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Show CBBBTBB nk sOTncm. m tiwT ' ' MMB A3; MMUUTT. Tkk eUiniM'nuetlBg held In the First M. E. Cbaich on Moaday night was a significant occasion. Its object was Itndable from every standpoint A lane body of reputable repu-table people assembled to express alarm at the appalling rate at which crime, immorality and corruption have Increased In Salt Lake during the last few months. The citizens met to express their detestation of the situation and to formulate a demand de-mand upon the city government that its officers shall enforce the lavs in order to produce asocial rectification. The speeches, as a rule, were telling and spirited and the state menu in reference to the shortcomings shortcom-ings of the officials were refreshingly refreshing-ly frank. Rome of the remarks were not in unison with the general character of the call for the gathering; gather-ing; either were the resolutions wbea. first presented, but the pronounced pro-nounced sentiment of the great bulk or the assemblage was unmistakably generous and broad. This was manifested at once by the alacrity with which the resolutions were, by amendment, almost entirely cleared of Iheir originally sectional or contracted aspect. The meeting was mostly composed of citizens belonging to the "Liberal" "Lib-eral" party. The reason for this was that the committee only sent the call for the meeting to one newspaper (the chief Liberal organ) and It was published only on the rrornlcg cf the day on which the citizens were Invltul to meet, and again the same evening In this Journal. A special invitation was received at this office from the committee. com-mittee. The people who gathered were a fine audience. The occasion drew together a goodly representation representa-tion of the respectable and moral element of the community. The turbulent, depraved and vicious could have no inducement to participate in such a movement, or to be present except to obstruct its laudable object. The purpose of that gathering was such that, In I furtberingita attainment, all good I men and women, of every class and every shade of opinion, could afford to bo brothers and sisters. The Intent In-tent embodies a common cause tho .suppression or vice and the elevation ele-vation or morality. One or the speakers, Mr. Gregg, cxpreMlns hlmseir from the standpoint stand-point or a "Liberal" an J not from that of slmj ly a citizen, ssserted that in calling this meeting his part could not possibly have placed in the hands of their political ep-poncnts ep-poncnts a heavier club. This is, doultless, true, but he Is not a magnanimous mag-nanimous antagonist who wouldtue such a weapon Indiscriminately. It might be properly used for purposes of defense, but only extraordinary circumstances wouldlostifyitilappll. cation for purposts of atUck. And iu any case it would not bo used against tho class who were participants partici-pants iu and In sympathy with the proceedings of Monday night's gathering. But there should be no objection tolls use in the demolition of existing corruptions in the city government and against the crimes upon society now so prevalent as to cause the most serious alarm to every good citizen. We wish it distinctly understood that the object ot that meeting is not ono that can be treated from a sectional or partlzan standpoint, any more than its Interest can be narrowed down to any class of respectable peo- hate which some unfortunate people peo-ple permit themselves to be Imbued with which spoils everything and is one or the causes or encouragement encourage-ment given to the very condition or lawlessness that la deplored. The decree or that small-souled sentiment senti-ment exhibited at the gathering of Monday night was the only element that marred the beauty and consistency consist-ency or the occasion. But we emphatically em-phatically assert that what there was of it was opposed to the genius of the assembly as a whole. This fact was made perfectly clear on Monday night, especially toward the close of the proceedings of the meeting. One of the leading points to be considered now is tbu responsibility forthe numerous dens of vice, the lawlessness fd non-enforcement of the laws, which now disgrace our beautiful city and exposo Its good people to danger. Attempts have been made to fasten Jt upon some particular branch or tho government. govern-ment. We believe that this is im-propcrand im-propcrand that the whole machinery lsoutofcear. It requires cJeanlrc. oiling and setting in shape. It will soon be discovered that an eXjire-slon eXjire-slon or popular sentiment will not alone suffice to produce a reforma-tfon, reforma-tfon, because the government has already set that at defiance In refer; ence to the financial burdens it bat imposed on the people. This fact Is on record, and we can resurrect res-urrect It if required. Judge Wa rapier rap-ier ws right when he favored definite defi-nite action on the part of the people. Indeed, in order to show the contempt con-tempt in which a healthy popular sentiment is held by tho City Council Coun-cil It Is only necessary to pciat to but nUht's proceedings ot that body. The resolutions adopted at Monday night's meeting of citizens citi-zens were presented and r :ad. They make special mention of (bo application appli-cation or the variety therttre concern con-cern for a liquor license, and request that, in the interest or rtorallty, it be not granted. In the face of this popular and pointed expi sion,tbe Council were equally divided on the question of the application ap-plication for this license, and it would have been granted bat for the Mayor, who cast a deciding vote on the other aide. Those who thus insulted the good cltiaeaa of Salt Like were Pembroke, Cobn, Picksrd, Noble, Anderson, Karrick and Lynn. .These nfTlcfaln three or them are only alleged offldala have probably thus, in the opinion of thousands of good people, placed tbemsel ves oa record aa the supporters support-ers of lousn morals and aa latulters or thess who made a retpecUUI request re-quest in the interest T sound government. gov-ernment. " We hope that the protest of Monday nJgbt will eflect its object, but we have grave apprehensions to the contrary. If we are correct, and the alarmist; situation eosv tinner, and eves JBCJttait, then the protest should be ' renewed aad Biadr still aten sweeping d emphatic' In atakiag it, let all narrownrss, bifetry and sectionalism be dlseaidtd. For thapiiriMfeaer a yrrtslraHoB of the I sfttal alttatatu aisf the aaafts r-jatetttaella;,atj let the 1 abMlBf. W'WvIb vlrfjoBscltisensofSaK. Lake arte unluiljintlulr strength aad In-tbt In-tbt upon an enforeetaeot tee laws that will effect the Men dtv sired mult. That falling, 1st expression ex-pression or sentiment bs succeeded by popular action. That actloa-must actloa-must be pacific but determleed. Every bigot who would coafioe participation in such a movement tooce class or the covraunity, or divide good citizens in storming the tronrhoWs or vice, is afaetothe commonwealth. |