Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-06
SHALL TIE ssNORNOyS~ Il
DISFRANCHISED.


ZULU ins suo'ous" ~.
eoitotiAi' we 'ep'ou'oo ~ ." ''s
entirety ~ the argument Is 700 COM
plete and connected to condense and
do justice to 1t:
"If any legislation for Utah is TO be
attempted at the coming session Of
Congress it should, in the circum-
stances. be proceeded with on the
grounds OF justice and wise cxpedi-
ency rather than those Of official self
ishness or partisan advantage. The
announcement that strong lobby is
10 arrive here shortly to urge the adop-
ton of further measures against the
Mormons in that Territory, though
not verified, has an evil sound and,
possibly, still worse implication
The alleged purpose of these poll
tic;ans Is TO secure the practical dis
franchisement OF tho Mormons by
means Of bill to be passed In
the hurry and CONFUSION oil the short
session. Two bills now pending
are available for the purpose-one in
PRODUCED by Representative Strubie-
Of Iowa. and another, OF similar ma
ture. by Senator cullom, OF Illinois.
These bills take the privileges OF the
franchise from any person aiding.
abetting, or countenancing polygamy,
or attached TO any institution that
does.
To attempt to pass either OF these
bills in the face OF the change which
has been effected in the attitude OF
the Mormon Church would not only
be such an avowal of distrust and sus-
picion OF the majority oil the Utah as,
on the evidence presented, Congress
should not ma1e' out IL would also
have the appearance before the whole
country, OF being a resort to method
OF oppression altogether uncaiied Tor
by anything in the present situation.
The Mormon Church has done every
thing necessary to public renuncia-
ton of poiygamy as a PRACTICE,
and 1t has solemnly acknowi-
edged its allegiance to the laws OF the
United States. President Woodruff's
manifesto declaring the end and doom
oil polygainy ana the du'y oil ooedience
10 the laws oil the country was general
~ accepted rs hohes. IN Its tone ana
faithful IN It's statements, anu, shortly
after, that declaration was explicitly
affirmed by the heads OF the church
and ratified by its great annual con-
i veniion- The best evidence from
oian Is 70 'he eness tha tue action OF
the church was sincere and genuine,
aud II mas been SO accepted oy several
OF the feierai ofiiciais oil the ieFri-
tory.
'of course, there are many oo'h IN
and out OF uiah VINO do no' osiieNe IN
the honesty OF the Mormon Churcn,
and who regard It's recen. ACTON as a
mere blum; but IN matters Oh poiiicai
legislation and government only overt
acts, established by proper evidence,
eau he considered, and no reliance
can be placed on mere surmise or
conjecture. however sagacious. II VIII
not therefore be wise in Congress to
put much faith in the mere unsup-
ported statements of Utah politicians.
..,.....rr.- 49,. - 49,, ,,-f,r. ,.,.,,r.l
regard the perseverance OF the Nor
mons as LOYAL and law-abiding citizens
in the light offs evil, because il
would have the effect of retiring them
the politicians from official into pri-
waite life.
Those in Utah who distrust the pro-
fessions of the Mormons are mainly
of two very different classes. The first
of these are the men whose political
supremacy an unrestricted Mormon
vote would overthrow, and whose
dread of that overthrow makes them
so eagerly. but suspiciously jealous
agains; an evil which has all but dis
appeared. The other IS the missionary
class. representing in various ways
the several Christian denomina-
tions. in whose eyes the chief oifense
of the Mormons is that they remain
in the Mormon Church and
will no: allow themselves to be
converted TO another system of doc
-. u-l,a.o ,,;a-tnuartaa without
any i'll intent, dwell 80 habitually on
the enormity of bad doctrine that
they come to believe they know its
actual results in practice, when all
that has come to their knowledge is
simply of hearsay and exaggerated
character. Besides, they have 10 find
abiding reasons fc- the continuance OF
their work.
Now. the fact that man holds an
obnoxious doctrine has nothing to do
with his right to vote. In the State oil
New York, for example, citizen may
accept, indifferently, the theory Of
Nautilus or the doctrines OF the Lat
ter-day Saints without being in any
way dsbarred from doing citizens
duty at the polls. II IS only when he
commits an overt act against The pub
lie peace, and in violation OF public
law, that his rights are abridged.
What is true in New York should
be true also in Utah. III under
the new law any cases Oh poiySamy
have come into existence, let
them be found and suppressed by
legal agencies. Let the maie,actor
suffer the penalty of bis crime even
il it involves his loss OF suffrage. But
do not attempt the suppression OF a
whole people. To be deprived OF suf-
fragc because of condemned opinions
So h. rraa+knl m ia