Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-11-03
FROM JUDGE POWERS COURT.
Ills Honor Gives His Definition of
citizenship.

Provo, November 2.-That a close
guard should be placed at the outer door
when an applicant knocks for admission
into Uncle Sans family, is a fact only
too well known to those who have re-
sided for any time in this Territory. In
your Fridays editorial of the DEMOCRAT,
the only trouble with Utah was intimated
to be polygamy. Polygamy, in itself, is a
delicate subject and should be han
died with care and charitably
withal. After reading the article
in question, the definition OF citizenship
as given in court the other evening would,
or should, be added very appropriately to
the causes, already given by the DEMO-
Graf, for all orr troubles here in Utah.
In this instance the question was asked
and answered satisfactorily as to the
Edmunds law and the Constitution, but
when the Court asked the applicant
whether he would advise others to obey
the laws in that regard, touching the con-
stitutionality of all laws passed upon by
the Supreme Court of the United States,
the reply was, II don't want to advise
anyone what to do for himself"
Now, as is only too well known, citizens
have been admitted in Utah Territory,
with an exulting regard for the number,
at So per head, entirely overlooking the
quality OF the material or the true char
acter OF the applicant. This has been
entirely overlooked in!the past, and Judge
Powers remarks in this case may prove
the standard by which citizenship may
be conferred in future.
JUDGE POWERS SAID:
"You have been asked whether in case
you were admitted to become citizen,
should occasion require your services to
help defend your country that you would
risk your life in its defense. You said you
would. Perhaps you understood me in
asking that question. Idoubt it, however.
The broad principle upon which this Gov
eminent is founded is not so much the
valor displayed by its citizens in the field
of battle as in the purity OF the family
circle. That purity is the great secret OF
our permanency as q Republic, our only
hope for its continuance. An army Of
angels would be an anomaly, fireside
surrounded by law-breakers, u cancer.
/, in an individual capacity, am
not yet prepared to throw my doors open
and permit every one who happens along
to step in and share with my family all
the home comforts that my efforts have
provided there; standing in my official
capacity, sworn to do my duty, | cannot
be looked upon or asked to do under that
oath that which honor, to say the least
will not permit in my own family, in my
own home. In so far as this district il
concerned, | am the head of the family
into which you desire to come
Are you worthy to enter into
and associate with this family
The question is, do you propose to obey
the laws; do you propose to place thu
laws OF your country as first and foremos
to be obeyed, in preference to the laws
edicts or regulations OF any church, socet,
or institution OF any kind Do you pro
pose to counsel obedience to the law
Unless you do all these things you can
not be good citizen, and unless you bic
fair to be good citizen, law-abiding
peaceable, moral and Industrious, thi
country does not want you. The admis
sion OF a man to citizenship should no
be an idle ceremony. The character o
the applicant should be closely scrutin
lied. This country gives its citizens grea
blessings, and its doors are not opel
to all who knock and who hav,
simply been here the required length o
time. The man must be moral. He mus
be law-abiding. He must understan,
and be attached to the principles OF on
government. He must yield willin
allegiance to its laws, and he must Civ
promise, by his past life and conduct a
well as by speech, that he will hold tn
Constitution and the laws of the land t.
be more binding upon his conscience
than those of any other land or OF an,
combination of men," MoNoToNY.