National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-20

such an act in any Church. They failed
to explain why q protest was more proper
from a like source. The second rea'
son was because Grant had rendered
himself unworthy the support of any reli-
gious body by his Utah policy. And,
strange to say, the head and front OF the
Presidents offending was his lack Of vigcr
in the prosecution or persecution OF q Ger
tain religious sect The Methodists OF Utah
denounce the Mormon faith and creed as
religious imposture While we more than
half suspect that they are rightin this yet
so long as the Mormons believe in the reve-
lations of 10 Smith and Brigham Young
as we do in those of st. John and the Turks
do in those of Mahomet, have they not the
right to the same protection in that religious
belief under the Constitution and laws that
the Jews and Turks have, who believe the
Christian religion to be an imposture The
stump speech, however, at the close OF the
protest unmasks the animus OF the whoie
thing. 1t emanates from the partisans OF
Judge Mexican, Governor Woods, and others
of the late officials of the Territory who
were superseded because of their extreme
religious prejudice against the great major
lty of the citizens of the Territory. The
President, Methodist as he is represented to
be in sentiment. insists upon perfectfreedom
of religious opinion for all. He has urged
the suppression of polYgamy in Utah to the
utmost extent of the law. These extrem-
lists wished the Federal judges to stretch
the law for the coercion of Brigham
Young. Because one judge had committed
him for contempt in not paying money In
accordance with his DEGREES, these ex-
tremists are offended with the President
because Chief Justice White released
Young from custody at the succeeding term
upon the ground that the power of the
court to punish for contempt ceased at the
close of the current term, and that, there
fore, Young was illegally detained.
The opinions Of these Utah clergymen
upon law, equity and justice, as also upon
the proper method of administering the
Government, should no doubt be taken as
the quintessence of perfection. 1t is
wonder that General Grant and his Cabinet
do not Immediately resign because of this
Utah vote of "want of confidence" in the
Government.
Considering her great influence in the
national councils, her overpowering vote in
the electoral college. her multitudinous
Methodist population, to say nothing Of the
alacrity with which it, throu "a the clergy,
replied on the 9th instant TO the Presidents
message, delivered here on the It'll, in re-
lation to affairs in Utah-although these
same clergymen disclaimed the propriety
of religious bodies meddling with political
affairs-it is most astonishing that the Ad-
ministration has not been revolutionized.
1t is to be hoped that the President and
Cabinet will at once have a consultation
upon the subject and see if this tremen-
dously active influence cannot be secured
in favor of "Third Term" Let us have
the anger of these uncounted three or four
or more clergymen appeased. Let US have
toleration enlarged to their standpoint to
meet their views. These men are inspired.
Their action is too ready for deliberation.
They respond to.the electric flash. In two
days they get the message, call together the
clergy of Utah, talk over the affairs of the
nation, and issue pronunciamento settling
the platform for 1876 and the nomination, so
far as one man at least is concerned. Such
talents ought not to be buried in the brack-
ish earth of the vicinage of Salt Lake.
They must be utilized. There is only one
way to secure their cooperation. That Is
by compromise. And their idea of CON-
promise is for all to meet upon their plat
form. As the Mormons far outnnmber
them, the Meahodists in Utah are willing
to convert them by force. All they ask Of
the Government is to send them the neces-
sary force. If Grant will only do that he
can have their moral, aye, even their reli-
gious support Notwithstanding the " i'm
propriety" of religious bodies n,eddling
with political affairs) for re election to the
Presidency. But these Methodists of Utah
failed In one thing to come up to the stand
ard of Bishop Haven. They forgotto pray
either for Grant or against him. The only
allusion to prayer that we notice in the
protest and stump speech accompanying
the same is the prayer to the press to pub
lish their column Of incoherent ineonsis
tencies. We compromise on this notice.