The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-10-09
MASTERLY
ADDRESS
B. Il. Roberts at the
Provo Convention.
DUTY OF TIE PEOPLE
Course to Pursue in the Present
Contest.
DEMOCRACY AND THE ISSUES
The Paramount and Burning Questions of
the Hour, the Obligations Imposed
Upon the Citizen and the OBJ
jects to be Obtained by
Faithful Effort.

Faithful Effort.
The following is full report OF the elo
ouent speech al the Democratic conven ton
al Provo, October 5, delivered by B. II.
Roberts:
l appreciate the honor you have con ferred
upon me by inviting me to address this
convention. Yet l shrink from the task
you have assigned me, perhaps for the
reason that do not account myself poll
tician and am little experienced IN actual
political work But however limited my
experience may be in practical politics,
have devoted some attention to the study
OF civil government, especially to the prin-
ciples upon which our own government is
bottomed; and after such reflection upon
and analysis of the subject as my humble
abilities will admit of. arise from the
self imposed task with the deepest convic-
ton that am Democrat And though
my position in the Democratic party will
ever be a humble outstanding only in the
ranks of those of like political faith-yet l
shall ever derive great pleasure in the re-
Fiction that l am associated with that
party which stands pledged TO the mainten-
Rnce Of human liberty aud the rights of
man. Therefore, though may have some
misgivings as to my ability to do justice TO
those great political doctrines of which you
expect me to speak, you will understand
how it is Shat appreciate the privilege of
being with you today and of taking part in
your proceedings.
Thare is an0fher raa SON vvhry am rloa ad
with this opportunity of speaking to you
] trust the fact Of my doing so will be an
evidence to you and all who may hear of it.
that Democratic hlormons no less than
their Republican brethren are free to sffiii-
ate with the political party of their choice,
and give full ard free expression to their
honest convictions. The peculiar clrcum-
stances existing in this territory must both
excuse and Justify this remark 1t has
been charged that in this territory there
has been q union of church aud etate-that
the dominant church has dictated in polifi-
cal affairs. There has been come seeming
upon which 10 base the charge, perhaps
arising from the fact that since the domi-
nant church here IN Utah was attacked by
local political party. there was nothing
left for the members of that church to do
but TO band together for self-protection,
aud defend themselves as BEST they could
But IL is only fair 10 say that the church
charged with debating in political affairs
has stoutly denied the charge; and almost
from the beginning of its existence
has declared that it was not Just to
mingle religious influence with
civil government, whereby one re-
religious society IA fostered. and another
prescribed in its spiritual privileges, and
the individual rights OF its members as
citizens, denied" Doctrine and Covsn-
ants, section l34). In Deem Ger, 1889, the
.oIn hot ha Ob.- lit IL
the right TO dictate its members in their
political affiliations and actions being re-
newed, the first presidency of the church
and the twelve apostles over their sigma
lures said:
This church, scbde Offering ddcice for the
lrcfGre Of its members ~ all conditions OF life
does not claim or exercise the right to interfere
lrith citizens IN the free ersrcise of social or
political rights and privileges.
Further on in the same manifesto they
say:
Church gor Tnmeat ana ciud government are
distinct and separate "a our theory aud prac-
tee, diid ioe regard Il as oar destiny to AID IN
the maintenance and perpetEitg OF The institu-
tons Of our country.
Language cannot be more explicit than
this. But since the breaking up of local
political parties and the utilization of the
people of THE territory with one or the
other of the great national parties, it has
been again repeatedly asserted that the
dominant church is still debating its mem
bers in political affairs and that the first
presidency there is counseling the Mormon
people-without regard TO their political
convictions TIC be equally divided between
the two national parties with q view 10
obtaining favors and concessions from
both. From the fact that certain gentle
men prominent IN the Mormon church
councils and Republicans in politics have
been very active in working for the inter
ests Of their party: and from the fact that
prominent churchmen who were Demo-
cratic were for time less active in politics
lit has been asserted that this indicated
that the presidency OF the Mormon church
vas urging on Republicans while they were
supDressiDg or altogether silencing Demo-
crate. Thus interfering as ecclesiastical
authorities, and shading to snit their own
iiklngs the political complexion of this ter
ritory. These suppositioDs and charges,
however, are swept away by the decIara-
tions of the church officials themselves
Shortly after the Logan city election in
March last, when 1t was charged that the
presidency Of the Mormon church had used
their ecclesiastical authority in such man
ner as 10 influence citizens TO vote the Re-
publican ticket, President Woo ruff and
his second counselor, Joseph f. Smith, said
over their own signatures: The reason
George Q. Cannon did not join them in the
declaration was because he was ont OF the
territory.
I'VE emphatically deny that we, or
either of us, authorized Mr.. George +.
Gibbs or any other person or persons to
use our names so rs TO influence citizens to
vote the Republican ticket at Logan or
elsewhere. If our names have been used
10 any such way, it has been entirely with
out permission from US, and we hereby
condemn 1t as wrong and reprehens ible
Il we have any desire in this matter it s
that the people of this territory shall study
well the principles of both the great ma
ti0nal parties, and then choose which they
win join, freely, voluntarily and honestly,
from personal conviction and then
stand by it in ali honor and sincerity.
Each party should have the same rights,
privileges and opportunities as the other.
If any man claims that it is the wish of the
irst presidency that a Democrat shall vote
the Republican ticket, or Republican the