Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-02
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
VIZ no not iutepd today to make

harrlSOu'c ilc>>lec 10 tcDetc-S. bul
merelyto touch on bis reference to
Utah, which is the subject Of great
est import to t.iet people of thi-
region.
Asa whols the message is an able
document. reaching the various
points considered. in . clear ami
comprehensive manner, and giving
reasons for the conclusions arrived
a. which, if not always convincing.
are ut least worthy of reflection anu
are rational from the standpoint OF
the party that the President repre-
sents.
The principal topics discussed are
the silver issue, the tariff bill, the
reciprocity measure, the election
law or "force" proposition. and the
"Mormon" question. OF course
these are all handled from partisan
position ami treated with a view TO
the Interests of Republicanism.
The Utah part of. the message is Is
follows:
1.-The increasing number and infiu-
ence of the non-Mormon population
in Utah are Observed W tn satisfaction.
The recent letter of MILFORD Woodruff,
president Of the Mormon Church, in
which he advises his people TO refrain
from contracting any marriage forbid
den by the laws OF the land, has at
tracted wide attention, and it is hoped
that its influence will be highly bene-
fetal in restraining infractions OF
the laws OF the United SfItes.
But the fact should not he over
looked that the doctrine or belief Of
the Church that polygamous mar
riages are riShtfnl and supported by
the divine revelation remains I'M
changed. President Woodruff does
not renounce the doctrine, but re
Trains from teaching it, and advises
against the practice Of it because the
law is against il. Now il is quite true
tina. the law should not attempt To
deal with the faith or belief of any
one, but this is quite another thing;
and the only safe thing is 10 deal with
the Territory Of Utah so that those
who believe polygamy to be righiful
shall not have the power to make il
lawful"
There is little to find fault with in
these remarks of the Presidents,
unless the view that we think will
be generally taken Of the meaning
of the last sentence is correct. 1t
would appear from it that some
thing more than compliance with
the laws is required OF the ssAIor-
mon" people. 1t conveys the idea
that the belief of citizens may form
aproper ground for national legisla
ton. 1t smacis of interference by
the State with that which belongs
to the Church. II apparently en-
croiches upon the perfect freedom OF |
faith which is guaranteed 10 all |
people under our national system OF |
government. Ami 1t looks rs II |
doctrines may be attacked by The
Government when practices are un-
Objectionable.
The demand tina. has been made
upon the "Aiormon'' Church, it. |
leaders anu its people has been, all
along, since the nation has attempted
to interfere with them, Comply |
with the laws; with your faith
Congress has nothing to do; only
signify your intention TO recogniz-
the laws supremacy in your prac-
tices, and you viii be perfectly fires
to believe and worship as you will.''
This has been echoed by the pres.
throughout the land, and the Lat
ter-day Saints have been assured
that there was no disposition to ill.,
terfere with their creed. Some have
said you may believe il right I
have as many wives Is Solomon; 5
long as you do not marry them no
fault will be found with you.''
Now it seems that the only thing
that can be allie sed by the Presi1eu
against the "MOrmDns'' is that they
have not changed their be
lief Whether has view OF TN.
fact be right or wrong. 1t l.
evident that this is matter
beyond executive, judicial or kgis-
lative control. Indeed it j. often b,,
yond the mere Will of the inii
vidual. Faith does not come alto
gether by will. Sometimes It enter.
the soul against the viii; at other
1t cannot oe evolved no matter how
much will and desire may be exer-
cised. Faith and doctrine ar.
properly beyond the domain Of gov
ernmental authority. There is No
national power which has any right
IN the premises. 1t is nosany man.
Or any nations business what peo-
pie or churches believe so that thu
aw is not violated. As the Suprem,
Court of the United States has de-
Jared, sit is time enough, for tn.
ightfui purposes Of civil govern
nent, for its officers to interior 0
Ehen principles bosk out int I
vert acts against peace and Sood e
rder." L
The idea expressed in the Pfesi. Re
ents message that what peonle C
nay possibly do is a proper subject m
or legis!ating against them, will t.
trike most people whose minds arr q
FeH-balanced rs a tremendous r,
'retch Of governmental taeory. III 9.
lis means that the "Mormons', Of
lould be singled cut for present - =,
'gislative attack bscsuse OF some n
ling they may 10 in the future. Sc
e consider his doctrine unsonnd ar
! principle and likely to be very - I,
Iischievous in practice. nj
Just what the President does gu
ean is scarcely to be learned from d,
IS words. The closing sentence :.
the paragraph we have quoted Is an
e least perspicuous in the whole til
essage- IL it simply means a IL
anHI
fesuard of some Kind against the ~ ",
ture revival of the practice OF Or
'lygamy in Utah, we pre- ",
me the country will approve u
his carlton. But if it means ",
at The people who have given so so
nphatic an expression of their oil