'' in such peculiar, if
not crooked manner, as to excite suspicion
that sll's not well; as if some underhanded
game were being played. There is not a
good citizen in this territory, Democrat or
Republican, who would not cheerfully
have attached his name to the request for
amnesty, which all feel should be
granted. The universal belief here is
that polYgamous marriages have been dig
continued and there is a general obedience
to the law; and this being the case the
popular sentiment is that the nation should
be just and generous to those former Of
tenders who had made such a stubborn
fight, but who, when defeated, had grace
fully submitted and manfully accepted the
situation.
Notwithstanding this commendable and
well known popular sentiment, the peti-
ton fer amnesty was quietly prepared and
as quietly passed around for endorsement
among Republican officials. The three Re-
publican judges were asked to sign and did
sign, While their Democratic associate was
passed by without consultation, the facts
being carefully kept from him not only by
those managing the petition, but by his
brethren on the bench, with whom
he came in almost daily con-
tact. The Republican members of the
Utah commission were let into the secret,
although they had been most active and
yindictive in their persecution of the class
asking for amnesty, whilst the Democratic
gentleman in the commission was kept in
the dark and knew nothing of what was
going on until the wires brought the in
formation from Washington, two months
attorney general We say the proceed
ings 90 not have a proper. straight-for-
ward appearance, and now the impression
is growing that the scheme, if it were a
scheme, will not be played to a successful
issue. At the time the petition was acct
dentally brought into the light of day, IL
was represented that there was easerness
nm the mart of tho odn1iDjSt~o+iap N ,rr,,+
the request. but there was some doubt as
to the power of the President to issue
the amnesty proclamation. 1t may he
remarked that this doubt existed only
in the minds Of those seeking an excuse
for delay, the constitution comforting all
the authority necessary. In his haste TO
make display of earnestness in the mat
ter prominent Republican Senator intro
duced bill supposed to cover the ground,
and this was accompanied by the announce
ment that the measure would be promptly
put through Congress and then amnesty
would speedily follow. Nothing has since
been heard of the bill, but it has been said
that the law officer of the government to
whom the matter was referred says there
is no question of the Presidents right to
act in the premises without further legis-
lation.
And still the case hangs fire. Hope has
not been abandoned, but it might as well
be stated frankly that the impression is
spreading in this community that
Mr.. HARRISON is not eager to proceed.
being willing to avoid the responsibility,
from political standpoint, of doing that
which might be construed into departure
from the lifelong policy of the Republican
party in dealing with the Mormons-a pol
icy which has always been characterized by
prescription, persecution and vindictive-
ness. 1t was unfortunate and ill-adyised
that partisan politics should have been
brought into the case; it was not matter
in which politics could legitimately figure.
1t was a question of right and Justice, aud
involved Democrats and Republicans alike.
and when 1t came out that it had been made
strictly partisan, the idea naturally went
abroad that the business was being manip
ulated with the view to helping the Repub-
lican party liz this territory If this were
the object and purpose of those engineering
the case the indications suggest that they
overreached themselves and have had their
trouble for their pains, as Mr. HARRISON
appears to be lacking in courage to do what
he was asked to do by members of his own
party who are so keenly interested in max
ing Utah Republican.