| 489 hence those apprehended and imprisoned or fined for its violation, were deprived of their constitutional rights. Some of the Utah church dignitaries were in hiding; others were in prison; and still others had but recently obtained their freedom, having paid the penalties of the law. With such environments the people of Utah saw the light of Independence Day, 1885.
Visitors to Salt Lake City upon this day were surprised to see the flag flying in front of the city hall at half-mast. President Joseph Smith gives his experience in connection with this matter as follows:
The Fourth in Salt Lake City was an eventful day. The City Hall is directly across the street from Bro. Warnock's, and when I reached the sidewalk, I saw the "Stars and Stripes" at half-mast on the pole in front of the Hall. No one seemed to know why it was so displayed. But it was similarly displayed from the flagstaffs on the News Office, the Tithing Office, Tabernacle or Assembly Room, the Coöperative Store, the County Court-house, and all the public buildings controlled by the Utah church.
Through the efforts of Marshal Ireland, and some others, the flag was raised on the Court-house, and though first pulled down at the City Hall, then raised to full height of the staff, where it was flying at sundown.
This act of flying the flag of the United States at half-mast on the national holiday, was taken by many as a direct and premeditated insult to the flag and the Government it has so long represented. When asked by a committee of citizens why it was so displayed, Marshal Phillips replied that it was a whim of his. We happened to be at the hall, when a part of the quarrel was going on, as Brn. Anthony, Luff, and myself were hunting Marshal Ireland, on business for Bro. Anthony, and not finding him at his office, nor at one or two other places, to which we were directed, we were at last told that he had gone to the city hall. . . . We were a little sorry that we were at the hall during the altercation, as it was likely to be misinterpreted. We were sorry to see the flag at half-mast, for we thought that the circumstances did not warrant such an ill-advised action. We kept away from the business part of the city all the afternoon, and went to a meeting advertised as a patriotic meeting, held in the Methodist church, Governor E. R. Murray presiding. We were invited upon the platform. Judge Zane, of the Supreme Court; Bishops Warren and Walton, and Reverend Iliff, of the M. E. Church, and Reverend R. G. McNiece, of the Presbyterian, were already there. We complied with the invitation, and at the close of the meeting, by request of Governor Murray, we spoke a few words, evincing our loyalty to the Government and devotion to the flag.
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