The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-03-02
rHE STATEHOOD QUESTION.

The preachers. chiefly he Presby-
terians. are still aVerse to anything
favorable to the people Of Utah The
old Republican venom which died
down when there dawned on the Re
publican nli5sd the prospect of party
success in this territory. still survives
in the Presbyterian breast in the east
Petitions against statehood are pre-
scented from associations of preachers
and their ehurehly influence is exer-
cised in reference to matters Of state.
BOW much power they can bring to
bear in thai direction we are not pre-
pared to state. We do not believe il
VIII amount to much when the main
question comes up for action. The
preachers are behind the times They
do not know of the changes that time
and experience have wrought in Utah,
and they merely expose their ignorance
to the politicians who have kept them
selves posted as to the progress of af-
fairs in the west
The reports that are sent over the
wires from time to time from Repnb-
Iican sources are not to be relied upon.
They bear the color of partisanship.
They are concocted 10, prejudice the
people Of Utah against the Democracy
They will have no effect. one way or
another, in reference to the passage of
the bin now in the hands of the Sen
ate committee.
One thing, however. may as well be
conceded: The remarkable course pur-
sued ia the last election in this city
has had the effect which The Herald
several times predicted, but which was
poohpoohed by papers here and by
the stump-speakers on the Republican
side. 1t has aided. no doubt, in the
postponement of the statehood bill,
though it win not result in the defeat
of the measure.
The Democratic Congress and Ad-
ministration were voted into power by
the people to effect certain reforms.
If they are not accomplished the party
win have failed in the purpose for
which it was elected. Would it not
be suicidal to take steps that would
endanger its accomplishment? If Utah
were to send two Republican Senators
10 Congress during the tendency of
Democratic measures. would not that
endanger their passage? And is not
that matter Of much wider concern to
the nation than the immediate admis-
sion Of one new state?
Would the Republican party take
such d risk? Not by any means. It's
policy has been 10 keep territories out
Of the Union 50 long as they gave no
assurance that the Republican cause
had nkelihoods of winning. Just as
soon as that probability made its ap-
pearance as to Utah, the old bitterness
subsidized, the dreadful aversion ceased,
the baleful fire of bigotry cooled down,
and only among those who were not
convinced that Repubiicanism was on
the ascendant in Utah did the same
fierce hostility rage as in former times.
The people Of Utah may rest assured
that the Utah statehood bill VIII pass
all right at this session anu be signed
by the President, unless something
now unforeseen arises. That it has
been delayed, and that the state cleo
ton may be put off to later date
than would have been set if the. politi-
cal situation had not changed here, is
quite reasonable under the circum-
stances.
It is all very well for Republicans to
jeer about Democratic disinterested-
ness. aud preterd to stir up the "diIa-
tory committee" on this question. If
they did not imagine that the indica-
tions of the recent elections in Utah
pointed to Republican ascendancy, we
should near no favorable remarks as
to statehood for this territory.
The voters Of Utah will recover from.
the folly Of the recent past. They win
reflect upon the policy which is best
for them TO pursue They win get out
Of the INST which has been worked up
TO confuse item. They Will cling to
the onis party which can bring them
political redemption, that has honored
their native sons and resident citizens
with territorial position, and that has
had reason during many years TO de-
pend upon their support in placing the
country upon a permanent footing. as
a great commercial, industrial and pro-
gressive nation. The result win be