The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-02
TO THE GOVERNOR.


Governor Morton, the sentiments
which you have uttered would be
agreeable from any source, but they
coming from you. for many years a
conspicuous public figure. In these
days, when criticism has passed down
into denunciation, and fitness is too
often measured by the power to be-
stow, the task of public Office has be-
come arduous and full of danger, but
it is today your singular fortune to lay
off the robes of public station with a
larger share of affection and respect
than is often accorded to a retiring
public servant. If your official acts
have not always met with the peoples
approval you. at least, have never
lcst the peoples confidence. And no
higher testimonial can be written to
any man that this, that in these con-
tentious times. he stood at the spot
where every conflict centered and so
commanded and disposed as never to
relax his hold upon the faith of those
who trusted him with power. This
great measure of satisfaction and re-
ward now belongs to you, and as you
retire to enjoy it. and share tie pride
of its achievement with those whose
close companionship will hereafter sur
round and sustain you / hope you will
indulge me the high privilege of adding
TO the general applause my own eX
pressiOns of appreciation, not tInmixed
with personal sentiment.
TO THE PUBLIC
Fellow citizens. a voyager making
the first shore may depart. followed
by the hopes and loud acclaim of those
who fitted out his ship; but if you
listen intently to the tumult and the
music, you may find the note of
LEA
wait for that until he has
retired. Perhaps you may never hear
it, but if it is lacking at the beginning
of the voyage, let us hope to find it at
the close. However meager may be the
signs of promise now. there is this
which is not without hope: No exec
utive will this year take the oath OF
office under a deeper sense of RESPONSE
bility than he who now assumes with
diffidence the great and unaccustomed
burdens which the people of this state
have imposed. Your counsel in all
matters relating to the welfare of the
state must always be received by those
who realize that the first duty of a
public servant is to guard the public
interest. l shall strive. during my ca
reer as governor, to be faithful in the
performance of that trust upon which
I now enter. To be watchful of the
Peoples welfare and to execute their
will. will be my earnest purpose, for
in them abides the supreme command
and from them the last order must al
ways come And with this intention to
serve YOU ] shall associate, as far as
l am able. the right of judgment and
the sense of personal accountability
which must always accompany the ,ex-
ecutive station.
mo mistaken sense of power will
prevent that Just and careful treat
ment which is every citizens due. No
pride of opinion Will retard the fullest
recognition and Acknowledgement of
any view that NAV tend to the public
good, and no intolerant clamor or ir-
responsible assault will force or pre-
vent a single executive act. For |
trust that no man believes the attri-
butte of fear is worthy to play part
in the discharge of public duty.
This government rests upon a foun-
dation in which mutual tolerance is a
chief support. The recognition of this
adhesive power has built upon this
continent a government SO unique and
strong that no shock of foreign revolu-
tion or disaster has disturbed it, and
even the clash and turbulence of civil
war have not destroyed it. The foun-
dationS of our government are laid Sc
cure and deep, but a structure which
even war could not overthrow may
yield to intolerance and distrust There
are those who believe thev see the
images and portents that predict a
storm. There are marks which l fear
point to increasing dissatisfaction and
unrest. Marvellous as our growth has
been, we have not passed the point
where human motives still control us
and where human passions must be