Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-04
THE VITAL QUESTION At ISSUE.

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passed the House OF Representa-
tives by a strict party vote. Tn
Democrats, however, with one ex
ception, RETAINED from voting. Thi
may have been done for a purpos
which VIII be developed later.
The result, so far, was anticipate,
when The intention of the RepubIi
can party was made manifest
There is one characteristic Of tina
party-which is entitled to some re
spect. That is, when a policy 4
defined, it is lived up to and worke,
for with unwavering perseverance,
AM fidelity. The party does moi
back down or recede- 1t may change
front when Necessity seems 70 re,
quire, Tut that change is effected as
q body, and 10y common consent,
ami without fear as to consequences.
The chic ob ,tacle in the way OF
the admission OF Idaho was the
Mormon" question. 1t Is true that
Idaho has not the necessary popula-
ton under the rule, namely, the
number to entitle n district to one
Representative in Congress. This
would be in round numbers about q
hundred and fifty thousand. The
most sanguine supporters Of the
measure only claimed a hundred
and twenty thousand, and that this
was a great exaggeration everybody
familiar with Idaho Affairs is aware.
Little attention was paid to the ordi-
nary qualifications necessary for
the admission ola State. The '.Mor-
mon" question was the overshadow-
ing issue.
From the debates in Congress it
is very clear that the root of
this matter was net reached
except 10y few speakers on the
Democratic side. The subject
was treated as though pslygamy
and Polygsn;ists We're the point OF
assault in the peculiar constitution
submitted by the Territory of Idaho.
The point was continually pro-
jected and the object in doing so
was accomplished. The average
member imagined that in recording
his vote in favor OF the measure he
vas aiminga blow against polygamy
ami doing something for the po-
iitical discontinue Of polygamists.
This gross error ought to be ex-
ploded. It should be understood
that the effect Of the anti-s.AIor-
mon" clauses Of the Idaho consJitu-
ton VIII not disfranchise or debar
from holding Office any practical
Mormon" polygamist. All such
persons have been elIectually de.
barred from voting or holding Office.
That was effected eight years ago by
The so-called Edmunds act. The
aim and intent OF these clauses
are simply, but fully, to legisIate
against 4 certain religious belief and
the free exercise of that religion.
And by this We DO not mean the
exercise Of religion in violation Of
law, but the exercise Of religion
against which here is no law.
To illustrate: The Elders of the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
day Saints preach to the world that.
as necessary to salvation, men and
women must believe in God the
Eternal Father and in the Lord
Jesus Christ, repent OF their sins,
Ice baptized FOR the remission Of sins
and receive the Holy Ghost by the
laying on Of hands Of men author
lied Of God. II any man in Idaho
should believe this and receive these
ordinances Of baptism and confirma-
ton he wculd thus be made a men,
Der Of the .'AIormon'' Church. In
doing this he would violate no
law, he would not DO anything i'm
moral or against the peace and good
order Of society. Yet under the
Idaho Constitution he would for
this belief aud the exercise thereof
be debarred from the elective fran
chise, from holding any public Office
and from serving as a juror.
Take another case. The children
Of "Aionmon' parentage are as a
rule baptized when eight years old
AMI thus initiated into the Church.
When they arrive at manhood if
they should happen to live in Idaho,
because Of this membership they
would be shorn Of all political rights
and privileges. Partaking Of the
Sacrament or contributing to the
good Of the poor in that Church
would be sufficient so shut them out
from the polls.
Observe. This has Iiothing to do
with poIygamy. These members
may not even believe in the right
fUlness Of polygamy. In being
baptized into the Church. the
repentans believer is not required
to subscribe to any polygamous
agreement or tenet. It is the belief
in and the practice Of the plainest
Gospel principles enunciated in the
Christian New Testament against
which the anti-"NIormon" clauses
Of the Idaho Constitution are
framed. And therefore, in voting
fer it, the House Of Representatives
Of the United States have given
vitality TO a claw respecting au
establishment Of religion and pro-
hi5iting the free exercise thereof"
And this is expressly aud in terms
forbidden in the Constitution Of the |
United States.
The ruling Of the Supreme Court |
OF the United States in recent case !
will be cited as a reason for the ac-
ton Of the Republican Representa-
tives in Congress. 4 perusal Of that
decision will show that the Court
did not touch or allude TO the vital
question involved in this important
matter. 1t switched off on TO the
polygamy line and devoted its at
tentiOn to that, leaving the main is
sue unexamined and the main line
This grave question is yet to be
met, face to face, without lodging
or evasion: Can an American citi-