Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-22

IL out in the most severe and obnox
ious manner possible? You say Il
will not be done. say liberty, the
rights Of the citizens, public safety
demand that you shall confer nc
power, give no opportunity TO inflict
an oppressive rule upon the citizen.
MIR. Baker-Will the gentleman
yield for a suggestion In the shape OF
aquestien?
Mr.. Chipman-Yes, sir; with great
pleasure
Mr.. Baker-Has the gentleman
overlooked the provision in the con-
stitution which meets the point he
mAkesl
Mr.. Chipman-what is II?
Mr.. Raker-That person claim
ing a right 10 vote may purge him
self OF this disqualification by taking
the oath.
lIr. Springer-Where is Il?
Ir. Mansur-It is not in the con-
tuition.
Mr.. Bsker-The test oath.
Mr.. Chipman-I have not founG
IL.
Mr.. Mansur-You can answer 1t
by saying that it is net in the con-
stitntiOn.
Mr.. Chipman-I have not seen
such n provision.
have observed, though. I will
state 10 the gentleman from New
York Mr.. Baker,, in the majority
report Of the committee something
which they roll As a sweet morsel
under their tongue, and bearing
about the same relation and potency
rs authority to the matter at issue
as the question OF the gentleman
over there n short time ago, but
which is cited by the committee as
conclusive. In the case Of n Mr..
Davis against a sheriff, suit was
brought in Idaho involving the le-
gality Of test oath disclaiming con-
nectiOn with MOrmonism, and the
Supreme Court held that the oath
was n pioper and a constitutional
requirement. 1 have no doubt OF it;
no one doubts ii.
But how DO we know that the leg
stature Of Idaho will prescribe q
test oath in this case ami so give an
opportunity Of purgatione You say
that they probably will. l say that
they ought 10. But is there no doubt
that they will do 50? There is none
that it should he done; but where Is
the authority that compels il? Where
is the warrant; the surety? Where
is the assurance that they will not
leave this entire matter 70 the kind
Of men whom ! will not undertake
to characterize here; the men who
may compose election boards; the
low politicians; the hucksters Of pub
lie life; the seekers for the little Off
ces; the hangers-on Of great men;
the mean implements Of base am
billions; the general doors of dirty
work throughout the nation?
How do We know, / ask, that il
will not be left entirely 10 these
men? In vain is Il TO say it will not
probably be left 10 them. IL may be:
and where there il an opportunity
for corruption, where in the mad
delirium and loose morals Of politics
there is an opportunity for oItpres-
sion, you may be as sure that they
will appear promptly at that 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, Mr.. Speaker. / am not an
apOlogist for MOrmOnism; but Il l.
very cheap, it is very easy 10 stand
here and rail at it. There j., sir, a
demagogy Of virtue just as there Is
a hypocrisy OF religion. Thevirtue
which is performed vicariously is
the sweetest in the world to n great
many people. ! know gentlemen
whose sole virtue consists in con-
demning polygamy, and who are
sober only by trying to enact laws
to keep the poor soldier from get
ting his beer. Laughter and APP
planse.l
rne world is full Of this kind Of
: iints; and To stand here where we
have no real potency over the sub !
jet, where we arc not called upon |
70 act-tO stand here and hurl cpl /
thets at MormOnism seems to me 10 |
be n 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 50 it is
CHEAP and easy. condemn Nor |
mOnism root and branch. agree :
with the trainers Of this
that persons guilty Of
bigamy and pOlygamy and Of the
practices set forth in section 3 OF 4
article Of the Idaho constitution
ought TO be DISTINGUISHED. But
they are human beings. they are
citizens, and | contend
for them and in their behalf that
they should have the rights Of all
other citizens. No one Of them
Jught ~ lose mis- right to vote unless
lac is duly convicted.
| contend for them. and not for
Them alone, but for all citizens, Prot
estant or Catholic, Jew or Gentle,
FOR the black and the white, for
every form Of religion, tfor every
Iorm Of political belief, that their
rights should be judicially ascer-
aimed. know that i'm the State Of
Illinois statutes have been passed
or the first time in the history Of
his country making penal certain
OF opinion. That law
nay be the Outgrowth Of a great ne
;essity and he so well guarded that
40 harm can be Gone TO free speech
md legitimate political action, but
ell you, gentlemen, here today that
{ i dangerous road to enter upon.
[ is the road followed by this con-
and is doubly dangerous,
'ecause it is an organic law.
| know the answer will be that by
his route YOU seek 10 attain certain
'oOd. But after all you set a prece-
lent; and all the evil | have ever
cad OF in history comes from evil
'recedents bent to good uses. IL is
he eNigency Of occasions which
auses reason 10 be blind and desper-
tie courses to he pursued. Its from
Ugh and holy purposes, often in
eed for the preservation Of the state
tself, that an evil example is set and
rule established which ultimately
aptizes the liberties Of the people In
lood or browns them in despOtism.
Strike Mormonism, If you please.
trikc it hard; but give IL n fair trial;
.et the courts condemn it; not ire
pOnsible election officers. Let them
ondemn the man whose vote you
eek TO take from him, upon some
barge Of crime proved by lawful
violence. Let them sOlemnly, by
Judgment and record, determine
hat lie falls within the law and has
an Ofiense which takes
rom him, and ought TO take from
i'm, the right Of the elective fran
hise. We cannot afford, for the
OF Mormonism, TO intro
uce into this country n precedent
. dangerous. We cannot afford to !
o this clear Off in idaho, even, for
hat is not so far away but that II {
nay ripen in mischief and he cited
4 courts and in Senates against the
berries Of the people. j contend &