Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-28

powerful and more ancient sect Once
light the baleful fires OF religious intoler-
sncc and where may they not burn and
blightl
The dissenting justices. each > democrat
and therefore 4 champion Of religious lb.
erty, arc TO be honored and applauded for
their declaration that ConEress unques
ticnably has power to suppress polygany
and II is .mmaieriAl whether the crime wys
committed IN the name Of Religion But
Congress has no power 10 seiIe and con
hscate the property OF corporations be-
cause they nay have been guilty Of
crimes.
The same journal has also the sub
joined editorial which is worthy
OF perusal:
The Mormon is under the bau. leSisis-
tive and Judicial The Supreme Court ap-
proves the oonhseaiion Of the property OF
the church. Fer answer to this an organ OF
the faith declares that while Mornons
hoped 20 retain their property they have
ali the time been prepared to lose IT; hence
they will notbe affected by the decision. A
few persons will revel in the plumber that
this big steal invites and permits. the gov
ernmePt will not be the gamer. and the
Mornons will cQniinue 10 be hopeful, in
dustTious. hard working Moruoas'"
Under the present law the governor. sec
Rotary, judges. commissioners, m4rshAls,
auditor, treasurer. probate Judges. and
superintendent OF district schools OF Utah
are appointed directly or indirectly by the
President OF the Uniicd States. the People
OF the Territory having no choice in the
matter. Itis proposed IN Edmunds' new
bill that the night 70 elect great variety Of
local officers shall be taken from the people
andlodsed with the executive. These IN
Glade county clerks, selec;men, assessors,
recorders, and county superintendents Of
schools. s.nce the GenIiles have oblained
the Epperhand IN salt Lake City TINS
method OF destroying all or nearly all
chance OF popular oh zee Of local officers
does not seem as inviting as formerly. In
deed. the LEGAL GENTLE who Is responsible |
50r raising the spirit of persecution i
alarmed al the evil he has wrought.
The decision OF the supreme Coart Is
only part OF the general and, 10 may be SAID,
indiscrimInAie assault upon MOrInOaism.
Polygamy has become the pretexI Only for
attacking this sect that, POlygAmy aside.
has much in common with other religious
and possesses 4 member
ship Of pre-eminently industrious and
frugal people. The House has approved |
the constitution proposed for the State % |
Idaho, containing sweeping clause, an
unjust and dangerous clause as the Tiies
believes. disfrsnchising all Mormons mere
iy because they are Mormons and wholly
without reference TO polyEamous practice
on their part New York might with equa,
forbid shakers 10 vote MInBe-
sofa might Just a. reasonably place Men
nonites under the ban or Indiana deny all
political rights TO the Complexities. Bat
the Idaho proceeding Is not singular IN ITS
attack upon religious freedom. Ed
munds has presented TO = Republican
Congress further drastic measure.
"Cu'ilom, OF nliaois, Stewart Of Vermont,
aud sIruble, Of Iowa, have each presented
bills FOR the total Acknowledgement OF all
Aormons IN Utah. This narrow. yieisus
and bigojcd proposition eKciies alarm
among the best Genl!es IN salt Lake CITY.
They have united IN protest against these
bills. giving as then reason that there has
been 4 successful effort TO bury the differ
snce OF creed aad unite the business men
n Utah in various enterprises for mutual
material benefits. M0rmons and non Nor
mons have acted in unity. and to disfran.
'hise one class will revive old antagonisms,
-. /
Territory. II 4 Mormon Is not 4 polyEa-
INST they sec no reason why he should be
0stracIsed. And they ask that ,
instead Of ignorant passing any such |
MEASURE IS these bills Contemplate, Con.
res send a committee 10 rtah % inquire
ato the present state o. the Territory and
earn how unjust would be the action I
aoughilessly proposed.
"Ihe blood Of the martyrs l. the seed Of /.
he church. The Mormon organ. inviting {
t;eztson TO the so-called prophecy Of
oscph saith that the church world suffer :
erseeuii0n, declares with some spirit that
{ Is the duty Of the people uuiustly dis
r minated against lawfully 10 contend
gainsi the deprivation Of their rights and I
emaud redress Of wTOnSs from those who !
ave the power TO adjust them. that the /
ord may be justified when He shall take !
art in the controversy on the side of the :
ppressei.' 1
The god Of battles Is invoked on all sides I
q controversy. Wholly without refer '
nee 10 the aid which the pious Mormon I
Npects, the United States olght to be true !,
nder all circumstances TO its cardinal [
rInciple Of religious freedom. Let the [
o ysamist, Mormon or other be punished, :
ut LEI one seciary have equal chance with v
mother, whatever his creed. The anti r
orInoR zeal, craftily promoted By greed Of I
1wer. b partisan interest, BY the Eplrit Of q
tolerance, Is oyerstePping all bounds aud 4
its headlong progress Is breaking down n
'eful barriers. SIXTY million Americans g
sorting that the crime Of polygamy shall I,
u be cloaked by religion have nothing TO \
Ar from handful OF Laiter-daT Saints I,
latiyely few Of whom are polygamisis." n