Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-31
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

In the manner in which the Tribune
fights the temperance principle it dis
plays as much idiocy as malice. 1t ar
CUES that because the people here in
years gone by attempted to restrict and
control the liquor traffic. therefore they
were drunkards, and any attempt now
In the interest OF temperance is but
Hypocrisy. What an argument on
the Tribune's own showing the people
here. from the first fought
the evils of the drink traf-
fic as best they could, by legal
means. If they have not been success
full, that is chiefly due to the applica-
ton in practice OF the Tribune doctrine
that the saloon and the brothel are
among the most efficient agencies OF
liberty"
Concerning the conditions among the
"Mormons" In Utah over thirty years
ago non-"Mormon" witnesses testify.
This is from the pen OF Bayard Taylor,
the celebrated traveller:
I'VE must admit that Salt Lake City
is one of the most quiet, orderly and
moral places in the world There are
rs
as a people, are the most temperate OF
Americans"
DR. Miller, editor OF the Omaha Her
aid, found that the "Morrnons" had
achieved victories over many Of the
evils that curse the race. He added,
however:
Already the hydra-headed monsters
OF lnfamy are gaining footholds In Salt
Lake city. The gambler and the Vo-
man OF the town are there. The dam
ning fact, so creditable to Mormon
morality, Is that 1t is only by the sur
repetiuous evasion and overthrow a.
Mormon authority that these ana kim
dred curses now invade the beautiful
City of Salt Lake"
Mr., Miles Grant, editor of the Worlds
Crisis had thia TO say:
After careful observation for some
days, we came to the settled conclusion
lhat there is less RIGHTEOUSNESS in Salt
Lake city than in any other one OF tho
same size i'm the United states; and
We're we 10 bring up a family OF chill
dren IN these last days OF VIE "cdness.
we should have less fears of their moral
corruption we're they in that city. than
In any other Swearing. drinking,
gambling, idleness. and licentousness,
have made but small Roadway there.
when compared with other places OF
equal size"
Mrs, Emily Pitt Stevens, editor of
the Pioneer, wrote;
IN Great salt Lake city there ia less
OF rowGyism, drunkenness, gambling.
idleness. theft. conspiracy against the
peace OF society, and crime generally.
than there is In any other city of the
same population In this country, II not
on the globe"
These are only few of the many tes-
tlmonies complied and published by FL
der Milton a. Musser over thirty years
ago. They prove beyond dispute that
the CITY as long az the "Hormons"
Were AN overwhelming minority here.
was kept comparatively free from tho
vices OF great cities The contempor-
AIRY testimony of Impartial witnesses IL
worth more than the present dedue-
lions offered by professional argument
twisters
But suppose for a moment. that the
contention OF the Tribune Is true. which
II is not, Suppose that the people hero
In the past supported saloons and
gambling hells, etc, Is that a reason
why decent citizens now should not
unite IN a strong eflort to do better
lhan has been done In the past? II !
SINS " commission ana omission have
oeen committed Ia the past is that a
'Nahoh why the community should not
NV repent sincerely ANA Try TO elenr
WV moral atmospheric Whatever the
shortcomings OF the mast may have