Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-07-14
THE ROOT or THE WRONG IL.
TENDED.


touched CO points that its writer
understood. Recently. however
It has uttered some very paIpabli
errors, and has exhibited the Iacl
Of information and sound reason
common to the American pres
when touching upon this popular
topic.
In long editorial under the head
OF \ nu-Polygamy Legislation, il
cOmmends the bill introduced by
Senator Plat and designed to pre-
vent the mOnogamic E'Aformsns'
from voting and holding Of
fee. II thinks this Is preferable
to the Cullom bill, but only show.
IN a general way the reason for this
preference. The effect Of the two
bills is exactly the same. Each
formulates a test oath framed 10 dis
frauchise every member Of the
Church commonly known as the
Mormon Church.
The Republican says
This bill DISTINGUISHES, and pro-
hibi;s the serving on juries, OF two
classes Of persons, both law breakers
in fac; OF in attitude"
Does not the republican know
chat the 'law-b-eakers in fact,;
have been DISTINGUISHED since
March -, lss2? If not, the Ed
nunds law OF that date Will demon
strate the fact, and the various an
nual reports Of the Utah Commits
sion, since that date, testify to the
enforcement Of the act and show
that the polygamists have RETAINED
from registering and voting.
If the Plat bill disfrauchises &C
tual polygamists, then it is surplus
age ami Of no effect. II is labor in
vain, ami nothing but sham and
pretense. It can have no object in
PurPortiDg to do this except to give
color to the claim that lis 4 bill
against polygamy.
What a ''law-breaker in attitude,
tut not in fact Is, we would like the
RspU5Ac2R TO explain. Also we
would he pleased 10 have some pre-
cedent cited for the punishment OF
persons who are not ''iaw-brsakers
IN fact" We DO not understand
that the Jurisprudence Of this coun-
try has yet reached the length Of
condemnilg and furnishing persons
because they are thought likely to
commit crime.
Let me alone, can't We. Joua-
than" why, aint Iourhin, On
We, an Is NO. but w.rn,t you =
going to- This may 10 very wei,
N a burlesque picture, hut II will
not sand, in law or logic. in the
place Of definite performance. .sAtti-
'die' Is one thing, action j. another
And only for overt acts can q uer-on
tie lawfully punished in any w,v
But in this case the "Nformons,,
who have RETAINED from breaking
the law are not even lawbre,kers In
attitude, whatever that NAV =.
They have already taken an oath
hot to violate the laws Of Co.grsss
IN reference to sexual offans.s
Neither in fact nor ia attitude can
they be fairly cIassed as law
breakers.
The RePn51icaa says that with
the actual offenders are cIassed those
who indirestly aid andabet. counsel.
teach or advise polygamy. But such
persons are already DISTINGUISHED
The Elmunds- Tucker act OF Iss7
covers their case. The test oath
which AL voters in Utah must take
shuts out such indirect participant.
IN the actual oGense. Therefore
this also is 4 work Of supereroy.-
ton.
The second class Of the disfrap.
chised is described as chose VIII.
DO not accept the laws Of Utah And |
The Constitution Of the Uni,ea |
States as supreme rules Of civil con-
duct
Well, this is in the same category.
Every voter in Utah can suhscrjI,,. |
to that provision. 1t Will shu. ont |
no Mormon who has taken the |
test-oath now in force. Surplusagy
again.
Where, then, is the objection TO |
the bill" Its this: Itprevents from
voting OF holding Office. or Jury ser
vice citizens who are not law break.
eFs IN lac, in attitude, or in any other
sense, if they belong to tine sam.
Church as persons vino have broken
the laws, or if they contribute any
thing to its support.
The Republican quotes from the
DEsEREr News and from the Den.
Yer Republican as follows. and SAYS
'Neither Of these statements l. can.
did," '''7 '''
The DEsEREr News said:
at ought to b. clear TO every
over % constitutional freedom. th1t
acknowledgements OF innocent cjri- :
lens because they are members of -.
''e same church As persons who NAV
'e guilty, Is in spirit, il not in letter.
violation Of the fundamental law. 4
ND subversive Of republican Iiber- G
The Denver Repu5Tcaq said: d
The men who are guilty Of polyg-
my IN the Mormon Church ought 10 i
e punished, but the men who are no: I
uilty Of polyslmy ought not 10 be II
Gated as though they were guilty" 4
Wherein Is either Of these state "
tents "not canlid:'' Does not the | Z
latt bin propose 10 disfrancbise
innocent citizens because they are v
TENDERS Of the same Church rs q
ersons who may be guilty." Does 81
not in effect politically punish {,
len in the Mormon Church p
who are not guilty Of polygany, t;
Is though they were guilty:'' c,
The Republican says: V
1T IS not an injustice to refuse the .
Mirage TO the members OF the Nor =
on Church 50 long Is that Church "
aches and abPts Polysamy." "
And yet that paper calls itself Re .