The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1894-09-21
THE CaURCH POINT OF VIEW.

A LII DADA avn 40 AAOb q ~'~S-
mon and does not intend to commit
any gaucheries from that point of OBJ
serYation, he simply wishes to state
few facts with regard to the political
situation as one would look at It from
the standpoint of devoted Mormon.
OF course every one understands that
under the old regime, even from a ma
terial point of observation, the church
was the leading influence. 1t had
more money and property many times
over, than any other company, corpora
ton or individual IN the territory.
This money and pro 2erty was acquired
mainly, we believe, by willing, low
ing, self-imposed tax called tithiDg. 1t
was lawful and proper in every way.
With this tax the church was wisely
building temples, meeting houses,
schoOlhouses; supporting schools, col
lcges and charitable institutions, and
asylums of various kinds. Such was
the liberality of the people that ample
funds were provided for all the neces-
sites Of the people in this way. With
q wisdom remarkable under all the Cir
cumstances the church bought property
for the religious and business purposes
of the church in central locations and
in other desirable regions SO that its
original value has increased to the
extent Of millions upon millions of dol
lars. So great was the aggregate of
this sum that the eupiditY of the gov
ernmenr, under republican administra
ton was excited, and the real property
was sequestered and the money confs-
Gated upon the slimmest pre5exts; or,
rather, totally without pretext of any
kid.
All efforts to secure the return Of
this money and property were fruitless
under republican rule. a deaf ear was
always turned oto the appeal to the
justice and fairer instincts Of The gov
ernment. Thus it went on from year
to year until a democratic national ad
ministration was triumphantly elected,
AT once the church and its venerable
head began to move in the matter and
the territory wisely elected a dele.
gate to congress, not of the
ruling church, but man
loving justice for JUSTICES sake; and
strange to say within eighteen months
the last nickle in money and the last
rood in land has been returned to its
rightful owners. Remember the first
confscation was made by republican
policy. That party is the unquestioned
author of the original spoliation, as it
has been the determined opponent of
restitution. The democratic party
originally opposed the raid; and within
eighteen months OF its restoration to
power, behold it has fully and freely
and without mulcting or pairing down,
restored all, even to the last farthing.
Now, are there Mormons so
blinded by an unnatural partisanship
that they will vote directly for their
despoilers and again't thsir just and
fair-minded friends? Ii does not seem
reasonable, but Sd it is. Even the son
of one of the most illustrious
men in the church is nominated, and
has accepted, to defeat if possible, the
one man of all others in Utah to whom
the church owes this happy restoration.
This does not seem credible. 1t carries
with it so vast degree of unfaithful-
ness and ingratitude that the very
plain statement of facts contained
above seems to be incredible. 1t seems
unreasonable that such a thing can
occur among iustice-loving people.
If ever people were un der a rigid |
and religious obligation to vote Tor |
party or a man, the Mormons of Utah
are under solemn obligations TO vote
for the democratic party and Joseph L.
Rawlins this time, and indeed for the
entire future. Let the Justice loving
people of Utah read and ponder well on
this proposition ere they conclude to
throw vote for republicauism and re.
preston.