The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-11-18

It is gratifying to receive the assur-
ance from our morning contemporary
that in urging the promotion of the
statehood movement it is entirely sin
cere.' Our neighbor cannot reason
ably complain if its perfect sincerity
has been doubted to some extent, in
view of the fact that it is about the
last of all the doubters of the sin
cerity of the old settlers here to give
in and acknowledge that which has
been accepted by almost everybody else
in the country.
There was another reason for some
skepticism on that point. Its remarks
conceding the facts were so tinged
with sarcasm and accompanied by al
lusfons that were so much at variance
with it's confession, that readers were
impressed with the idea that its pur-
ported confession was merely mild
sort of bandiage. For instance it
said:
We must get ready to second the eff
fol is of Mr. Rawlins to secure state
hood. We must all waive our preju-
dices in order that the wise and dis
interested gentlemen of the Demo-
cratic party may have their way and
may give to Utah the statehood which
they covet for her. We are told that a
complete code had been drafted for this
49, 80. ~ I,,x
scented to the legislature next month, a
code which contemplated making a
Republican success here forever impos-
sible. and which was to settle certain
local politics for a long time to come.
1t is said the code will not now be pre-
scented because of the perverseness of
this people in choosing a Republican
Legislature.
That is not all. There were some
jeering remarks about certain prom
inent officials, conveying the idea that
they were not 50 anxious for statehood
as might be supposed, and also a
recommendation to Liberals to ere
main alert Liberals" even though
their organization should be dissolved.
A Liberal without the virus of anti
statehood is not Liberal at all. Taking
these observations and others that
might be cited into consideration, with
the well known changes of front from
day to day on the same question which
are characteristic of the Tribune, the
Herald and others who have shared its
doubts as to our neighbours actual po-
gition were not unjustifed in their lack
of faith.
But the Tribune wants us to under
stand that it was merely poking a
little fun at those officials here re-
ferred to, which it claims the right
to do. and that it is perfectly sincere
in it's desire that the statehood move
ment shall be pressed. Therefore, The
Herald feels in duty bound to accept
these assertions and to look upon the
Tribune as an ally instead of an enemy
to the advocates of statehood.
But we hope that when the Tribune
poking fun, the humor will be a little
more acute, or that it viii follow the
example of Artemus Ward and in
form the public that s'This is a COAX, .
as such blunt remarks as some that
it desires to be received as funny,
do not have the point of genuine wit
or the pungency of risible humor.
Now as to the complete code"
which our contemporary wishes a
startled public to believe has been
drafted for this territory" and which
was to make Republican success here
forever impossible" We expressed
our incredulity on the statement and
our belief that it was very thin tale
of the Tribune. In reply our neighbor
asks that we send someone to the sec
rotary of the territory and TASK him
confidentialy what had been prepared
to present to the incoming legislature
in the way of fixing up matters for
the future good of the Democratic
party"
That is another indication that the
Tribune has not truly repented of
its former ways and disposition. The
proper thing to do, if it had anything
in the way of information to impart
about this wonderful anti-Republican
code, was to have given The public
some points as to its provisions. It's
method of argument is to make a
groundless statement and then call
upon its opponent to prove negative.
However, we have taken the trouble
to do more than it suggested, and we
have the most positive assurance from
Secretary Richards that he knows moth
ing of any such code or preparation
of one, or anything that might be con-
strued into such proposed legislation.
Nothing of the kind is or has been
prepared in his Office. He had not
seen the Tribune or heard of its story.
but declared emphatically that there
was nothing in it after we had ex-
planned the statement.
Now we suggest that if the Tribune
claims the right to poke little fun
occasionally, whether other people
think it funny or not, it has not the
right to invent such stories as this
about the code for the purpose of