Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-09-20

THE republican territorial platform de
 mands the disfranchisement of the Mor-
 mon citizens of Arizona, and upon this
 plank it's organs arrogate to itself great
 virtues of morality. Let us reason to- gether little upon this subject Our Mormon population are conceded to be an industrious, frugal and law-abiding people; they have reclaimed our deserts and built up prosperous settlements here and there, aud contribute their just pro portion of taxation for public purposes, As citizens and neighbors very little can be said against them. As a rule they do not practice polygamy and while the tenets of their church may recognize 1t they so far respect the law upon that sub ject as to ignore it. Our criminal records arc not burdened with actions against them as individuals or as a body. and the very few instances of crime with which they have been charged are not to be com pared with those who assume opposition to them. The sweeping charge that they are guilty of all crimes in the decalogue is sheer nonsense. If they are guilty, and the fact is SO notorious that it's publica- ton to the world is justifiable, then those who are cognizant of the facts are equally culpable in not bringing them before the bar of justice in the manner prescribed by law, like other offenders. It Is all bun
 come If the republicans set themselve up as party of moral reforms, why do they not embrace in their refounatory ef- forts the far greater evil of intemperance and the dozens of other grave vices to which humanity is prone? All these greater evils are ignored and the assump- ton that all Mormons are unconvicted felons is set up merely for political pur poses. The Mormons of Arizona. fol very good reasons, do not vote the repub
 lican ticket, hence they are outlaws. II Wyoming they support the republican ticket and are saints still. The hypocrisy of this movement is too apparent to re
 ceive the approval of men who possess 6 fair idea of justice-it Is abominable. Il the Mormons transgress the law let then receive impartial trials and, if found guilty, receive the full penalty prescribed Their belief in the doctrines of the Nor mon faith Is not a crime, even thougl they may choose to vote for the demo cratic nominees. Even the preposterou: charge that they vote solidly as they ar, commanded to do by their spiritual ad visers cannot be considered a crimina offense. The very men who make thi. charge have themselves been guilty O herding ignorant citizens and voting then as chattels upon the day of election, anC they have no just right to complain i
 others do likewise We do not assume to apologize for the Mormons, but we lik, to see square and impartial justice meteC out to all men, no matter what their re hgious belief may be We are personall! acquainted with many Mormons in Ari zona who, in point of individual morality intelligence, respect of the law, industr! and good citizenship are far superior {, many of their traducers As men, let Il: deal fairly with our fellows, and as parti zans let us stand upon a platform O equal justice to all and not stoop to ques tionable schemes to carry out our desires and we will command respect rather thal the contempt this unreasonable and un just attempt at disfranchisement merits