Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-28
AkTI-cATHoLIC MOVEMENT.

y NV
HISTORY has repeatedly demon
strated the fact that when any class
OF the people living under govern
ment are denied the rights gnaran-
teed under its constitution, the
safety of the whole is ieoiardized.
The wrong acts as leaven which,
81 justice is not speedily done to
those which are disabled, gradually
permeates the entire body polite
Froude lays this down as one Of the
prominent teachings of history,
citing, as a striking instance in
pint, the downward phase Of the
career Of ancient Rome.
On this basis We have insisted
that the Persecutive processes in
fIcted upon the Latter-day Saints
would b. applied to other religious
bodies, and that the Treatment Of the
"MOrmon" people would be cited,
as precedent in justification. While
pre1icting that the Withholding Of
naturalization from members OF the
Church in Utah, and the disfran-
chisement Of the same class in Idaho
would be followed by demands for
the application OF similar treatment
70 other religionists, we hardly i'm
Rgined that brisk agitation in that
direction would begin so soon as it
has. It has started, however, in I'M
mistsksble shape, as will be seen
from an article IN this issue COM
prising large number Of anti CathO-
lie arguments and statements, about
20 be issued in pamphlet form and
widely circulated.
The arguments wrougfGlly used
against the Church Of Jesus Christ
o. Latter-day Saints are now en-
ployed against the Catholic Church.
1t is an interesting recitation, con-
tanning numerous pronounced quo
tations, all Of which are intended
TO show that Catholic cannot be a
good citizen because his allegiance
to the government Of this republic
Is subordinate TO that which he gives
70 the Romish priesthood. 1t il
claimed that the Catholics are there
fore a menace 10 American institu-
tons"
1t is held that as the Enormous"
are debarred from naturali3 atom,
and a portion Of them from
exercising the elective fran
cbise, 50 ought the members OF
the Catholic Church. It is even
urged that an snti-Catholic oath be
prescribed for the devotees Of that
faith, showing that the treatment
inflicted upon the Saints IS bearins
It's legitimate fruit. So win the agi-
tation sprung by the Boston Com
mittee Of One Hundred.
Those who perused our article of
yesterday, written before we
dropped upon the one taken from
the Chicago Times, would observe
that we do not anticipate that the
ant-Catholic movement Is like
ly to receive any vigorous support
from government officials In ruling
positions or from ambitious poll
tCisns anxious FOR place. Selr-inter-
est sppears 10 DO much stronger
than patriotism with men who have
political bees in their bonnets, and
the demagogues among them being
in the majority, antagonism 10 the
Catholics from that quarter is not
likely to be robust. This reticence
is likely to be particularly apparent
where the Romanists are sufficient
ly numerous to constitute a political
factor.
The public journals are, as a rule,
In the same box rs the politicians.
1t is popular to abuse the "AI0r-
mona" who are supposed to have NO
friends, and therefore no rights en-
titled 70 respect There are a num-
Der Of honorable exceptions 10 thi,
Journalistic rule, but they are COM
parAtively few. The majority viii
doubtless be as dumb ss oysters b.
relation 10 the alleged threatened
danger Of Catholicism Selling the
republic by the throat and strang.
ling It. II not siIeLt, they viii e
a rule deprecate the application OF
political disabilities to Roman
Catholics, who constitute q power
In the land.
Until a few months ago the Cath.
ole church never tOok, so FAR rs We.
have knowledge, any active part in
prosecuting the Latter-day Saints.
and In this particular was dis
tDguished above most Of her num-
r-ous daughters - the Protestant
sscts. OF late she has assumed Z
change Of front in that respect, and.
through Cardinal Gibbons aud the
Catholic conference held some time
ago a. Baltimore, signifed her
readiness to take a hand in the
business. She expressed her will
ingness 70 join with other organiza.
nons 10 the formulation and applica.
Ton Of such measures as would dis
able "Mormonism," which wa,
falsely claimed 10 be n s.mepace f
American Institutions. Nov thu,
the great Roman religious power In
the Republic is threatened with a
doee Of her own medicine, II would
be interesting to know how she
Ike IL.