The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-27

this constitution so dangerous a provision
will not induce the people to pass laws to
carry 1T out in the most severe and obnox-
ious manner possiblel You say it will not
be done. l say liberty, the rights of the
citizens, public safety demand that YOU
shall confer no power, give no opportunity
to lnfiict an oppressive rule upon the
citizen.
Mr.. Baker-Wiu the gentleman yield for
a suggestion In the shape of a question?
Mr.. Chipman-Yes, sir; with great pleas
ure.
Mr.. Baker-Has the gentleman over
looked the provision in The constitution
which meets the point he makes?
Mr. Chipman-What is it9
MIR. Baker-That a person claiming a
right to vote may purge himself of this
disqualification by taking the oath.
MIR. Springer-Where is it!
Mr.. Mansur-It is not in tn constitution.
Mr.. Baker-The test oath.
Mr. Chipman-I have not found it.
MIR. Mansur-You can answer it by say
ing that it is not in the constitution
Mr.. Chipman-I have not seen such a
provision.
L have observed, though, will state to
the gentleman from New ork (Mr. Baker,
In the majority report of the COMMITTEES
something which they roll as sweet NOR
sci under their tongue, and bearing about
the same relation and potency and authority
TO the matter at issue as the question
OF the gentleman over there a short
time ago.. but which is cited by
the committee as conclusive. In the
case of MIR. Davis against a sheriff.
suit was brought in Idaho involving the
legality of test oath disclaiming connec-
ton with Mormonism, and the supreme
court held that the oath was proper and
constitutional requirement I have no
doubt Of it; no one doubts it.
But how do we know that the legislature
OF Idaho will prescribe test oath in this
case and so give an opportunity of purga-
ton: You say that they probably will. I
say that they ought to. But is there no
doubt that they will do SO? There is none
that it should be done; but where is the
authority that compels it? Where is the
warrant; the surety? Where is the assur-
ance that they will not leave this entire
matter to the kind of men whom will not
undertake to characterize here; the men
who may compose election boards; the low
politicians; the hucksters of public life:
the seekers for the little offices; the hang
erson OF great men; the mean implements
OF base ambitions; the general doors of
dirty work throughout the nation?
How do we know, ask, that it will not
be left entirely to these mens In vain is it
to say 1T will not probably be left to them.
1t may be; and where there is an opportu-
nifty Tor corruption, where in the mad de-
llrlum and loose morals of politics there is
an opportunity for oppression, you may be
as sure that they will appear promptly at
the time, when they can do the most good
or the most harm that can be done, as that
the sun will rise or set.
NOW, MIR. Speaker, am not an apologist
for Mormonism; but it is very cheap. it is
very easy to stand here and rail at it.
Inere IS, sir, demagogy of virtue just as
there IS hypocrisy of religion. The vir-
Tue which IS performed vicariously is the
sweetest in the world to great many peo-
pie. know gentlemen whose virtue con-
slsts solely in condemning polygamy, and
who are sober only by trying to enact laws
to keep the poor soldier from getting his
beer Laughter and applause1.
The world is full of this kind of saints:
and to stand here where we have no real
potency over the subject, where we are not
called upon to act-to stand here and hurl
ep1thets at Mormonism seems to me to be
very mean piece of business. There is no
risk, there is no bravery in this kind of
talk; there are no votes to be lost by it. and
so 1t is cheap and easy. 1 condemn Nor
monlsm, root and branch 1 agree entirely
with the trainers of this constitution that
persons guilty of bigamy and polygamy
ana OF the practices set forth in section 8
OF article of the Idaho constitution ought
to be dlstranchised. But they are human
beings, they are American citizens, and
contend Tor them and in their behalf that
they should have the rights of all other
cltlzens. No one of them ought to lose his
right to vote unless he is duly convicted
l. contend for them, and not for them
alone, but for all citizens, Protestant or
Catholic, Jew or Gentle, for the black and
tne Whlte, Tor every form of religion, for
every form of political belief, that their
rights should be judically ascertained. |
know that in the state of Illinois statutes
nave been passed for the first time in the
history OF this country making penal GER
tain expressions of opinion. That law may
be the outgrowth of great necessity and be
so well guarded that no harm can be done
to free speech and legitimate political ac-
tlon, but tell you gentlemen here to-day
that 1T is dangerous road to enter upon.
1t is the road followed by this constitution,
and is doubly dangerous because it is in an
organic law.
know the answer will be that by this
route you seek to attain certain good But
after all you set a precedent; and all the
evil have ever read of in history comes
from evil precedents bent to good uses. 1t
is the eX1gency of occasions which causes
reason to be blind and desperate courses to
be pursued. 1t is from high and holy pur-
poses, often indeed for the preservation of
the state itself, that an evil example is set
and a rule established which ultimately
baptizes the liberties of the people in blood
or browns them in despetism.
Strike Mormonism, if YOU please: strike
IL hard; but give it fair trial. Let the
courts condemn it; not irresponsible cleo
tlon officers. Let them condemn the man
whose vote you seek to take from him, upon
some charge of crime proved by lawful evil
dence. Let them solemnly by Judgment
and by record determine that he falls
within the law and has committed an Of
tense which takes from him, and ought to
take from him, the right of the elective
franchise. We cannot afford, for the sup
preston of Mormonism, to introduce into
this country a precedent so dangerous. We
can not afford to do this clear off in Idaho.
even, Tor that is not so far away but that
1t may ripen in mischief and be cited in
courts and in Senates against the liberties
OF the people. l contend simply for the
protection of the law through the iudg-
ment OF the courts on the conduct of all
men. Discrimination made in the very
teeth OF denials that the accused are sub
lect to them can not fail to be most hurtful
and most dangerous. l would blot out Nor
monlsm II [ could. but / would not, even to
blot out Mormonism, take one step which
might impair the freedom of the American
people. Applause on the Democratic side. 7
Handy for travellers is Simmons r iyo,.