Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-22

l kind. but in almost every one of
81 them they are clearly defined. and
not only are they clearly defined,
hut the method Of ascsTtaiBlng them
and OF applying them as barrier 10
the exercise Of the elective fran
chise is explicitly set foTtil---=--
/ This constitution prescTibes two
classes OF disabilities; and in my judg-
ment 1t prescTibes two different ways
Of asceriaining whether n citi-
zen l. subject 10 them. First, there
are those disabilities which arise
from convic,i0a in n court ofjustice;
aua the ascertainment OF such n
disability is, by the very nature Of
the language, referred 10 the action
Of a court, making it dependent
upon the prior action Of a Judicial
tribunal, as in the case OF persons
under guardianship and persons
convicted Of certain ofleEses.
As 10 the second class, no method
Of ascertainment Is prescribed 90
HOBliso. but the matter Is plainly
left to the discretion of the legislat-
ure and the election officers. This
class embraces Idiots, insane per-
sons, persons in prison, every per-
son who is a biganist or polygamist
] or Is living in patriarchal, spiritual,
! or plural marriage, and 50 on The
/ last clause Of the provision supposed
10 refer TO the Mormons embraces
! persons who are excluded because
they belong % an organization
7 which teaches and and advises that
The laws OF the state Prescribing
rules Of civil conduct are not the
supreme law.
In this second class OF disabilities
no reference is made to convictions
whatever. There is nothing in the
proposed constitution ON that sub
iect. Everything is left in this I'M
portant, in this most precious, mat
ter TO the citizen, to the will of the
legislator.
The provision in regard to mem
bership OF organizations which teach
or advise that the laws Prescribing
rules OF civil conduct are not the
supreme law Of the land is OF very
grave nature.
l do not say that 1t is intended 10
trench upon religion; | 10 not say it
Is meant 70 interfere between a man
and his God; but ! 10 say that il has
broad latitude, latitude so great
that In times OF popular passion it
may embrace within its fold many
ami many an organization, spiritual
OF temporal, which to-day we have
no idea can be subject to il. Wrong
ideas grow. 1t is not the prerOgative |
Of good alone 10 thrive.
Why, Mr.. Speaker, il is only &
few years ago. that that great and |
hencficent order. the Masonic body,
was attacked from one end Of the |
country to the Otheras being hostile |
10 the freedom OF the country aud |
rs setting itself above courts and |
above the laws themselves. There |
Is another body, church, venerable |
with years, noted for its learning
FOR the great good it has done in the |
world, and for buttressing eivilIzl-
ton against paganism, against |
which this very reproach is matte. |
a church which like the Masonic /
body denies the truth Of that re-
pr0ach, aud denuunces IL as n
calumny invented by its enemies.
And yet | can imagine, and any |
man on this floor can imagine, in
times Of high excitement, especially
Of high religious excitement, excite
ment the most uurtasO nable, tine
most vindictiye to which the hu-
man mind eau be subject can
imagine that in such times men
might become SO frenZied by preju-
dice aud fear that even the very
fires which were the shame
OF Boston may be relighted and
s-ctarian hate rule men with savage
power.
Why, even the Savior OF man
kind was accused OF setting up AMI
a religion which claimed
20 be superior 10 the state. The his
tories Of your race and the histories
Of all religions are crowded with
racks, scaiIolds, anu
the fires in which men have been
tortured or destroyed because &C
cusei Of making this very claim;
men who we now SEE in the clear,
calm light Of history were done to
death unjustly, rs they were treated
harbarously while liv-
ing. While error is multiform, its
essence is the same.
Ard it Is only just 20 say Of this
Mormon Church that it denies the
that it essays TO over
turn the law.
Shall il be honored with the cross,
or martyrized at tine stake? Shall
its adherents, -deluded though they
are, be robbed Of the hearing in
the courts we give to every class OF
shall their rights rs citi- I
zens be determined 10y less solemn
methods than yoIr rights and mine?
Shall n mere election board have
power TO ostracise, to disfrauchise a
citizen and their finding Of the facts I
be conclusive on the courts? This
may be done under the constitution, I
and
Mr.. Struble-Is il within the rec
objection Of the gentleman that any
court in this land has ever held a.
10 either of these societies or to any
except the Mormon Church that Il |
was criminal organization?
Mr.. Chipman-NO, sir; i do not
anything Of that kind. ,
But do not see the pertinency Of 1
he question. q
Mr.. Struble-Is not the gentleman
aware that one court in Utah and !
another in Idaho have held to that !
fleet as 10 the Mormon Church, 5
Mr.. ChiPman-Now, what else I
10 you want to ask? Ask your ques-
ion and then sit down. I
Mr.. Struble-Are you not aware g
4 such q decision having been rem 4
Tered by judges Of your own party? r
Mr.. Chipman.-Party! What do ?
care for party? (Applause.) We I
re discussing the rights Of the c
'eOple. We are discussing a grave n
uesuOn OF elemental right; but the b
Gentleman talks Of party. 1t is d
arty when you try TO pension SOL il
iers. 1t is party when you essay TO n
i've any laws TO the people. IL il b
arty when we seek 10 protect the b
iuctiiy Ofthe franchise. tApplausel.
think nothing OF party. / care :
IotAing for party in this discussion. I
am making no attack on your :
arty. i am making lao attack on !
GU, and You will please sit down :,
nd let me 90 on. =
Mr.. Strubie rose. .
Mr.. Chipman.-Take your seat. !,
But let Us go another step, Mr.. n
peaker. What have these decisions q
} do with the controversy which is r
ending here? II the gentleman is n
% better lawyer than his question .
nplies, il lac has no more idea Of the q,
Drce OF authority than his question 4