Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-01-29
A SENSELESS TRADE.

The Ogden Herald of last night con-
tains very long and very senseless
TRADE on the opposition to the Mormon
church in Utah. The writer of the article
in question attempts to philosophize as
to the true object of opposition, and
tells wherein it is respectable and wherein
it is not. The writer signally fails to tell
ANYTHING noted characteristic of his.
The writer undertakes to tell what this
opposition is to in Utah. We prefer that
he tell it in his own language:
In Utah Territory to-day we have an e1-
ample of an organization which boasts
well-defned exalted purpose, presents an
admirable design and holds mp before the
world with pride and exultation an eminent
clearly-designated leader with his associate
lieutenants in their several subordinate po-
sitions, openly and above board, manfully
casting their fortunes, anchoring their dear
est hopes and reposing most sacred faith in
the sublime cause they lead. That organi-
cation is the Mormon church; its leaders are
the Mormon priesthood; its cause is great
and good enough to inspire the invincible
confidence of many thousand brave, faith
full followers; and its principles, defined in
NOluIueS. ucTdiu6u dDIOdQ W buc
nations by an indomitable band of seif-con-
secrated missionaries, and glorifed in hal
lowed song, challenge the reason, defy the
prejudice and court the candid investigation
of all mankind.
Why is there an opposition to this or
ganization from all parties who are not of
it? Because this organization has for its
object not merely the dissemination of
certain religious doctrines, but because
this organization claims the right to set
up State polity within a State, and in
justification of this claim invokes the
authority and protection of the funda-
mental law of the State wherein the
claim is made. As a religious organiza-
ton the Mormon church has been pbe-
nominal success, and we readily admit
that for its illegal practice of polygamy it
has the sanction of the Hebrew Bible,
but the Bible cannot make lawful in the
United States what the law of Congress
says is unlawful, any more than any
other book can. The sooner it is elimin
ated from the question in Utah the bet
ter. What does this organization of
which the Herald speaks undertake
to do in Utah? Within the Government
which gives its members protection this
organization undertakes to change the
unit of that Government, which is the
family. There is not a government on
the face of the earth and never has been
that has not defined what the family shall
be. and they have never permitted any
organization to assume control over it.
To say what the family shall be is to
exercise one OF the first of sovereign
powers, for the exercise of this power
carries with it hundred others, all per-
tanning to sovereignty. This is why all
who are not of this organization are more
or less opposed to it, and no matter who
opposes it upon the head of such person
is poured the wrath and vituperation of
this organization. In proof of this we
need but quote from the article to which
we refer. 1t says:
Their sole objects are power and plunder;
their tactics are those of the robber and the
libertine. They seek, by foul means, favor,
wealth and Office, which they cannot attain
by fair competition.
This is the style OF argument with
which all opposition to the dominant
party is met. 1t is somewhat strange
that this party as a political organization
has no adherents save those who are
members of the ecclesiastical organiza
ton, and when man sewers his con-
nection with the one he always sewers it
with the other. Why is it? Because the
Mormon church and the Peoples party
are one and the same, or to put
in other words the reason for
the opposition of all parties to this
organization in Utah, it is because it is
union of Church and State, and hostile
to the genius of the American Govern
ment.