The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-06
HOME RULE FOR UTAH.

LIE HERALD to-day presents to its read
ers plan of government for this territory.
winch has been carefully prepared by the
executive committee of the Democratic
party, and so Endorsed and forwarded to
our Delegate to be introduced in Congress.
Representatives of the committee and of
those for whom they speak will, in proper
time, appear in Washington to urge its
adoption.
1HE HERALD has said repeatedly that
there Is no party in Utah advocating state
hood. This by no means CARRIES with II
the Idea that there is not a great number
OF people who would hail with delight the
admission of the territory to that dignity.
But the peculiar attitude of Utah in re-
spect OF its past history is such that it is
1elt when time is asked to assuage the an
tagonisms or to allay the doubts heretofore
existing as to religious or social customs,
that IN reason no objections ought to be
raised. The HERALD is not commissioned
TO speak for the Mormon church, being
controlled and directed outside of that
BODY, but it cannot be ignorant of the fact
that the Mormon leaders. conscious of the
sincerity Of their course in abolishing po-
lygamy, are not unwilling that the world
shall be convinced thereof, if that is
deemed essential to placing the citizens of
Utah upon an equality with The citizens of
the states. Hence, as we have remarked
there is no party deman ding immediate ad-
mission to the Union.
But whilst occupying this position, the
Democracy here, wholly ignoring all ques-
tlons except of secular character, feel
that they ought not TO be bound down in
their political action by the probation of
the Mormons. The doctrine of popular
sovereignty and home rule is dear to them.
1t is cherished among the GoD-g given prin-
ciples of American freemen. It has been
handed down with sacred memories from
the fathers of our republic. Every day
that it is humbled is a measure of reprosch.
OF the bill for an Act for the Local
Government of Utah Territory and to Pro
vide for the Election of Certain Officers in
said Territory" the full text of which is
printed elsewhere. The HERALD hastens
to record its Eost earnest and hearty sup
port 1t could be well entitled IAN act of
emancipation, or bill to apply the teach
lngs of the Declaration of Independence to
quarter of a million American freemen.
To be sure, it stops short of the full mea-
sure of Utah's rights, by reason of the con-
slderatons we have referred to. 1t leaves
the people, as now, without that vote in
the House of Representatives and that rep
resentation in the Senate of the United
States to which by the character and
number OF its population and its
Importance to the commercial aud business
world it is honorably and Justly entitled.
But foregoing these emblems of complete
sovereignty, and submitting to the pater-
nal guardianship of the general govern
ment, the people under this act will be
panoplied with the privilege of voting for.
and installing the executive officers of the
territory in the same manner in which the
voters of the states select theirs.
Who can object to the proposition that
the people of Utah are competent to choose
their own governor and territorial officers {?
The national conventions of both parties
quadrennially declare that appointments
for the territories should be made from
among their citizens, and there Is
always cry of disappointment
and indignation when this is not
done. If the principle is good as to ap-
pointments, the logic of it carries the con-
clusion that, in the nomination and cleo
ton Of persons, where one requirement of
eligibility is citizenship, the people are the
best judges. Here, rather than in Wash
lngton, is the place to settle the quaIifica-
tons and suitability of aspirants. And
this is democracy; this is republicanism.
If the movement under consideration is a
novel one, so are the conditions novel that
suggest and urge it. The territorial state
is in itself abnormal. The theory of it
is government protectorate continuing
until the forms of statehood are matured.
based upon a sufficient population. In
this case, Congress does not relinquish
control; but If for any reason connected
with the local administration of affairs. the
experiment is deemed unsatisfactory. Utah
may be remanded to the full territorial de-
tendency that exists at present. The bill
puts Utah on trial, as it were, and this
stage may last until such time as her true
status is determined to the satisfaction of
all concerned. 1t meets any objections on
the score of a possible re-insta tement of
old customs, if, indeed, SO ridiculous a sup
position can arise. But, best of all, it is
an opportune re-affirmatiou of the right of
the people to f-government-that palla-
dunn which guards and symbolizes our
free American institutions.
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