The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-11-02
is THIS FUNNY BUSINESS:

There appears to be a disposition on
the part of our evening contemporary
to lecture others without a correspond
ing effort to carry its own counSels
into effect. Its latest effort is in the
shape of sort of protectorate thrown
around the gentlemen whose names
are being privately used to aid the Re
publican cause in this territory.
The facts are that people who are not
familiar with political matters, or with
the tricks Of Republicans, are being
persuaded that notwithstanding the
plain avowals of the Presidency of the
Mormon Church to the contrary, it is
the wish Of those church leaders that
the Republican cause shall prevail in
Utah and Idaho. 1t is of no use to
pooh! pooh! this avowal. The evidence
is too strong to turn it aside in that
way. This being the case what is there
improper in quoting what those gen.
tlemen have published over thei: own
signatures?
That is all that Democratic speakers
and writer's have done in this connec-
ton, SO far as we are aware Our
contemporary thinks that is VERY
amusing" Well, if it can get any fun
out of it we have no objection. Our
sense of humor is not so acute as to
see anything conical about it.
The Presidency referred to have
avowed that they do not attempt
and have not attempted to direct
how any man shall vote: that they
desire every member of their church
to exercise his own judgment as to
which party or candidate he sup
ports. There is no funny business about
that.
But an impression is being created,
as it was two years ago. that notwith-
standing those avowals it is the desire
OF that Presidency that members Of
their church shall vote for the Re
publican candidates, and various rea
sons are offered for this, outside of
the Judgment and free volition of the
voters. That may be funny to some
folks, it is not so to US.
We regard that as a deliberate at
tempt to capture votes, by putting the
First Presidency in a false light be-
fore the people and in the attitude of
saying one thing in public and another
thing in private for political ends. We
do not believe they are guilty of du
phcity. We do not think it is inn
proper for any one TO avow that be-
lief, publicly and privately. Nor is
there anything funny in doing so.
Why is there silence on the part of
some censorious people when the re-
ports are so many and so strong that
Republicans are endeavoring to create
a false impression, and an cutlery when
Democrats endeavor to remove that
impression by simply quoting what has
been published over the signatures Of
the gentlemen who are thus misrepre
sented? There is nothing very funny
even in that cutlery, but it is some
what surprising to a great many very
good people.
Now, the difficulty is not as our con-
temporary puts it. Those gentlemen are
not asked to say anything on this sub
iect, nor is there any doubt cast upon
their ability to speak. The only fun in
the whole matter is the effort of our
contemporary TO burlesque matter
of Importance. Those gentlemen have
spoken and their words have been pub
lished and are public property. As such
they may be quoted against the false
and misleading statements of others
who seek to misuse them for partisan
ends.
Now what is there so amusing in
this matter? Is it the endeavors OF
Democrats to hold to the published
words of the First Presidency? Or is
it the sneal1ing, underhand and double
dealing policy of those Republicans
who have engaged in the deceitful
business? 1t is not only reflection on
the Mormon Presidency, but on the in
telligence and independence of the Nor
mon people and casts doubt on the
fitness of those who can thus be In
auenced to cast a free ballot on ques-
lions affecting the welfare Of the body
nn1itip