The record-union., 1893-11-02
A GENEROUS GOVERNMENT.

IL inns is not generous Government of
ours, forgiving and patient Govern
ment, then there is no such thing as low
ing kindness and forbearance. Some
years ago the Federal Government very
properly seized property held by the
Mormon Church in excess of its corpo-
rate rights. Indeed, all property of the
church not used by it for devotional pur-
poses was confscated, and the rents,
issues and profits were ordered used for
charitable and educational purposes.
There remained, however, good deal
of personal property in the hands Of
receiver appointed by the court, and this
was in litigation. Early in October of
this year resolution passed the House
of Representatives reciting the facts, and
also that the Mormons have abandoned
polygamy, and are no longer arrayed
against the Government as law defiers,
and that therefore:
The said personal property now in the
hands of a receiver, not arising from sale or
rent of real estate since March 3, 1887, snail
be, and the same is hereby restored TO the
Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints
TO be applied under the direction and conlroI
of the First Presidency of said church 10 lhe
charitable uses and purposes thereof Ana
the said receiver, after deducting the expenses
OF his receivership, under the dlrecuoh 0I Cie
said Supreme Court Of the Territory or Otah,
is hereby required to deliver the said property
and money to the persons now constituting
the Presidency OF said church, or 10 such per
son or persons as they may designate, 70 Io pe
held and applied generally to the charitable
uses and purposes of said church.
The Senate so amended this joint reso-
luton that it reads that the property
turned over or restored shall be used for
the payment of any debts of the church,
or the relief of the poor and distressed OF
the church, for the education OF children
of such members, and for the repair of
houses of worship of the church, in which
the rightfulness of the doctrine OF po-
lygamy shall not be taught. AS thus
amended the resolution passed and was
sent back to the House and concurred IN,
and on the.25th of October the President
approved the measure.
Ali the provisos are probably sounding
brass. There is no power designated for
the enforcement of the conditions. The
church authorities will get lump sum of
$4,000 to reimburse them for money
which they had advanced to the receiver
for moneys collected in tithes and ex-
pended. The remaining S275.OOO OF values
will go back to church control. This will
DISPOSE of pending litigation affecting
personal property, and very little will be
left of the remnant of the Government
exactions upon the church in punishment
for it's violations of the law and its otfense
to society.
We are not complaining of all this.
Indeed, it was right thing to do, to show
the Mormon people that the Federal
Government does not harbor resentment
But it is a splendid illustration of the
merciful character of the American Gov
ernment, of which so many striking evil
dences were given at the close of the war
of the rebellion. 1t is true that the Su-
preme Court had already indicated that
the personal property should be turned
over to the church, or used in manner
as nearly as possible corresponding to the
charitable purposes of the church. But
that was a matter still at issue, and the
passage of the resolution settles it and
removes all difficulty that had arisen be-
tween the receiver and the church as to
the proper disposition of the personal
property.
Certainly ours is a generous and for
giving Government, and its forbearance
and generosity ought to be and proba-
bly, is fully appreciated by the Mormon
people.