The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-02-25

THE CHURCH AND THE STATE.

OeFoTdl cO-I6l2GlY6 circumstances nave
recently directed public attention to
the above subject, and THE EDIsPATCH
with that frankness which distin-
guishes 1t, proposes to treat it in
conservative and reasonable way-to
the end that what We deem a sad mis-
take may be avoided by our people.
1t by no means follows that because
congress passed the enabling bill for
Utah to enter the union as a state,
that therefore all objections have been
wiped out. It is, oh the contrary, safe
to conclude that there is not today one
single opponent less than there has
been at any one time within the last
forty years. The government of Utah
which was SO lately a theocracy, in ef-
feet if not actually, has so operated
upon the minds of men, especially of
the humber classes Of the Mormon
people, as to implant there strongly an
idea that their first allegiance is due
TO the church, their first obedience is
to be paid there, and after that the
state may properly claim attention. If
this is not really the sentiment of the
people of that church, at least 1t is
believed to be by the outside world.
This is evinced by the late occurrences
here, by the fierce attack upon Presi-
dent Cannon, and some recent occur
rences in Idaho and others of our
western states.
The people of Utah, upon the admis-
sion of their beautiful territory into the
family of the states, must not forget or
ignore the fact that one OF the very
strongest common sentiments of all the
other states of the union, is eternal
and undying hostility to any
Bemblance of union between
church and state, and extreme jealousy
of the least semblance of church inter-
ference in the political affairs of any
one of the states. So strong is this
sentiment that we have known injus-
tice done and harmful action taken
against the church and its various en-
terprises, simply to show that the
church has, and can have, no voice.
Particularly has this been done on the
subject of prohibition, school and
other kindred matters. Now we dC
not want to array this hostility against
us here in Utah. We want the active
friendship and full confidence of all Of
our sister states. We netd it in forcing
that early and perfect development
which is the purpose and ambition Of
the progressive and patriotic people of
Utah. We cannot be too careful how
we arouse such feeling. We mus
avoid it by all honest, frank and legiti
mate means in our power. There
must be no prejudiced action, no hasty
or inconsiderate means used which
would give color to the over wrought
prejudice of gigantic anti Mormon
feeling which still exists, measurably
but which is, thank God, rapidly wear
ing away.
In the light of these reflections 1t il
a pity that the Mormon members O
the Idaho legislature have seen fit t,
unite solidly for Sweet in the senatoria
race now on in that state. 1t would
have been better for that church, anc
better for Utah as the seat of thai
church, had they been found. as tn,
members of other churches in that leg
islature, on both sides, some for ShouI
and some for Sweet. They are n,
true friends of the Mormon churcl
who have lsbored to produce thi
this solidity. This is the way it vii
work out and be looked at by the othe
states: There is strong Mormon in.
fuence in Idaho, in Montana, In Wy
Oming, in Nevada and in Arizona
while Of course Utah is well-nigh alto
gether Mormon. That makes 81,
states with twelve senators. Now, il
as the New York Times AYERS, thes
twelve senators are chosen by the Nor
mons of each legislature, holding tn
balance of power, and owing alIegianc
to the head of the church, it would b
equivalent at this moment to Hor
George Q. Cannon's carrying twelv
senators in his vest pocket. Tha
would never do, and it would never b
tolerated.
We must be cafeful how we ARA
such feeling against any young com
monwealth, or the good patriotic an
progressive citizenship of Utah AM
the other states we have named. Thi
is another sledee-hammer argumen
against the presence of the high clerg
of the Mormon or anv other church il
politics, in actIye partisan politics
and we would have fewer objections t
Mormon influence there than an
other church influence we could pos
sibly name.
LIZ MIR. George Q. Cannon had an,