The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-05
DUTY, NOT VENGEANCE.

"Why does not the American party
stop the fight now against the Mormon
church, Why does not The Tribune
call a halt7 You have got your re-
venge. What more do you want2'
Such are the sentiments expressed
in intcrrogatives by distinguished
citizen Of Salt Lake in The Tribune
office the other day, shortly after his
return from long sojourning abroad.
AS he has large sphere Of influence,
an answer to his views should be public.
First, there has been neither feeling
Of revenge nor an achievement Of ven-
geance.
Let us see what has been accomplish
ed during the present controversy;
The Mormon religion classes have been
driven from the public schools of Utah.
There was no vengeful desire in tho
labor which Tho Tribune performed to
that end. The mingling Of creed with
the system of education supported by
the taxpayers was an incongruity, An
excrescence upon our civilization, do
fance OF the constitution OF the State,
an insult to the Nation, and positive
injury to the children. To obliterate
the wrong was a duty, and the end is
simply the assurance Of duty well per-
formed.
Tho Mormon church has been forced
to suspend tho solemnization OF new
plural marriage ceremonies. Two poly
gamous apostles have been cast out Of
the quorum. Other notorious new
polygamists have been sent into exile.
But in waging tho battle to this end
there was no feeling Of hate, but, on
the contrary, desire to serve Utah IS
best interests. The end attained is JUS
tice TO society and mercy to innocent
women and children. The reward is
not qualification Of revenge, but a
solemn assurance that labor performed
in the midst Of many difficulties, en-
countering much criticism and unkind-
ness, has been rewarded by blessing
to humanity.
The Mormon church is seeking to alb
solve itself from the charge Of CONNER
cialism. And It's recognition Of the
justice Of tho controversy on this point
is the first step toward a rened y of
the wrong, The animating motive OF
the attack was not hate of Mormon en-
terprises, but a sincere desire to widen
the commercial opportunities in Utah
and to remove from the business field
hero an element which is as surely, In
Its ultimate, destructive Of commercial
progress as 1t Is tyrannous upon its
victims.
The false prophet Of the church has
gone into outlawry, He could not en-
dure the battle here. But the fight
which was waged against him was not
animated by any desire to take from
him any right of his own, but to re-
store the rights Of the community
which he held unrighteously within his
autocratic power.
Many other reforms, many other ad-
vances have been attained, and not one
of them gratihes feeling Of vengeance,
for mono existed; but all Of them to-
gether constitute an animation to the
patriotic host which is waging splen-
did battle for complete redemption
of Utah.
1t would be folly to pause now, for
the victory 80 hardly won and dearly
priced would be lost again, perhaps not
to be recovered within the time OF men
now living. The concessions which
have been made are themselves a COM
plete justification of the war which
has achieved them. The reluctant
manner of their making Is demand
for a continuation Of that war until
they shall be permanently established
in the community life.
The Tribune does not desire to IN
dulge in any boast Of sentiment. Some
day the work will tell for itself, and
the motives Of affection and patriotism
toward this State and Nation which
have animated American party leaders
and The Tribune In this war will be
made known to all and be respected of
all. But In the meantime for the JUS
tice of the cause let it be understood
that revenge has no part in the war
against the Mormon church tyrannies,
and for tho comfort Of Americanism
here let 1t be known that step by step
the effort to restore the dignity and |
glory of Utah is making its triumphant
march.