The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-09-14
A BASE DECEPTION.

The people of Titan county ought to
know that the Republicans in their
county convention adopted as a reso-
luton positive and reckless false
hood. It was framed and published
with view to deceiving persons not
familiar with the facts and to preju-
dice them against the Democratic
party.
The clause to which we have refer
ence is that which condemns ''the
Democratic Commission in regulating
registration in such a manner as to
deprive citizens of their franchise
restored them by the amnesty procla-
nation of President Harrison
The resolution of which that is a
part was presented by John E. Booth
and it is therefore to be presumed was.
not framed or offered ignorantly. 1t is
entirely false and is indeed an embodi-
ment of several untruths.
We would like to know of a case in
which citizen has been deprived Of
his franchise by anything done by the
present Utah Commission, which is
composed of three Democrats and two
Republicans, who were united as to
the regulations issued during the pres
ent organization Of the board. II
there is such a case let it be brought
forward and exposed!
The registration has been regulated
by the provisions of law made to
govern Utah elections. If the Commits
sion has departed from those provisions
in any way in regulating registration,
let the diversion be specified. We
challenge the trainers of that resolu-
ton adopted by the Utah county con-
vention to show wherein the law has
been in any way prevented as to the
registration.
The so-called amnesty proclamation
Of President Harrison was Of very lit
tie actual benefit except in a general
way 1t allayed public feeling against
the majority of the people of Utah, be-
cause it was an official recognition of
the fact that they had come within the
law, and submitted to the force OF
public sentiment.
1t had the effect of pardon on per-
sons who were then liable to prosecu-
ton for violation of the Edmunds law
but had abstained from its infraction
after the date named in the proclama-
ton.
1t had no effect whatever on the right
to vote That was not in the power if
It had been in the will of the President
How could he abrogate a law of Con-
gress? The laws of the United States
of 70
for the qualifications Of voters in this
territory. The President of the United
States could no more change one of
those qual:fica tons than the chairman
of the Republican convention could.
Not a solitary soul has had his fran
chise given to him by President Har-
rison's amnesty proclamation No man
can vote who cannot take the oath
provided in the Edmunds-Tucker act.
If he can take that, he does not need
any amnesty. If he has amnesty and
cannot take the oath, he cannot vote
The amnesty proclamation, THEREFORE.
restores no mans franchise.
The Utah Commission have neither
attempted to legislate nor to set aside
legislation. They have simply followed
the law The assertion that they have
regulated registration SO as to deprive
any citizens of the franchise is untrue,
and the statement that they have done
so as to citizens who had the franchise
restored by amnesty is manifestly and
absurdly false, because the amnesty
restored no mans franchise and could
not do So
The enabling act, introduced by
Democratic Delegate, passed by Dem
ocratic Congress and signed by DEM
ocratic President, gives the franchise
in voting for statehood and for franz
ing the state Constitution, to all citi-
zens of Utah twenty-one years of age,
who have resided in the territory one
year, irrespective of former conditions,
and they do not have to take any pro-
scriptive or discriminating oath.
Freedom dawns on Utah." not "un-
der Harrison but under Cleveland,
and her day of liberty is the day of
Democracy. Republicans ought to quit
such paltry and miserable receptions
as they tried to palm on the people at
the Utah county Republican conven-
ton.