The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-24
THE COMING RESPONSIBILITY.

That Utah is destined TO become state
in the American Union az no very distant
date is conceded on every hand. A year
ago it looked as though it would take years
to live down the old prejudice which ex-
listed throughout the country against the
Mormon people, who were the pioneers of
our commonwealth, and establish sufficient
confidence to warrant Congress in passing
an enabling act for Utah. Now, those
most violently opposed to statehood do not
put of the date of the event beyond two or
three years. A word or tTo as to how this
change has been brought about may not be
amiss What has produced it! How
comes it that an event which looked 80 dis
taut but year ago now seems SO nearl
Our Republican friends may not like our
answer. They may be inclined TO doubtits
correctness, but truth always remains true
regardless of the belief or unbeIief of Re-
publicans or other men. 1t has been the
agitation over the Democratic measure Of
Home Rule that has brought statehood SO
close to US. A number of Democratic gen
tlemen connected with the national Demo
cratic organization visited Utah last year
and became acquainted with her
people They saw here an intel
ligent, orderly. law-abiding community,
capable. if ever people were. of managing
their own affairs and governing the COM
onvealth founded by their industry. They
recognized the fact thatthis community was
worthy of statehood, and possessed greater
ability TO bear its grave responsibilities
than number of the states lately admit
ted. But they knew also the strength of
the prejudices abroad In the country.
They knew likewise that the Democratic
House was rendered powerless by g Re-
publican Senate and Republican execu-
tive to grant statehood. Shortly alter
their return to the east, too, they were
confronted with an express declaration
from the executive Of the nation in his
message to Congress that despite the
changed condition reported from Utah it
would be impolitic and unwise to grant to
the people of our territory the sovereign
powers of statehood. In other words. true
TO his Republican instincts, fortified by his
Republican training, he distrusted the peo-
pie and was not willing to countenance any
them from territorial vassalage. II was
then that the Home Rule bill was brought
forward, which while not placing she terri
tory beyond the control of the general gov
eminent, would enlarge the liberties of the
people and enable them better than they
can under the present form Of territorial
government to demonstrate their capacity
II toll nrf f,4- g
this bill brought on an agitation of Utah
affairs at Washington which resulted in
searching inquiry into the general situa-
ton in this territory by the
House and Senate committees on
territories, which inquiry has resulted
most favorably 10 Utah as by it our situa-
ton and the character Of our people have
become known, IS also the infamies and
abuses which are possible under cur pres
ent territorial system of government.
The Republicans became alarmed lest
this Democratic measure for Utah should
give the party such prestige with our citi-
zens that it would become a hopelessly
Democratic stronghold. There was moth
ing for the Republicans TO do. therefore.
but 70 second this movement or come out
from behind the breastworks of distrust
where the president had planted them
and boldly make for statehood. They
determined to take the latter course
This agitation of Utah affairs has kent
the question before the nation in such a
manner that statesmen have been com
PEELED to look at the situation, and the re-
suit is that statehood makes towards us
When it viii arrive we shall not pretend to
say.
And now let us say TO all our people that
S state government will bring with IL very
grave responsibilities The character Of
the state should be a matter Of anxious
pride to every man in Utah, and If our
people viii stamp their sterling character
istics upon the commonwealth all viii be
well. But herein ia the danger. Such il
the state Of politics. such the strife, the en-
wings, the ieaiousies, the frauds, the false
hoods; such the unseemly struggle for
place and preference; sucn the grabbing
for spoils. and the general corruption in
political life, that sober. decent people are
prone to wash their hands OF the whole bus
mess. and cry aloud in disgust.
That is the course the purist would take:
but it is course justified neither by wis
dom nor patriotism. We are in the world
as yet, not in paradise. Even the purest
and best are but men. who live among men.
and it is binding on all to perform the
duties Of men, Prominent among the
duties are those of citizenship. including
that Of taking part in the government Of
the state. 1t is neither wise nor patriotic