Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-29
HON. THOS. FITCH
UPON THE ISSUES
Says Our Policy Towards the Phil
ppines Is Principal Question,
HIS POLITICAL LIFE IN UTAH
Recalls Many Of theTIneIdents In the
Life Of brigham Young and
utah History,

Tor at the kuntstord to a "News' rep
resentative today, President Brigham
Young asked me u / was going TO desert
Zion. / told him that there were only
two things In this world that | could
Go and they were TO practice law or
keep toll gate. ! explained 70 him
that there were no toll gates In Utah,
and that even q Gentle client Of mine
could not get justice IN the courts here,
80 that ] was therefore unable to prac-
tice Law and must consequently 90 else
where. The fact that 1 gave M SER
vices In the defense VI Brigham Young,
q Mormon made q impossible for me
TO get proper treatment for even
Gentle client.
Brigham Young was a great man.
His history Is mostly written by his
enemies. and as "a consequence many OF
his noblest characteristics are unknown
to the world lie was beneyolen. char
table and a br0dd-minde1 man. DO you
know, / have often said that had he
lived he would have been Republican
because he was one OF the old-line
Wings"
Speaking Of the time when he was
named with Captain Hooper 90 act as
United States senator from Utah, Mr.
Fitch said Il have yet In my possess
sion the certificate Of my election upon
that occasion. II Is written upon
parchment and Is signed by Presi-
dent +. d. Richards Of the Council and
Speaker Snow Of the House Some day
| shall hunt 1t up and present It to the
historical society here ! am confident
that we would have achieved statehood
then had 10 not been FOR Gov Woods
and secretar! Black. who had the ear
of General Grant. Our preamble and
constitution provided for the abolition
Of polygamy. but Woods and Black
didn't want polggamy given up unless
they did the giving ny, Judge Mexican
was a man OF convictions and the Cour-
age 10 stay BY them He had a mis-
sion 10 perform and that was the ex-
tirpation Of Mormonlsm.' but be VIA
honest In what he did,
When asked II Il was his opinion that
the United states should retain the
Philippine Islands. Mr. Fitch answered
"UnQualifedly We must retain them.
Their occupation was somewhat uneN-
pec,ed and was brought about By the
fortunes OF war. but we must not aban-
don them now. Did we leave them TO
themselves they would either be given
over 10 anarchy or become the prey OF
any nation that chose 10 gODnle them
up. ! think this Is The PRINCIPAL is4ue
4 now before the American people
| think that IN a very short time these
/ Islands will become very valuable In
( their trade, their mining and timber in
| dustries and even the agricultural pur-
/ suits peculiar 10 themselves. The peo-
/ Die / consider 20 be what may be
termed a superior inferior race
Mr.. Fitch is hale looking and bears
/ his age wondrously well. In view OK
the silver which now crowns an intel
4 lectual head and strong face, this des-
! criptlon given By the New York Her
| aid in 1871. twenty.nine years ago. viii
be Of interest. Speaking OF Mr.. Fitch
the Herald said
"Mr Fitch is a heavy set italian
! looking Young man. with fine chest
nut brown eyes. brown -and-red COM
plexlon and a black mustache.'
MIR. Fitch while acting as congress-
man from Nevada came TO Utah on
May 10th. 1869. to attend the big cele-
bratlon which marked the completion
Of the connecting link at Promontory
between the Central and Union Pacific
railroads. He was one Of distln-
pulshed party that arrived On special
train from the coast on the day Of the
festivities, IN charge Of Hon. Leland
stanford. who was then president OF
the Central Pacific and governor OF Cali
iornia.
The occasion. az every Utahn who
was present knows, WAS a most auspl-
clous one and is very clearly remem-
bered by Mr. Fitch TO this day. II IS
estimated that about eleven hundred
neople were present at the ceremonies.
About two years after this, or early n
1871 Mr.. Fitch became resident Oh
Itah and on the Fourth Of July OF that
year while a big celebration Of the day
was In progress In this city was sailed
upon to /Ule a speech, which ne ala IN
eloauen |and brilliant language.
Almost Immediately upon his arrival
he took place amone the nrst lawyers
OF the young commonwealth. forming q
partnership with :. 4. Mann, formerly
secretary and acting governor OF the
TERRITORY Of Utah. His firm. with Judge
Snow associated defended Warden
lockwood and City Marshal McAllister
who had been arrested FOR refusing tS
surrender a prisoner named kilioyle
! who had been pard0ued by Governor
Woods after serving two years In th'
penltentlary and whom II was sougn
10 release without other process OF law
! II was shortly after this time ina
, Mr. Fitch delivered a speech. parts o
. which were widely quoted and hav'
! gone into history An excerpt from J
Is ms follows. II say with sorrow ans
: humiliation that the Mormon charges
with crime who walks into the eouru
~ his country goes not 10 his ae
: liverance but 20 his doom.
Mir Fitch acted as special counsel 70
, President Young az various times an
! in iS7i having become Identified Wit
he Interests II the people 70 larg
/, evtent was. with Hon, William II
: Hooper made United states senate
from the provisional STATE OF Desere'
e soon after this time Mr.. Fitch De
$ narted from Utah and went 70 Calitor
rls where be now resides, his HON
$ beirg I'M La Vista. whittier he VIII 3
> In Few DAYS He has ever been
y pronounced Republican and Is regard
E "a ms one OF the most eloquent speak
l ers I'M his party salt Lakers VIII hay
q an ouportunlty OF hearing him az u
= evposition building az the Big kepuhll
ear rallv which has been arranged 10
d TOMORROW night. and at which uer
! win DE plentiful supply OF band an
glee club music. -.
Tho following well known gehutule
: representing the Republican party .e1
j. ~ carlv 'rain Cor Provo. where the
mot Mn. Fitch and wife and eseorte
T. tbem to this city Judge g. &. Gool
' eIn w. s. Mccormick II. b. Clawsol
d, Georqe NJ Cannon. T. r. Jones and ;
y Mason At his hotel he was visiie
dining the day by leading local Reput
a means who talked with him on the Is
- spos OF the coming presidential can
II pairn. There viii be no demonstrate
: I'D any Kind tonight Mr. Fitch remali
n ing quietly az his hotel until tomorrow
y whcn he win drive about the city dul
~ Ing the day and prepare for the speee
ne ls 70 deliver In the evening.