The broad ax., 1897-09-04
JOURNALISTIC cowARDIcE

NsARLY two weeks ago there was
an occurrence in this city in which
every man and woman in Utah was,
and Is, to q greater or less degree,
interested. We refer to the trial
of Moses Thatcher by the author-
ties of the Mormon church. The
affair was, in truth, the culmina-
ton of a matter that has been
prominently before the people OF
Utah from its first settlement, and
is also a question involving the tu-
ture OF the State In a great meas
ure. For the last twelve days 1t
has been theme of general COM
ment by people of all classes,
creeds and callings. Every person
has expressed himself in some way
upon the subject except the editors
of the Herald and the Tribune.
Their silence has become oppressive.
In fact, the matter has not been so
much as referred to neither paper.
1t must not be inferred from
what we are about to say that the
people are in any way standing in
need of their opinions, for they
would be of no value whatever, so
far as we know; but the fact that
they are worthless can hardly be
urged as the reason why they have
not been given. There is another
reason for it.
The facts are, there was but one
position open to them, for there is
but one side to the question.
Moses Thatcher has provenhimselfto
be as spineless as banana; has gone
back on everything he has ever said
and repudiated everything that he
has ever done in the direction of
freeing the State from church rule.
The Herald knows it; the Tribune
knows it, and if either said any
thing at all, that is what they
would have said. Why didn't they
say it2'
The Herald did not say it, be-
cause it is the official organ of the
Democratic party. The leaders of
that party want the Mormons to
vote with and for them. The Her.
aid did not say it because it was
afraid of driving the church vote
into the Republican party. But
as the Herald has no editor, hence,
has no opinions; and as it has never
championed any cause whatever or
did anything that would give it
standing with the people, no sur
prise has been expressed in relation
to the Herald's action. We ex-
press none, for we have none to
express.
But with the Tribune the case is
different. Thatpaper was originated
for the purpose of fighting the
Mormon church. Judge Goodwin
was imported here because of his
ability to make that fight. He
made it, and a long, long, bitter
fight it was, too. The lexicon of
the English language was literally
impoverished by him in his cease
less search for invectives and anath-
emaes which he hurled like thun-
derbolts without fear or favor.
As the organ Of the old Liberal
party he made a name for the
Tribune that was known "from the
rising of the sun even unto the
going down of the same" as
champion of the cause of the entire
of church and state.
Years have rolled on; the question
has assumed many shapes; but al
ways the same. Double dealing on
both sides has kept the air befogged
70 that many were not able TO see
what was going on. 1t finally
came to a head. The air was clari-
led long enough for the people to
plainly hear Moses Thatcher de-
:lare that "no legislator can keep
ais oath of Office inviolate if he or
he allows the officials of an eccle-
Iiastical organization to control his
Ictions within the province of the
tate" The same people heard the |
authorities Of the church declare
hat to be apostacy. The same
lear people were disguised to hear |
Noses Thatcher declare that such
Is apostscy; the church |
aging down the opposite principle
md Moses Thatcher endorsing i'll
iamely, that a person can keep the
ath of Office inviolate while owing
higher allegiance to an ecclesias-
ical power. This is the quintes-
ence of the whole thing, the Gull
lination of all the chickering's, the