Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-12
DANCERS OF COYITsCATIOY.

DANGERS OF CONFTSC4TI0N.
SINCE the passage Of the I'd,
munds-Tucker act, which contains
a clause directing the confscation OF
the property Of the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints, the SEN
timent in favor Of Selling, for public
uses, the possessions Of other relig-
iOus bodies has had rapid growth.
This is n natural effect Of the I'M
constitutional statute. Malignant
measures beget their likeness. En-
actments OF a like nature, intended
to apply 10 other than the ''NIor-
mon" people, have already been
conceived in the public mind, and
unless the evil genius rs a whole is
wiped out, their delivery is inevi- |
table.
The rapid growth OF skePticism,
which too often excludes all respect
for religion Of any kind, renders
the situation more and more dan
ger0us. As result Of the fragrant
innovation upon human rights per-
petrated in the enactment Of the
measure named and the growth OF
shepticisIn combined, we have been
enabled to quote IN these columns,
AT different times, expressions from
prominent journalists and publicists
favOring the confscation Of the !
property Of the Catholic Church in j
this country, some going so far as to =
advocate the seizure Of the POSSES
sions Of all religious bodies.
As q pointer in this direction we /
are enabled 10 present an extract =
from a letter received from n gentle
man in New YORK by a friend in {
this city:
You have little idea how rapidly
radical views are spreading. in reIa-
hon to religion, politics and sociology.
We are rapidly nearing the urecipice. ii
Nor do I think j. possible for the .,
world to check its downward career. :,
There are many who hope for a peace
FIJI solution Of all social difficulties II
but I think that impossible. Already IL
there is talk Of coufscating the i'm p
mense wealth Of the Roman Catholic ri
church in the I aited States. And why 81
should the Episcopal church he dc
exempt? Trinity church alone owns hi
Si50C00,o00, This coufiscation bDsf- 70
ness Is going TO be a big job before If * ~,
through. heard prominent LAWYER NJ
here say that European nations had -
been obliged, as a matter Of self =
ieienSe, 10 coniscate the immense &c
wealth Of the Roman Catholic church an
ana ne thought the same thing would sta
have 10 he done in the United States us
heard Hugh o. Pentecost. lately \ inl
5apiist minister, advocate. in public app
he overthrow Of all existing political to
nd religious institutions, deDoqncing KIN
ich men, landowners and politicians ma
5 thieves and opprcssors. Had a
Mormon talked as he did. ne would
ave been prosecuted for treason and 81
netting TO rot. lie has a large fol-
owing" ?
such special confiscatory measures Yol
S the one aimed at the Church IF Gle
esus Christ Of Latter-day Saints dan
re unconstitutional in two promi- bin
emf Particulars. They are VIOLA peo
ons Of the clause which provides .
lat private property shall not he
ken Tor public purposes without oo,,,
Ie compensation. The law 70. oon,
Ffea TO takes tie property Of the midi
'Iormou2 people without any rs m
mpens7tion whatever. 1t is also he C.
olallve Of the first amendment IN harm
~ H------s,-s ivzI, winch lnnlI,tts -Irr4-
'nsTess from making any law re- raj r
Getting an establishment n 70 equa
non. In other words. that there pora
all be 20 established religion. or a ousll l
igious system preferred Ierisla- uIN wv,
ely above Others by the state. To 80
extent that the Edn,unds- f,c,
ECKER act is = special measure aim ture
al only one religious body. while tural
the others are exempt from its posir
ms and operations, to that degree ness
the Others preferred and made they
state religions. Should the powe
VS. OF the auti-Cathoiics prevail incre
! that religious body also lee sub throu
led to the oonfiscation process organ
you'd be but a step in advance . am
ard making the more favored 80, -.
TENS the religions OF the state. bos,il
SO on until there might be hui have
remaining, which would he an busin
punishment Of religion by pre- first
nee exhibited 10y non-interfer- they
e. endov
hether the confscat;on process nous
extensive or limited. It is = DIM power
'us eNpedient, and one that must i@re oi
'ltably leai TO disaster. oi the