Show spoliation IN OGDEN thin THE movement on the part of the liberal city council of ogden to gain possession of the tabernacle block in that town continues to cause a great deal of comment among fair minded people it is denounced as utterly inexcusable even those who are more or less antagonistic toward the religious body whose members constitute the contemplated victims of the scheme are opposed to it upon the ground that it is not sound opposition policy it emphasizes a claim of the latter day saints that they are made anade the subjects of spoliation and persecution we stated the other day that no intelligent defense had been set up to sustain the step all that has been offered in that direction has been in the nature of limping excuses one of the most absurd that has come under out our observation consists of a comparison made by an anti mormon newspaper wherein the ogden affair is likened to the notorious capitol hill la land ud jumping enterprise of last summer the occupants of the land at ogden are sought to be placed in the same position as the land seizing agents who took possession of the property of this city on the hill in the latter case the title still adhered to the city which had not released its claim the corporation having set apart adaa for public uses the laud land thus thua ruthlessly taken by certain real estate agents the jumpers held possession for a few days after making the seizure they commenced the erection of fences and tents the city through its lawful officers ejected them from the property using ing whatever force was necessary to accomplish the purpose pui purpose pose to com pare such a case with the ogden scheme is the height of absurdity and shows the weakness of those who undertake to apologize for it in the matter of the ogden tab nacle square as before stated in these columns the land was set apart about forty years since by the people who redeemed that section from the condition of a wilderness the first settlers the tabernacle building has occupied the ground for nearly that length of time the other structures are also exclusively of a religious character the townsite act which was passed by congress for the benefit of the inhabitants of cities and towns in its entire genius and intent provides that the land shall be conveyed to the occupants at the time the law comes into operation surely this fact will not be con trover ted neither can it be denied that the sole occupants of the land in question from the first settlement of the region have been the religious worshippers wor shippers whose buildings are erected thereon what a ridiculous position must a person assume to compare such a situation with that taken by a nest of land jumpers who seize the property of a corporation and retain it for a few days until they are forcibly ejected from it there is not the remotest resemblance between the two cases in point another strong feature of hissim clarity exists in the fact of the corporation po ration in the ogden case having released and conveyed adf away sy its title to the property which has been so long devoted to religious purposes this situation so we understand was recognized by the attorney general in the person of the dollci tor general acting in his behalf the position in regard to that property was understood by him and by his ad advice vice it has haa been let alone the plea is reiterated in palliation of the action of the liberal mayor and city council of ogden that the courts should be allowed to settle the matter without the making of any popular outcry respecting it this would indicate that those who desire to see the scheme forwarded entertain gra grave ve doubts concerning its ultimate success we have already stated that this being the case the subject takes on the aspect of vexatious litigation in saying this it is not intended to be charged that the parties parti es at simply P proceed ro as they axe are doing for the mere purpose of harassing and annoying those who are placed upon the defensive with all these matters there is a question of dollars and cents cente associated it has been intimated that some method must be devised to reward certain persons who have exerted themselves in the rote of I 1 active politicians in relation to the recent ogden election As the funds are not forthcoming it is hinted that employment must be found if not the ready cash it being emy easy for the latter to become the result of the former if this be so the appearance of the case becomes speedily no better from any standpoint it is in our opinion a shameful piece of bustness business and we apprehend that it will reflect no credit upon those who operate it or attempt to defend it since the foregoing was written we have learned of the attempt of the ogden city corporation through its liberal mayor and council to take jakeaway takeaway away from the ladies relief belief society its ground and buildings consisting of a meeting hall and granary mention is made of the matter in our local columns this weald indicate that spoliation upon a wholesale hole sale principle is contemplated the officers and members of the relief belief society are also members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints in their association U capacity they spend their time freely without compensation pensa tion further than the reward of a good conscience in relieving distress their operations are not necessarily confined to their oo W religionists they attend upon the stok sick comfort the afflicted visit the poor and needy substantially supplying their wants the character of the society is strictly and purely benevolent and charitable who ever defrauds ik it or compels it to td enter for defensive purposes into expensive litigation necessarily injures the cause of the poor and distressed depriving them of assist ance that thai would otherwise reach them surely a 8 political party posing na as an agency with a mission to improve the condition of utah is getting ting down to the lowest form of human meanness when it descends to th work of that character there is 18 no specious plea as we look at it that can in the least degree mitigate such conduct |