The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-26
IThH POLITICS,

SALT LAKE, Utah, June 20-Ho!ItiCaI
organization in Utah has been opposed by
Liberal officeholders on the ground thaC
the dissolution of the Peoples party
(Mormou) was not sincere, and there has
been hard fight here on this point Inc
Times last night published an interview
with President Wilford Woodruf ana
George Q. Cannon on the position the
Mormon church occupies with reference
to the political conflict now wsging IN
Utah. AS officers of the church tney as
claim any part in disbandment of the Peo-
ple,s Marty. and say it was dissolved by It's
leading members on their conviction that
the time had come for division on ma
tional party lines.
'aTbere has been a growing feeling. IN
favor of this sentiment" they say, ana IL
has not come from any instructions OF the
church. There is no foundation Tor say
ING that the church brought it about. We
do not claim the right to dictate TO our
members on political matters. and the
nnlv foundation for such an assertion Is
that members of the Peoples party be
longed to the Mormon church. That self
defense compelled them 20 act together IS
positive to our minds. Dissolution was
made in good faith. We have never
and will not now strive to direct the
political action of our members. There
Is no reason why the party should
ever come together again to vote sondly,
If the same conditions prevail here as else
where and we believe that the Mormons
will support Democratic and Republican
candidates, irrespective of party, whether
they are Mormon or GENTLE. For our
selves. we are in favor of suitable men for
office, irrespective OF renglous DelleLs or
associations. 1t is folly to believe that it
is the intention of the members of the
Peoplo's party, after a liberal party has
been broken up, to unite in favor OF the
Mormon church against the Gentlles. We
hail with unfeigned qualification the time
when the people of Utah, without regard
to religious views, can unite as cltlzens
and labor for advancement and prosperity
of the territory.
'If statehood should ever be attained, all
the influence we could use would be ex-
erted TO break down the distinctions which
have created such bitterness in the past
also in favor of any legislation that will be
to the interests of the whole people. Any
attempt to pass laws In favor OF Mormons
as against Gentiles would be sure to bring
upon us evils which we are desirous OF
averting, 1t is not our interest to furnish
n pretext for the formation of An anti
Mormon party, which would, no doubt, be
the result If members of the church in the
legislature were TO attempt to discriminate
sn favor of their co-religionists.
We perceive no reason why the representa-
tives of the Peoples party should have
taken the recent action unless 1t was their
honest intention to unite themselves with
national parties. We know of no inten-
tion on the part of any one to organize
POLITICAL party with respect to what are
the conceived interests of the Mormon
church. However much appearances may
have indicated that we favor union of
church and state, and notwithstanding
our repeated assertions to the con-
trarv, we say that there IS so
no such disposition in our organization;
in fact, we believe in a separation of
the two but in past times the situation in
this territory was such that officers of the
church were frequently elected to civil
Offices If the people availed themselves
of the best talent they were often of neceS-
Sitv compelled TO call on the church Off
cars, because they were men of ability. In
C sc any one was elected, 1t was necessary
t. select some officer of the church, as
nearly every respectable Mormon held
some office, but these were all men having
ability as legislators, and were chosen be-
cause of their capacity, and their election
TO civil Office led to the idea that there was
an union of church and state.
There is no reason why members of the
church should not act freely with the
national parties at all times. Speaking
for ourselves, and judging by our exper-
defiance OF the laws against polygamy
now We have no creed but articles OF
faith which say nothing on the subject of
polygamy. A member of the church who
would now enter into that relation would
violate a rule of the church and be looked
upon as a wroRgdoer We only speak
for ourselves, but say we would not
authorize any polygamous marriage or
,ountenance any unlawful cohabitation
There is no foundation for the charges
that the MOrmons have entered into a
conspiracy to secure political control in
Utah with or without statehood. We see
nothing for the church to gain by such
action. The only protection the church
desires is that which it should obtain
under general laws which secure the
rights of all denominations. 1t would
be most unwise for the Mormon people
to endeavor to secure any advantage
not shared in by other religious peo-
pie. All that we ask is to have
equal rights before the law. 1t
is our understanding that the Nor
mon people differ as to Democratic
and Republican parties, and that
they viii act in accordance with
their convictions in uniting with these
parties personally. We have felt that the
time would come when the two great par
lies would be organized in this territory,
aud we have felt that ii an attempt of this
kind was made, each should have the full
est opportunity to lay lis principles before
the people, so that tsvv might have clear
understanding OF the ISSUES and be able to
decide IN the light of the facts presented to
them. 10 which OF the parties they would
belong. That being true, nothing could
be gained by bad faith on our
part and, everything could be
lost, even IL it should be con-
iemplated by any member of the Peoples
party. The declarations made by the
leaders OF the Peoples party express our
views and have our entire approval What
greater evidence can be asked than these
which have already been furnished. The
statement has been repeatedly made that
the great objection TO Us was our belief in
and practice OF patriarchal marriage In
entire good faith the maliesto was written
and signed by the leading men and adopt
ed by one OF the largest general conferences
OF the church ever held. a conference
composed of about 1900 people. 1t
has been asserted, in addition, that the
people were governed by the priesthood in
political matters. This is now disproved
by the dissolution OF the Peoples party
and the union of lis members with the
two national parties. What could posi-
bly, be gained by this action OF the people
II they were not sincere? II the element
OF sincerity We're wanting, such move
ment would result IN utter demoraIiza-
ton
FAST AND LUxuRlANT PASSENGER