The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-08
DUTY OF THE COMMISSION.

In redistricting this territory for the
coming election for members of the leglsla-
ture in August next, the Utah commission
can well afford to be decent.
The law that passed Congress for that
purpose was championed by the bigoted
descendant of the Puritan itch-hangers,
the sour fanatic EDMUNDS. He even as
serted that the purpose of the measure was
to increase the influence of 'Christianity"
in the Utah legislature, by making 1t pos
sible for the orthodox church members
united with the gamblers, saloon element
and convict classes, and also the atheistic
branch of the ''unchurchedn people here,
to get a larger number of legislators than
heretofore.
In contemplating this unheavenly ALI
ance of piety and mockery, of religion and
atheism, Deacon EDMUNDs desired to ad
minister one more blow TO the Mormon
church, by making use of such circum-
stances and such forces of war as GoD and
nature had placed in his hands, just as the
British ministry justified the employment
of savages to massacre the families of the
colonists.
We suppose the temptation to the men,
bers of the Utah commission to advance the
worthy cause of Christianity in Utah by
securing the election of goodly number of
atheists and sprinkling of church-goers,
will also be great, from the contagion OF
the devout attitude of the pious EDMUNDs.
Nevertheless, we venture to admonish
the commission that the suffering interests
along without the aid of the members OF
the Utah commission as leaders in the new
crusade that is to deliver the holy sepulchel
of the Utah legislature from the hands of
the intidel Mormons.
There is no objection to poor, defenseles'
christianity" being represented in the
Utah legisla ure by such number of scott,
ing atheists nd meek ministers its mon
grel vote c. fairly send there; but any
attempt to enabl. 6,00) Liberal votes Il
ect mere L EN- er5 than 10000 People!
votes will be re .arded as an outrage anC
beresented as such by this Christian anC
atheistic combination, quite as well as by
the members of the Peoples party.
If it must needs be that the supposed in
terests of christianity are to be guarded
with jealous care by the state, as against
other religions popularity supposed to be
unorthodox Though we deny the right OF
state officials to discriminate between PEG
pie or parties on any pretense), at least lie
not the discrimination be so apparent as t.
shock the feelings of its advocates, as well
as those of its opponents.
On the whole, it would be just as well i
the commission would lay aside its mission
airy procliyities and be guided in the main
by the first principles of duty. The COM
missioners might reflect that they are not
here for the purpose of evangelizing Utah
nor of working in the interests of a loca
political party, but for the purpose of pro
viding an impartial conduct of the affair:
of elections. ANY other Interpretation oil
their duty, as that they are Christian
missionaries, for example, is a burlesque OF
the genius of American institutions. Ant
any attempt on their part to place the mi
lority in power would be gross violation
of their sworn duty and breach of pledge,
faith. The commissioners can nov
demonstrate their loyalty to duties which
they have sworn to perform with fairness
and can prove that they are true American
citizens in refusing to betray their trust o
Office.