The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-24
through the old parties. Any other cours
will be fraught with danger
ANOTHER WEAK GOVERNOR.

The self-respectlng citizens of Idaho must
feel a sense of shame and indignation over
the course pursued by the governor in the
matter of the miners troubles, just as the
self-respecting citizens Of Wyoming feel
Inundated on account'of the course of their
governor in the cattlemen's troubles. Idaho
Is sovereign state. and Should be pros
porous and proud one. Her people are en-
terprising and progressive; her valleys
are fertile; her mines are rich, and in every
respect she is attractive. Less than two
years ago she threw off the chains of ter
ritorial vassalage, declared herself able TO
walk alone, maintaining a government re-
publican in form, her emancipated peo
pie donned full citizenship, and the
vigorous young commonwealth which
had been aided and assisted during its
swaddling cloth days was proclaimed free
and sovereign state on an equality with all
the other states in the Union. TWAS a
proud day for the good folks of Idaho
when the word state replaced terri
tory" in the title OF the commonwealth.
But it seems to US that today most of these
good people must be blushing with shame.
| Lately there has been dispute between
certain mine-owners in the southern part
of the state and few miners, 300 or 400 in
all being involved. The trouble Is over
wages, and whilst it is more or less serious,
and may lead TO bloodshed Before settle
ment has been effected, it Is not such an af
fair as should cause general alarm and put
the state to rout. On Saturday some of
the striking miners interfered with an in
coming train carrying "scRbs," imported
from the'east, and the railway officials ap-
piled to the governor for protection for
their property aud their rights. 1t was
such an application as might with con-
sistepcy be made under the circumstances,
the county authorities perhaps being
powerless to preserve order and afford re-
lief Governor WILEY at once confessed
weakness and inability, virtually said that
Idaho was in state of disorder and re-
bellion which the constituted authorities
could not suppress, and appealed to the
president OF the United States to send
troops for relief and protection. He put
forth no effort within the state. He made
no attempt to test tho states power. The
civil authorities were not applied TO. The
declared the weakness Of the common
wealth, virtually proclaimed that Idaho
could not maintain a state government,
and falling to his knees supplicated the
federal power to do what less than two
years ago the Gem OF the Mountains was
proudly boasting her ability and readiness
to perform for herself
We say this must be humiliating to the
self-respecting people of Idaho. In one
sense it is disgrsceful. 1t is reflection
upon the courage, the manliness and the
law abiding character of the Idaho people
1t says they are lawless and lacking in pc
triotism. And does it not say that the ad
mission of the state to the Union was pre-.
mature! We apprehsnd good many peo-
pie in the east will say as much, and il
they do, it is feared our friends and neigh
bors will be unable to successfully deny
the assertion.
The Idaho people should protest agains
) federal troops being imported to serve g.
constables and perform duties which tn,
civil authorities should be able to perform
| The state should insist upon vindicatinj
the admission act by enforcing its owl
3 laws and maintaining republi form O
g government