, 1890-02-13
PRESIDENT wooDRUFr,s VIEWS

robDeu OF their rights
PRESIDENT woODRUrr,s VIEWS.
He Is Interviewed by an Associated
Press Reportcr.
President Woodruff, dean Of tho Nor.
mon church, to-day gave to the Asso.
ciated Press the only statement he has
ever made upon tho political fight
which has just ended here. The inter
view was as follows, and can be under.
stood as the feeling Of every Mormon In
the territory.
president Woodruff, would like 10
hear your Views on the political cam
paign here and the questions at issue -
swell, sir. I consider this as some
thing more than more question of
what men shall compose the govern
mont and what party they belong 10.
There Is u deep laid scheme to deprive
the Mormon people Of all political rights
and privileges so that the minority
hero may obtain control OF the ter
ritory. They eau not do this by
fair means, so they resort to foul.
by Misrepresentation and tax
fhk ahNhAiNhk' W popular DTtl-
udicc against tho Mormons, founded
chiefly in ignorance, they succeeded In
securing the acknowledgements Of a mum.
Der of settlers who made the country,
and then Of all the women. Tho Ed
munds-Tucker act has helped them
somewhat, but the test oath 1t provides
can be taken 10y the majority, at least,
as we'll as by their opponents. Now
they want every Mormon deprived ol
the right to vote and hold Office, no mat.
ter how good and law.abiding a citizen
he may be. At the Ogden election, a
year ago, largo numbers of names ol
resident voters were stricken from the
registration lists. Hundreds OF non
residents were imported and the election
was carried by open fraud. Since then,
by fictitious valuations. the assessments
OF property have been raised from threo
to tiye times the former amounts OF the
taxes; vice has hour.shed, OH.
cinls' salaries have been raised,
public improvements have not advanced,
and tho change Is deplored by the best
people OF both parties. Boasts were
made after thc election that Salt Lake
would be the next point OF attack, and
Nndt ~ Muhlu We CifTicu uy slnllnf
means. The result has proved the boast
to have not been in vain. 1 consider
that the election has been gained BY
striking from tho registration lists hun
dreds of legally qualified citizens, and
by the votes Of hordcs of new -comers,
not lawful citizens. regard the action
of the registrars and the whole course
pursued as part of n scheme TO capture
the city at all hazards. viewed itwith
profound regret, us prostitution OF law
and official power that should sadden
every lover OF fair play and the welfare
of his county
"what effect will this change have
upon the church and the peoples
phrtyP
"0h, as 10 that, can not sec
that the church will be in any way
effected, as the organization II Ia under
Is separate and apar' from political mat
ter. The members OF the church belong
to the peoples party, and they will gem
| orally feel that they have been robbed oil
their rights at the polls, but | presume
that viii not affect their political views,
or statutes. The church was not In tho
campaign, and the result will have no
belonging upon 1t at all. That | can
see.h
What will be the future policy of the
church2'
80 far as | know II will be TO preach
the gospel TO ali the world, instruct the
members In their religious duties and
move forward TO its diyinely ordained
destiny, as tho actual living Church oi
Christi
lis there any possibility Of the Nor.
mon church, or people, removing TO
"None that ! know OF. do not SOC
any necessity OF such removal. lndi.
vidual members may go where they
choose TO better their condition, but
there Is not, ndr has there ever been, any
contemplation OF any such exodus As
| you ask about"
What Il tlls Mormon idea Of It's rule
as the Ring1om of Iodf
''It Is this; We hold that this church
was set up for the purpose Of rigorous
| obedience To the commands of Almighty
God, and that II has the right to formu.
late and maintain rules Of church disci
pline applying only TO Its own membersi
that the extent of its punitive powers is
the eNcommunication of the transgres'
sors that II has no power to punish any
one by the deprivation OF life. liberty or
property, or personal injury in any form
that the go o'ernmcnt should not regulate
the church, nor the church seek to CON
troll the state; that all men
should be politically free
and equal. free to vote as they please
and to sustain what politics they please,
so as they do not infringe upon the
rights OF others. We believe that this
church will pave the way for the com
ing OF Christ to reign as king, and that
this church will then develop INTO the
Kingdom OF God, which all Christians
pray will como, that the will Of God may
be done on the earth as Il Is In heaven.
We believe In the fall and free agency
of man, and that when that kingdom IS
established there will be perfect liberty
on earth, civil, political and religious"
"Then you do not feel gloomy as to
the ultimate result Of this electionr
mo. ! believe the taxes will be
raised, and that there will be such loose
ness Of restraint imposed upon ilnmor;,
siity and such striking contrast formed
by the liberal rule to that order. honor,
honesty and consistent progress OF the
city under the peoples reign that, as In
Ogden, the more respectable people OF
all classes will soon desire return to
the former methods. The p!oiters
against the majority will proba-
bly, be emboldened to pursue
their plans for the destruction
OF the republican government,
In the territory, but should be sorry 70
believe that congress or tho county, VIII
proceed TO such unconstitutional and
Infamous extremities AS those that viii
be proposed. In any event. there Is a
power superior 10 all men. who VIII
ovcrrule all th lngs for the good OF those
who serve him"
President Woodruff appeared TO he. In
good health and not In the least worried
Of ID. al