The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-01-29

4
and limits he has given, subject to recall,
q full expression of such consent, and es-
tablished in the final decision of a SUI
preme court any appeal he may make
thereto, to determine any uSurpation or
transgresslon of authority thus limited.
An aggregation of hke-minded citizens
express that will by majorities, to which
mlnorlties and the individual citizen
yields, else revolution may ensue.
In Utah territory ssdistinct people,
have for forty years maintained control
under authority of so-called revelations
of His will from Almighty God, implicit
obedience thereto is enjoined and the
channels of such authority are defined and
acknowledged as authorized to convey the
Omnlpotent will, and from which there is
no appeal. (See petition to the president
OF the United States for amnesty, dated
December 10, 1891.
have thus briefly outlined the source
OF authority acknowledged by the Amer
lean citizen, and also that of the majority
OF the residents of Utah territory, they
being designated as the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons.
The contentious between American citi-
Zens and Mormons in Utah have been the
result of this variance in governmental
authority. Among other powers, the
American citizen has clothed a federal
government with jurisdiction over its ter
i A1UOl1CS bAfOuSnOub blS puDllC
and during this tutelage, prior to their
admission as sovereign states OF the fed
eral union, makes all needful regulations
and determines the conditions for its adj
mission into the union as state. Neither
the area of any territory, nor its popula-
| ton, nor its Wealth-wltness Rhode Island
and Texas, nor duration in tutelage, nor
clamor of a majority of its people, insure
the admission, nor all combined, for even
then well grounded protest of a respect
able minority may defeat it, for practi-
cally there are but three factors necessary
the intelligence, habits and customs
of the people, be they few or many,
their conformity in all essentials, to
republican form of government, and
exigencies of the then contendiug great
political parties of the nation; witness the
Indian Territory and California.
! In the condition of statehood there are
many interests vital to it's welfare over
which the federal government has no
control. A state constitution is revoc-
able, nor can state be prohibited from
making new constitution or radically
changing one at will. The constitution
Of the United States does not prohibit any
state from establishing ga particular
form OF religion, endowing particular
form of religion, or educational or charit-
able establishments connected Herewith;
abolish trial by jury in criminal or civil
cases; suppress the freedom of speaking,
writing and meeting provided that this
be done equally as between different
classes of citizens. and provided also that
| it be not done to such an extent as to
amount to deprivation of liberty with
out due process of law limit the cleo
| toral franchise to any extent; extend the
electoral franchise to women, minors,
aliens-recognize polygamy, leave homi-
III
imposing upon 1t an intolerable load of
taxation -T American Commonwealth
| cit cannot be doubted that the mo-
ment at which political rights are granted
to people that had before been without
them, is a very critical one; that the
measure, though often necessary. is al
WAYS dangerous. The states in which
longest, are those in which they make
the best use OF them. 1t cannot be re-
peated too often, that nothing is more
fertile in prodigies than the art of being
free; but there is nothing more arduous
than the apprenticeship OF liberty. Lib
erty is generally established with diff
Guilty in the midst of storms; it is per-
fected by civil discord, and its benefits
cannot be appreciated until it is already
old. ''-[De Tocqueville.]
The first attempt at statehood was by
the Mormon people themselves, for the
state of Deseret, forty years ago; in
stead, the territory of Utah was
organized. There was no public
opinion to sustain and support the
United States officials in their attempt to
enforce the authority of the federal gov
eminent. During the process OF tutelage
absolutely necessary to bring the territory
into conformity with the existing states
OF the Union, emigrants from the states
of American citizens were welcomed only
by United States officials and the very
few iberty-loving men who had aposta
tized from Mormon authority; and not
until the able administrations of Gov
errors Murray, West and Thomas has
the needed sustaining and supporting
strength of public opinion measurably
developed. The timely exercise of the
gubernatorial veto by each of these pa
triotic governors has held in check most
mischievous legislation.
"A residence of fifteen years in this terri
tory has served to convince me how very
slow the progress may be from a terri
torial to the state form of government,
and the responsibility for this lies with
the residents themselves, in their accept
ance or rejection of authority. / find that
today the attempt to govern by federal
law is deemed, as ever, persecution, and
the opposition to it still bitter, the pur-
pose to escape therefrom is cherished fer
Vently and an avenue of deliverance, by
any device desired.
Against my opinion above expressed,
find in the Deseret Nelos-the official or
gan of the Mormon church-of Oct. ID,
1892, during the heat of the last political
campaign as follows:
No, the Liberal party has no grounds for its
alarm if it thinks tho Mormons, either priest
hood or people, are IN q s'scheme' to secure
immediate statehood. The Mormons are so
much better satisfied with their surroundings
ofrO aCrn fafn f1na 4InrA
have preceded them that they are quito will
ing TO leave well enough alone. They are not
inviting any increased burdens these hard
times, when taxes are high enough already
They will not, OF course, reject the responsible
ity of statehood and its added expenses when
they come, but they are contented TO wait until
everybody feels that they ought to come
Whatever move towards statehood is being
made at present II any such there really is
comes from other than Mormon sources And
when the boon so well deserved is at last be-
slowed, it will be found that other than Mormon
influences have been brought to bear 10 bring
1t about.
We say, therefore, gentlemen of the Liberal
party, dismiss your fears upon this subject. We
speak emphatcally and advisedly when we say
that the Mormon church, its priesthood or its
members do not desire the admission of Utah
as state under present conditions and with
present feelings, and we announce fo- them
that until such conditions arise as they I'M
doubtedly will arise sooner or later. the admis-
sion OF Utah viii be as desirable to non Nor
mons generally as it is to the Mormon people.
The Mormon people will not urge statehood
nor take steps TO secure it.
My opinion Is supported by the follow
ing facts: Forty years ago the 'sdistinct
people, of the territory attempted to
reach statehood at once, without UNDER
going a territorial experience. No less
than three several attempts have since
been made. During the recent agitation
incident to a division on party lines,
purpose OF thus obtaining statehood was
emphatically denied, even while an insid-
ious bill was then being pressed before