The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-02
FEEL THE DISGRACE

In their state convention at Rock
Springs, last week. the Wyoming Democ-
racy adopted the following as part Of
their platform:
1he Democratic party is in favor of the strict
enforcement of the constitution and laws of the
state, and we demand the arraignment, trial
and upon due conviction, the just punishment
I OF every class of criminals and every grade of
crime We have Witnessed with shame the
public disgrace into which our people have been
brought through the impotent and unpatriotic
administration of our laws by the present state
government. We hold, the Republican admin
istration to be largely responsible for the fact
that considerable body OF armed men were
collected without the state and permitted to
march into Johnson county in open and armed
defiance of the constitution and laws and in re-
sstance to the local civil authorities
We demand that Congress make thorough
investigation of the United Stat courts and
the United States marshals in connection with
the recent civil disturbance in the state, to the
end that if it shall be found that any have con-
nived or assisted in the crimes or have OBJ
structed the due administration Of justice, they
may be duly punished.
Every citizen of Wyoming who takes
pride in his state and wants equitable and
constitutional government will endorse the
above, or should do so, no matter what his
party politics. On Saturday the president
of the United States issued proclamation,
setting forth q shameful state of affairs in
Wyoming with reference to the enforce
ment of the laws, and commanding those
alleged TO have combined for the purpose Of
opposing the execution of the statutes ito
cease such opposition and resistance
and dispense and retire peaceably to their
respective homes on or before Wednesday,
the Bird day OF August next" We don't
believe there existed any occasion for the
PRONUNCIATION of the proclamation. We
don't believe any such combinations as the
president refers to can be found in the
state. And yet the president in sense,
may have justification for sending out the
proclamation, so incompetent has been the
local administration, and SO scandalous has
been the reputation which the state has
thereby acquired. Wyoming has been
brought to shame and disgrace, not because
of the wickedness or weakness Of her
people, but on account of the incompetency
of her officials. She has been made to pose
disorder and lawlessness, and as being IN
able to cope with local troubles of an in
significant character. An good citizens
must feel the shame and disgrace which
were reflected on the commonwealth by
calling upon the federal government for the
suppression Of internal disorder, without
first having attempted to employ the
states resources for the preservation of
peace. Citizens are also humiliated again
by the presidents proclamation, which
could only have been issued on the repre-
sensations of this same cowardly and weak
administration.
The Democratic convention did well in
denouncine the wrongs put upon the state
and demanding the punishment OF the
guilty. The people who love Wyoming and
desire to see her stand well before the
country. will approve the conventions
declaration.