The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-10-03

On the other hand, individual in
stances of alteration from the general
course OF reform that is evidenced have
been cited. We have no disposition 20
excuse or pailiate these exceptions; on
the contrary, we condemn them. yet,
IN large and philosophical view, they
should not be oeemed unnatural or
strange. Radical revolutions of opin-
Ions and habits, especially of religious
convictions, usually, if not universally.
encounter the friction of opposition
and resistance. While the mass move
onward, minoTities and individuals fall
backward and secede. /; as always
been So and in the nature things
must continue to be So The history of
polite al and church governments abun-
dainty and alike illustrate this truth.
| Nevertheless, the revolution, like the
world, will move On carrying the con-
sentins with il and destroying the in
fuence OF the dissenters Gno o6struc
tionists. The revolution of opinion
and conduct among the Mormons, in
| Utah, particularly IN the rising genera
ton, is lnaugurating and forging with
1ncrt asIng momenture to the front and
the control and in our opinion, it will
irresistibly proceed until its mission is
finished. Revolutions, as a rule, are
not retrogade.
Now that it is apparent that the prsc-
tlce OF polygamy is passing away,
ANOTHER THING IS MADE PROMINENT
and brought forward by non-Mormons
in Utah as justification for further
hostile discrimination by the govern
ment against Mormons, namely: Their
1ehglou and church government. On
THIS subject We will repeat the langu-
/ age of our last annual report;
Nov, in the close of the most en-
| llghteaed CENTURY in the tide of time,
snail we invoke legal coercion over the
Coneclences Of men and resort 10 the
pains ana penalties inflicted in former
times Tor Tecusancy, Extraordinarily,
ap0staoy and neTesy?
In this age the world moves: and
even religious fanatics must keep pace
| with progress. Tho Utah of to day is
not, and never can be- egalu, what II
vas when Brigham Young. as prophet,
seer anc revelator, dominated over his
devoted followers, isoiaieQ frou ait the
world ii he secluded valleys of
the Rocky Mountains; nor. IN
our opinion, Can that fading
and disaolving spectre OF the past be
justly or properly invoked as an ex-
CitatlVe TO legislation pTOscTlptLve OF
religious opinion. Fine railroad and
telegraph, free speech and free press
are there row. Schools and colleges
and churches Of many denominations
are found in ell parts OF the Territory.
The people are no longer isolated but
are now III communication with all the
world; and Salt Lake City is one Of the
most cosmopolitan places on the CONT
nent, q resort for tourists, savants.
statesmen and scholars from abroad.
Under such circumstances is it net
morally Impossible that Utah shall ever
again become subject to that church
domination and oppression which are
now imputed by some persons as an
, existing reality against the Mormon
hierarchyW
The Supreme Court of the United
States has declared that:
Laws are made for the government
OF actions, and while they cannot inter
fere with mere religious belief. they may
with practices. Congress can
not pass law for the government Of
!, the Territories which shall prohibit the
free exercise of religion. The first
amendment to the Constitution ex-
pressly forbids such legislation. Re
ligious freedom is guaranteed every
where throughout the United States
so far as Congressional interference is
concerned" 8 Otto, las.
Madison says sententiousli Re
ligion, or the duty We owe the Creator,
is not within the province of civil gov
eminent"
Jefferson says:
Believing that religion is matter
which lies solely between man and his
God; and that he owes account TO none
other for his faith or his worship; that
the legislative powers of the govern
ment reach actions only and lot opin-
ions, contemplate with solemn reveT
ence that act of the whole American
people which declares that their iegisla-
ture should make no law respecting an
J establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof" [8Jefferson's
Works, 113.
In concluding this report we wish to
add that we take our stand on the Con-
stitution, the decisions of the Supreme
} Court and the principles of civil and re-
ligious liberty as proclaimed by the
fathers of the Republic, principles that
should never be violated at the behest
of popular prejudice against Jews,
Catholics, Protestants or Mormons.
In the discharge of our Official duties,
relating to Utah, we have endeayored
to divest ourselves of all prejudice and
luminosity, and in calm and judicial
: frame of mind to ascertain the truth,
!, and our conclusion, from all the evil
, dence before US, including our personal
J observation, is. that radical reform in
the near future is morally certain, and
that Young Utah will stand forth re
deemed, regenerated and disenthralled"
} from the heavy burden that has so long
rested upon the people.
Yours respectfully,
JOHN a. MCCLERNANB,
; A. B. CARLTON.
} The Honorable Secretary Of the Interior.