The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-01-18


to perceive and declare the loathsome
effect of such union. In Virginia he
struggled against it and succeeded.
Through his efforts, to large extent,
the idea of religious liberty was en-
bodied in the National Constitution.
Still, there have always existed, and still
exist. those who would do away with
this feature of our government. Socie
ties have been formed throughout the
States made up of religious enthusiasts
for the purpose of uniting church and
State by putting what is called "God
into the Constitution" By this means
they think obnoxious creeds and infdel-
ity could be swept from the land. All
such notions have ever had the opposi-
ton of the Democratic partys
A political party, according to the
unwritten law of the land, is an instru-
ment or means of government. 1t
should be a handmaiden of liberty
the attendant and guide of representa-
tive government Legitimately it can
seek to promote nothing which is not
an object or an end of government. As
religion is not such, either for its propo-
Cation or suppression, neither should it
be an object OF party. I'll ae
Our platform declares that religious
belief or fidelity should never be made a
test of political or official preferment.
Such test tends to the promotion of
an inferior grade of officials, and often
of persons utterly disqualified or unfit
for the positions they are called to &C
cupy. In the selection of officers to
administer and execute the laws, fitness
for the office should be the only quail
fication required" All good citizens,
irrespective of religious belief previous
political affiliations, who believe in the
principles we enunciate are invited to
join US. Upon this broad and liberal
come predominant in Utah. A party
should be as broad and liberal as the
government whose legitimate ends it is
its purpose to promote. o. ra.
If this government can admit persons
of every religion and no religion, the
Christian the Jew. the Mohommedan and
the infdel, why should a party be any
the less tolerant? Yetin Utah, the pre-
dominant party has had no place within
its ranks for those who could not con-
form to the predominant religion, no
honors beStow upon any one who
could not pass the rigid religious
test which it has invariably applied
as a qualification of political or Off
cial preferment. 1t is not enough to
say it would be suicidal to honor an
enemy, because in this regard friends
and enemies have been treated alike.
Persons are known who have been the
steadfast and consistent friends of the
Territory and her people, who would
not oppose straw to their welfare or
progress, and who have agreed with
| that party so far as it related to the true
objects of government, who solely, for
lack of religious fidelity, could not,
under the Peoples Party. have obtained
the smallest Office within the gift OF
the Territory Is this not true? Ii it
is true, is it right? Who, within the
sound of any voice, will deny its truth?
Why, under the regime OF the
Peoples party, according to its, past
policy, if the great Jeferson should
of eternity to the wales of Utah, he
could not be elected even to the least
important or all her offices. Jefferson,
! forsooth, was "a freethinker, reputed
| infidei. The greatest of the friends OF
human rights could not be honored, be-
cause to honor HIM would be to eneour-
age lack of faith. That, in the
Peoples party would never be toler-
ated.
1t has been said that it is natural for
people whose religion is assailed to
band together for mutual protection.
This might be rational if it had the
desired effect. There would be an ex-
cuse for this if it operated as shield
to religious liberty. But it does not. 1t
but increases the danger and aggrayates
the attack. The moment any religion,
as such, interferes with politics or the
State, it invites interference with itself.
If religious liberty is to continue the
counsels of State must be free from
Sectarian influence. What a pande-
monium would suddenly arise if each
of the many denominations in, this
country should engage in struggle for
political supremacy When the propo-
CATION of religion is made one of the
objects of government or party, it is
only that people may, through the in
| fluence of rewards or punishment, be
! bribed or coerced into pretension of
religion. It is of course, when thus in
duced, mere pretense, for after all, true
religion, like mercy, is unstrained; it
droppeth like the gentle dew from
heaven upon this place beneath.
If persons may legitimately, by the
power of government or party, be put
/ u0Q6r DOllIlCdl QlSdult2tlcc VI tACluOCu
from all civil or official employment,
solely with reference to some religious
test, very severe punishment-if that
does not operate to enforce conformity
why not fine and imprison, and if this
be futile, do as they formerly did, roast
/ the heretics or dissenter, at slow fires.
The effect of the long operation of such
a principle must be loaths0me in the
extreme. Instead of frank, honest and
| independ Mt men and women, there
will necessarily grow up a race of syco-
! plants and hypocrites; persons who for
policy or temporary advantages will be
ever ready to pretend what they are not.
The application of a religious test
tends to the promoting of an inferior
grade of officials. 1t narrows the class
from whom they may be selected. The
State is thereby deprived CT the assist
| ance of persons who may be eminently
we'll qualified to render it efficient ser
vice. This should not be. An appro-
pirate Illustration is given by Macaulay.
On the eve of an i'm, ending battle be-
tween the French and the allied armies.
it is said that at night Marlborough
the English general, repaired to his
tent, and in accordance with the ritual
of the Church of England asked God to
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