Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-15

clause in the constitution, was gen.
orally 20 construed rs 10. prohibit
every Mormon frusn voting oSsn
though he was willing to take the
prescribed oath. In some instances
men tired OF political ostr3cism,
weary Of being deprived OF every
right as American citizens, swelter-
ing under the iron heel Of political
despotism, withdrew from the
church and while attempting to vote
were arrested for conspiracy; quite
number OF whom are now awaiting
trial on that charge. Just
think of it, American cit "a. 8
every way qualified TO vote,
having even taken the obnex-
ious text oath, while attempting TO
exercise the highest privilege Of
that citizenship are arrested for con-
spiraey, placed under exorbitant
bonds are thrown into jail, 10 be in
dicted, tried, aud convicted not by
Juries or theft peers, bat by luries Of
their enemies. COB, Liberty, what
crimes are committed in thy name"
Now, while under the Territorial
statue there was some opportunity
for the accused voter 10 purge him.
self by taking the test oath, under
this constitution the prescribed
classes are forever barred from vOt-
ing, holding Office, or sitting on
juries- There are no means provided
by which the status Of voters is to
be determined. There Is no ex-
purgatory oath as in the Idaho sta
tute, nor Is any provision made by
which the disfranchised class can
ever be re-enfranchised, because this
provision is Interchangeable. Some
gentlemen who support this consti-
tuition insist upon calling this pro-
vision n test oath, and when told
that there Is no oath provided persist
that there is an oath in the constitu-
ton, thus demonstrating that they
do not understand the provisions Of
the measure they are advocating. If
those gentlemen who 50 vehemently
assert that there is an oath provided
in the constitution VIII examine the
document they will fail TO find It.
No, gentlemen, you cannot find II;
|. is not there.
Nor is that all: II a citizen is once
DISTINGUISHED there is no remedy for
him, he must ever remain so, for
the Constitution, Article 6, Section
4, declares that:
The Legislature may prescribe qaalinea.
tons, hmifatl1ns and conditions for the
right Of suffrage additional 10 those pre-
scribed in this article. but shall never an
nul any Of the provisions IN this article
contained.
Again, II n member Of the Nor
mon Church, n citizen OF any other
State, enjoying there all the priv
leges OF an American citizen, with
out let or hindrance, should change
his residence and move into Idaho,
he would Immediately be disfran-
chised and not permitted to vote,
serve as a juror, or hold any civil
Office. BY crossing an imaginary
line he would cease to be free man
and become n political slave.
Nay, more. III the distinguished
Delegate from Idaho, who 50 obsti-
nately champions this clause, should
ever he converted to the faith OF the
Saints, as was Saul in ancient
times; if he should be baptized and
confirmed n member Of the Church
Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints,
under this constitution he would
be Immediately DISTINGUISHED, not
withstanding his eminent services
in bringing the State into the Union.
Nor would he have any recourse
except to apostatize from the faith
and. .'reiurn to the beggarly ele-
men,s Of the world" Could any.
thing bemOre absurd and un-Ameri-
cam
While the advocates Of this meas
ure are claInoring for the political
equality Of the blacks in the South,
they, by this constitution, doom
white American citizens to perpst-
ual political bondage. Just think
Of il; political WHITE slaves in a free
and independent State, one Of the
States OF the American Union, 1.-The
home Of the free, the asylum Of the
Oppressed"
uNA IN ArAAhf IANAA-A u AANA N
streets Of Askelon; lest the daughters OF
the PhIlistncs rejoice, lest the daughters Of
the inclrsumcised triumph.
Mr.. Speaker, desire to call atten-
ton to another feature Of this dis
franchising clause Of the constitu-
ton now under consideration. IL IS
this:
W ,,c-sr,- - ,,sy-,,,gf.ed 81 ,r,fa srr,-, - a
juror or hold any civil once who
u Amcmber Of or contributes tOthe support.
aid, or encouragement Of any order, OEsani-
Eation, A. sociaiion, corporation, or society
which teaches or advises that the
lave OF this state prescribing rules OF civil
conduct, are not the supreme laws OF the
state.
While this provision, by any fair
construction, would not disfranchise
any member CT the Mormon
Church, for, Notwithstanding asser-
tons to the contrary, that church
teaches, as / have already shown,
implicit obedience to the laws Of the
State, IL would disfranchi>e every
man who believes that Jehovah is
the Supreme Ruler OF the UNIVERSE.
chat Jesus is King OF Kings and
Lord Of Lords"
/ have before me a copy CT the
Christian Statesman, n paper pub
lished in Philadelphia. which con-
tains a call for n conference of the
National Reform Association, " hich
is now In session ut Lincoln Music
Hall in this city. i will read two
brief extracts from said call. Re-
ferring TO christian principles Of
civil government, 1t says:
Among the principles which this assOcia-
ton holds 20 be fundamental In civil gov
eminent are these; Nations and govern
ments are accountable TO Almighty God
and are bound by the moral law the Lord
Jesrs Christ Is the actual governor of ma
tons, and HIS will. revealed IN the Holy
Scriptures. Is the supreme rule to decide
moral questions in political life These
principles We mold 10 have been woven his
torically into the very h5er Of American IN
stiiuIions- Our stability and our pr gress
l have been due 70 the power they have eN-
erted IN our national life, All the evils
which have afflicted rs have been traceable
| to our departure from them. All oar hopes
for the future depend upon them Our
gravest peril lies IN the fact that these prin-
! cipics arc ignored by large numbers OF our
citizens and denied by many others The
duty OF the hour u To emphasize and up
hold them, and TO inculcate them upon the
fastinereasins millions Of our population.
UNDERLYING all these practical issues Is a
deeper and more radical controversy pro
yOked by those who deny that evil govern
ment sustains any relation 20 God, or 70
/ Christ, or 10 the moral law; wLo deny that
orr laws and institutions should bear At
any point the impress Of the Christian re-
ligion, and who arc striving constantly and
Of deiiberafe purpose TO obiiterate every
/ Christian feature Of American Institutions
and % divorce our government from all
connection with religion