, 1889-08-01
stitution something entirely out of place

IL
SIMPLY recognition of the opinion of
men by leaving out the word "God,O
me committee indirectly pander to in
tidelity, and indirectly attack Christian
ity from merely practical standpoint.
he believes such action would discredit
!he standing OF the people, and prevent
innnnsratlon and the growth of the
STATE a man who is not accountable to
some deity or other Is an unsafe man to
nave IN a community.
MI buchanan said that, apart from
any pecuniary consideration IL tbehoovod
man TO consider that he didn't belong at
the head of creation. There Is some in
| telligence, far above and beyond the
stroke of our intellectually. ask to
Pc placed In no better company than
him whose name this state bears. | ask
TO have read the following as part of my
remarks.
The first inaugural address of Wash
ington was the document sent to the
desk, and the clerk read it.
MI. Turner moved his form of pre-
amble as substitute for MIR Dyer's and
expressed briefly his belief In the propri-
ety OF thus recognizing the Supreme
Being,
Mr.. Warner, chairman of the preamble
committee, would yield to no one In
| REVERENCE FOR GOD,
but likened the placing of His name In
the constitution to the action of the
Rharisee in scripture. He didn't be-
lieve it essential there any more than
the Lords prayer. IL was merely sem
timent. If the convention wants to put
l, there he should not object, but he
should vote against putting II there.
Mr.. Sulliyan, of Tacoma, said an able
committee had considered this and he
should support its report. There was
nothing whatever in the argument.
MIR. Cosgrove--Does recognizing God
in the constitution recognize religion2
Mr.. Grifiitts--It is well known that a
great discussion has been going on over
this very matter, and l merely wish to
avoid s, proyoking, any more such discus.
be hurt or his opinions opposed. |
would strike out the slightest reference
to anybody's religious beliefs. We are
dealing only with civil and political
rights, and should not transcend our
province by putting into the constitu-
tion these words to wlfe-n some people
will object.
Mr.. Turner didn't care to follow the
last speaker in an examination of the
constitution, but when he referred to the
earlier constitutions of the states ii was
fact that the later constitutions in
some states did have reference TO God in
the preamble. This was
A MATTER OF SENTIMENT,
he admitted. 1t also represented his
his own personal sentiment, and he be-
lieved also the sentiments of 800 out of
every 1000 of the adults of the state for
whom we are making this constitution
and the convention would simply be
recreant to their trust if they did not
represent this sentiment in the pre-
amble,
T. M. Reed cordially endorsed the last
speaker and claimed that no religious
question or discussion was here pre-
sented except so far as the gentleman
from Spokane (Gritiitts) had raised it.
The substitute merely proposed TO rec
ognize gratitude to Almighty God, which
he believed was a fact with the people of
this state and country.
Mr.. Eshelman was Indifferent, per-
sonaly, as to the placing of the name of
the deity in the constitution, but sup
ported Mr.. Turner'S substitute as fur
better form of words, aside from this
question of the deity, although he was
in favor of the whole substitute.
Mr.. Moore regretted the bringing of
this question here, but being here he
should discuss it. He had never been
member of any religious body and did
not speak from that standpoint, but he
supported the substitute as being pleas
ing to that great body of the people who
profoundly and
sIHCERELY BELIEVED IN GOD,
AS TO those who deny God, they being
simply In negative position, need not
feel hurt as to Mr.. Griifitts statement
about the constitution. He was wrong
II he meant to claim that the majority OF
the present constitution had no refer
ence to God. After having this up for
discussion refusal TO put, ii into the
constitution would be a bad example to
the youth of the growing states.
Mr.. Comegys asked If the United
Stltes constitution was a bad example
to youth.
Mr.. Notwithstanding to the tenor of
my remarks it would seem so.
Mr.. Buchanan-May answer the gen.
tleman2
The Chair-Mr. Moore has the floor
Mr.. Moore-l yield to the gentleman
from Adams (Buchanan) for that pur.
pose
Mr.. Buchanan-I have always con-
sldered that the real preamble to the
United States constitution was decla-
ration of independence which distinctly
and repeatedly acknowledged God
Mr.. Moore-Three times in the Decla.
ration of Independence do the signers
thereof recognize God. In our annual
Thanksgiving day the whole country
recognize him.
Mr.. Tibbets said he occupied exactly
the same position as the last speaker
and should heartily support the substi-
tute.
Mr.. Sullivan of Whitman said he
should have supported the report If the
committee had put God into the consti-
tuition, and should stand by IL now. If
there was anything he had contempt
for II was doing any thing for show and
buncombe. To put this in or leave it
out, means absolutely nothing. 1t is all
stun and nonsense, and nothing more
nor less. If this is left out what detri-
ment will 1t be to the people Of this state
or to God?
THE SUPREME BEING
pays no attention to the convention or
any either political gathering or to any
thing else save the motives of mans
heart. Mr.; Chairman. i hope this con-
vention will presently quit this NOON
shine, The greatest disgrace that has
fallen on this convention since 10 assem-
bled in this city has been the spending
of so much time on all this stuff and
nonsense.
Mr.. Power-I call the gentleman to
order for imputing such motives to the
delegates.
Mr.. Cosgrove-As he is taking up the
greater portion of the time himself he Is
simply commenting on his own motions.
Mr.. Buchanan-The gentleman is en-
tirely out of order. He Is imputing the
basest motives to the gentlemen who
have spoken most reverently on this
subject.
The Chair-The gentleman is in order
but getting very close to the line.
Mr.. Turner desired To sneak hut was