The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1894-07-14
JULY IA. 1884,
PROVO CITY.
WHICH PARTY RESPONSIBLE?

The republicans do not get out of the
charge hurled at them by the Utah
democrats, that for thirty years, they
have been obstructing statehood, at
all gracefully OF truthfully. They
point to the fact that several times dur
ing the thirty years OF their lease
of power there has been demo-
cratic house, as if that were sufficient
refutation. Had such measure been
offered, not single democrat OF the
house would have been found voting
nay, because of the fixed policy of that
party to admit Utah upon the very
first chance to do so. 1t is untruthful
therefore to claim that because of the
democratic house on one or two oc-
casions the measure was not offered.
For the three first congresses after the
war there was not corporal's guard
of democrats. Why did not the pant
ing ardor for statehood suggest to the
republican majority, the fitness of the
time to pass Utah statehood bill. We
suppose that with their hands, full of
whisky trusts, Indian agency, frauds
and Credit Mobilier specuIations those
republican lovers of Utah had really no
time TO bother with as small a matter
as Utah's statehood. AT all events
they made no attempt to do so. How
ever, if when there was democratic
majority in the house they might have
offered the measure so that the odium
of refusal might have rested upon us,
but they did not do that. They knew
then as well as they do now that the
republicans were opposed and the
democrats favored.
Then what can we say of the four
years of Abu Ben Harrison, through
out which they had it all their own
way2 Was there ever the faintest
whisper in dominent circles of state
hood for Utah? Did not the cry for
statehood which has at last been
heard, originate just as soon as it was
known that congress was democratic
and Cleveland was president. then the
friends Of Utah statehood all with one
accord and with one voice began to de-
mand statehood. They recognized the
chance. They knew there was hope.
Their friends dad triumphed and one
of the pledges Of democracy was about
TO be sbundantly redeemed. Utah was
not deceived, had not deceived herself,
and the 10th day of July bore efful-
gent evidence of the correctness of the
act when she placed faith in the dem.
ocracy, faith that she would be re-
warded for all her sacrifices for the
union.
By simple bend of the wrist Ben
Harrison could have set the ball in
motion. He did not do it. Down deep
in his heart was found the same hypo-
critical purity ~ as in that of
Morse. They are off the same piece
of cloth, the one with the other. So
too of the majority of the republi-
cans. From New England they brought
New England ideas. These smacked of
those held by the Hoosier statesman.
Ben Harrison never in all his life de.
Yeloped the manhood which would
teach him that the religion of Utah
would probably be recognized in heaven
and therefore the manhood of Utah
was entitled to recognition even in
Washington and elsewhere over this
broad land. Perhaps in Ben Harri-
sons heart there was a fear, q well
founded fear, that if admitted, Utah
would be only another democratic state
added to the already dangerous strength
of the eyer growing and advancing
democracy. The republicans made the
record and they must abide by it.