Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-27
Am Il at the Deputies.

A blow a. the United Order of Depu>
ties and similar organizations was dealt
10 the senste Tuesday morning By Sena-
stor Mshoney, who introduced a bill
making them criminal conspiracies when
they Incorporate in their constitution or
oy avs o. s2ye for the purpose of their
orgauiz '.iou the prevention OF persons
from holding Office because of nationality
or religion. The full text of the bill is as
follows:
Sec. /. Be it enacted by the people
of the state Of Illinois, represented in
the general assembly, that section 46 OF
an act entitled, An act to revise the law
10 relation to criminal Jurisprudence; sp-
proved March 81, 1874. in force July /,
1874" be amended so as to read as fol-
lows
Sec. 46. Ifany two OF more persons
conspire aud agree with the fraudulent
or malicious intent wrongfulIy aud wick
edly 10 inJure he person, character, bus
mess or property of another, or to OBJ
tain money or other property by false
pretences, or 70 do any illegal act, injur-
ions TO the public trade. health,
morals, police or administers
ton Of p .blic justice, or to prevent com
petition in The letting Of any contract by
the state or the auth rites OF any coun-
ty city. town or village, or to induce
any prrso not to enter into such compe-
III on, or to prevent the election TO public
OH "a OF any pe.sOn because OF the ma.
tlDnality or religious opinions or belief Of
such person, or 10 commit any felony,
they shall be deemed guilty of conspir-
acy; and every such off nder and every
person convicted of conspiracy at com
mon law shall he imprisoned in the peni>
Tertiary not exceeiing three years. or
fined not exceeding 81 900"
Senator Mahoney, in speaking of bis
measure; said: Section 3 CT the consti,
tu;iOn declares among other things that
the free exercise and enjoyment of reIi-
glous profession and worship without dis
elimination shall forever be guaranteed,
and no person shall be denied any cis il or
political right, privilege or capacity on
account Of his religious opinions. The
formation Of any society or association to
defeat the election of any person to public
office because he is a member of a certain
church Is clearly criminal violation of
tue constitution and should be severely
punished. To my mind no section of
The constition should be more strictly
lived up to. Church rights and sta tie
rights should be entirely separate and
free from one another We are a cosmopol-
lta2 people, and | am glad to be lie to
say we have many good people in all the
religious beliefs, and for the prosperity,
maintenance and safety Of our state thew
should have their proper representation in
our government. | can see how our
whole system Of govern ment might be
overthrow by the action of society as
described above. This is question
which reaches the home of every man,
and now at the beginning is the time 10
punish crimes of this kind and stamp
them out forever"
IHE ARGUS is glad 10 commend Senator
MahOney's bill and to express the belief
that as a measure it W II reach very de-
sirable end. In this same view Of the
case, THE ARGUS while not discouraging
the establishment of other newspapers
deprecates the principle which is fostered
in the aim of paper soon to be estab
lished IN this city, and which if the brsgs
OF some members of an anti-American
socie' 10 this city are to be believed, is to
have as its chief object the bitter antag-
onism of areligious portion of the com
muniy. THE ARGUS believes in free
speech and free press. bat no newspaper
should be the mOuthpiece of an organiza-
ton which is unconstitutional in character.