Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-09-24
REPORTS TO THE CHURCH.

What would be thought of a Member
OF Congress from any district outside oil
Utah who should make a report OF his
stewardship on Sabbath day to the
Church of which he might be a member?
Suppose Mr.. Woodburn, OF Nevada,
should arise in the Catholic Church at
Virginia City and give an account OF his
acts during the last session OF Congress-
as part of the religious services OF the
day. What would be said Of Mr.. Morrow,
OF California, ii he should appear OF a
Sunday before the congregation OF the
Episcopaian Church Of San Fran
CISCO of which we believe he
is member, and report officially
his work in the Lower House
during the last winter. What would be
thought of any member OF Congress in
the United States who should consider it
necessary to report only to the religious
denomination to which he belonged, and
accompany his statement with a sec
tartan and political harangue, exhorting
his hearers to remain firm in their oppo-
stion to the laws of the country in which
they live. Such q proceeding would
arouse the Indignation of the entire Ma
tion; the newspapers would be full
OF it, and such volleys OF denuncia-
ton would be poured into the Church
and upon the Member as wonld com
pletely demolish the former and relegate
the latter to perpetual obscurity, il it did
not sacrifice him personally upon the
altar OF public wrath. And yet that is
exactly what John r. Caine, Delegate in
Congress for Utah Territory, did in the
Mormon Tabernacle last Sunday. Fur
ther than that, his remarks were addressed
exclusively to the Mormon people and
the affairs OF the Mormon Church He
made no pretense OF representing any
other element or OF directing his efforts
to any general or other purpose, except
the advancement OF the interests Of
the so-called religious institution Of
which he is member, and which
he claimed alone to represent in his
capacity as Delegate to Congress. This
should awaken the people of the East to
a realization OF the condition of affairs in
Utah, and the necessity of such steps as
will divest of its political power an
organization which elects Delegate
to Congress to represent itself eXclu-
sively, and who makes no pretense
OF responsibility to any class or ele-
ment outside of the Mormon priesthood.
Ii this would not be tolerated elsewhere,
why should it be in Utah? Do the poly
gamous and unlawful practices of the
Mormon Church give it privileges and
immunities not conceded to other
religious denominations? 1t would
certainly appear so, for what would be
universally denounced in other Churches
is regarded in this instance as mat
ter of course, and permitted to pass with
out comment in the privileged Mormon
organization. A moments reflection
upon this matter will convince any can
did and intelligent person that there is
need OF political reform when the Con-
gressional Delegate, who under the Con-
stitution is supposed to represent the en-
tire people, makes no pretension of rep
resenting anything or anybody except his
Church and its members, and who makes
his report to that body when assembled
for what they term religious services on
the Lords Day. Let them locate the
Tabernacle scene OF last Sunday in some
Church in their own district and then
state how it would suit them as loyal,
law-abiding and patriotic American cit
izens.