Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-09-01
INTOLERANCE As TO RELIGION

INTOLERANCE As TO RELIGION.
A gentleman discussing the expos
ureu begun In tho NEWS regarding tho
society called tho Western Star OF
Amorines, and which have since been
taken up by the press aud public gen.
orally, expressed himself In tone
savoriug sop,owhat Of indignation. He
thought, and properly, that man has
q right TO his own views ana inclina-
lions on any subject Whatsoever and
that he has right to combine with
others holding similar views for the
purpose OF mutual understanding and
concerted action, 10 long ~ such action
il not forbidden by Law; Furthermore,
Il was pronounced piece Of bigotry
ON the part Of the City Council or any
other body or person TO deprive or
attempt to deprive the members Of any
such organization OF their daily en-.
ployment by reason OF such member.
ship.
Tho oase Is very adroitly stated, hut
II somewhat too much like the argu.
ment of n lawyer who has iumiliarizcd
himself with but one side OF cause
and given II 40 much attention that Il
hsI ssoOne measurably indootrinalod
in him, whereby he can see little or
nothing cammendnble In the other
side.
There Is no question regarding mems
right 10 combiue and form either secret
or public societies 10 long "a no infrRc.
tions Of legal restraints are In view.
They may even contemplate the over.
throw OF a law or Of any number OF
laws 20 long as the proposition IL to be
controlled IN their action by the tecog.
niEed aud customary procedure. There
are also some thinge which they
may do or intend to do that ore
not forbidden by tho statutes
but which make them amonable 70
public opinion and subject them to
consequences which n not punitive
are at least exemplary. For instance,
the law does not forbid two OF
more persons uniting in such an ohjeo,
ms the defeat OF another or others who
have an ambition In certain lawful
direction, aud In composing his de-
feat many shameful things which the
laws DO not forbid may be, as they
often are, done. But while the COURT
and their auIlliaTies are silent anC
motionless regarding such nefarioul
proceedings, It does not follow ,ha
that other and more powerful tribunA
spoken Of should not act, and M
actions or conoluslons when delber
ntely taken against the maloRcto
seldom fail Of justice In it, most con
crete and precise form.
IL IL the night Of n man, or a numbe
Of men CONFORMITY or separately, I,
array themselves against the Catholl,
church or any other religious orsaniza
tlon. They have tho undisputsd ant
indisputable privilege OF Withholding
social recognition from and suspendlnI
business relations with such or anl
organizations. They have also IN,
right (so far as the public enactment
Rre concorued) 10 use their separate 0
united influence TO prevent the peOpl,
they oppose from obtaining office o
employment IN the community. But
In exercising It they must no: CON
plain II the better sentiment OF tn,
people shall prevail against them an,
II instead Of finding the WOO
they went In quest Of they return
shorn. II II not altogether n question
OF their right to do the things Spoken
Of II ID question Of the good taste no
TO say maullness Of complaining whul
proscrirtiye measures prove to be
boomerang.
The United States is the land OF free
dom, physical ami mental. What (
freedom to one must under simila
circumstances DO freedom To another
The social code ny means Of which VI
find Justification for giving blows ex
tends no protection or consolation as
rule when we are subjected to taklu
them. lt Is u law Of retaliation, O
course, and thus not to be commende
by iselli but when It Is praoliced II
accordance with the higher law OF se
Preservation the odium remains who'll
with the aggressOrH. It poo
business, 70 put It mildly, u
any one to engage In, thi
hunting and bounding OF pc,
pie because Of their religious COZ
vicIions or nativity; ana when 1t
engaged in by these who have NJ
only Intelligence aud Learning Of the