Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-23
ISLANDER rs NOT CRITICISM.

The anti-"Mormon" local organ has
suddenly discovered that TO criticize
the city administration Is to administer
q knock to Salt Lake City. We have
always maintained that to circulate
malicious falsehoods about the State and
the City, or about the majority of the
citizens here, as that sheet has been
doing for many years and IL still doing.
has the effect of retarding the growth
of tho commonwealth and the conlmu-
nity and is therefore hurtful to the ma
terial interests conferred here. but this
seIf-evident proposition tho organ re-
feired TO has persistently denied, and
alleged that It's circulation of libelous
ISLANDERS was an essential condition OF
progress. The allegation that just crlti-
cism is "knocking' is a new departure
Ia new illustration of anti Mormon"
consistency.
We took occasion 10 say the other
day. that those responsible for the pres
ent administration had broken their
ante election pledges. and that when
the American" victory was won, the
city was thrown open to sin and shame.
TO this the anti-"Mormon" organ nom
ehalan,ly replied with few choice
epithets that, THAT Is knock AZ
Salt Lake City which. II 1t were to be
accented as truth. would deter decent
men and women from coming here"
etc Now. II that Is correct. In the
name OF two-faced Janus, how many
decent people has the organ of Wifi
cation and Islander deferred from COM
ing hore. during its long and ingiorious
career OF vicious mendaelty? Here the
text is peculiarly applicable: Where
In thou judgost another thou condemn
est myself"
II the sentence quoted from the local
interpreter OF anti" Mormonism" has
amy meaning. it conveys tho doctrine
that criticism OF the public acts of pub
Ito officials is very hurtful 10 the conf
munity. Is that true? We confess TO
a contrary view. We believe that just
criticism of acts that properly belong
to the domain Of the critic. is beneficial.
We believe IN the right OF citizens TO
publicly express their opinions on such
acts. We believe the duty Of the press
Is 20 call attention to abuses of power
and breach OF faith by public officers.
But. when anyone substitutes Islander
and abuse for proper criticism, and at
tacks private persons with rldicule or
other Weapons In the use OF which the
character ASSASSIN is skilled; and when
this IS done merely to crafty personal
hatrod ana spite, TO get event for fan
iced wrongs then we stamp such con-
duct as indecent. II Is not criticism.
II Is Injurious 10 the community as far
as the fllsehoods proclaimed arc ac-
ceptcd as true and those who support
the agencies through which such me-
furious work is done should know that
they are aiding TO como extent IN the
work Of destroying their own cities ana
homes.
Our dishonest antagonist donlos that
tho city, after the so-oalled American
victory, was thrown opon TO sin and
shame and reiterates the inslnuation
that the Church was responsible Tor the
deeds OF former administration. The
latter part OF this proposition u.s. Of
course, absurd IN the extreme, The
Church did not control the city govern
ment. nor any member OF Il, The rest
Is. unfortunately, true. The city Vas
thrown wide open. at the time men-
toned. aud every one knows that that
! " the fact We need not reitorate the
particulars. The election was won with
the aid OF the element that hourishes
on sin and shame aud the promises TO
that element Mere kept while the
pledges made 10 the decent wing Of
the anti-"Mornon' army wcro broken.
That is all there IL to Il.
Lately the leaders OF the antl-"Mor-
! mon" crowd have again urged reform.