The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-12
JOSEPH F. SMITHS TALK AT LOGAN


April conference the public mind has
been in more or less excited condi-
ton regarding the old question of
church and state in Utah. The old
doubts and suspicious, the old distrust
and fears have been more or less
aroused and each day have become
more fixed and harder to allay. The
Herald has had no desire to open old
wounds, to revive old issues, but, on
the contrary, has desired and still de-
sires to have those old wounds left
untouched, that their healing may be
sure and certain; to have the old is
sues buried and forgotten. For these
reasons it has been its aim to minimize
rather than to exaggerate the effects
of the meetings and conferences at
which the manifesto and its acceptance
by the people to whom it is addressed
have been the chief subject of dis
course. But these meetings and con-
ferences, notably those at Provo,
Tooele and Logan, have for more than
fortnight been the one topic of con-
versation by all Things have now
reached that stage when we must
speak out, for to attempt to ignore
them would be to abandon the cause
of freedom and the people and so aid
in bringing about in Utah that condi-
ton of things which all would deplore
and which every citizen who loves the
commonwealth will do all in his power
to obviate.
The climax to all this restlessness
and subdued excitement came at the
Logan conference, that is, at the high
council meeting held during that con-
ference. Various reports of it have
been in circulation but Sunday morn
ing the Tribune of this city made it its
special feature. The statements of
what was said at that meeting were SO
specific and startling that it created
more or less of sensation. The Her
AIDS correspondent at Logan was di-
rected to make full and impartial in
vestigation of all that was alleged, and
report This he did That report we
published yesterday. In the main it
confirms the correctness of our contem-
porarys account.
It is not our purpose to review it in
detail, but there is one portion that
must be taken notice of. 1t is the re-
marks of President Joseph F. Smith.
It is matter that concerns every man,
woman and child in the state of Utah
for it is a political matter and it makes
no difference where it was uttered,
whether the meeting was secret or
open, confidential or public. 1t treated
of the most vital interests of the state,
and what concerns the state is the bust
ness OF the people of the state.
What Mr.. Smith said was substanti-
ally that when the anti-polygamy laws
were being rigidly enforced the breth-
rem had obtained an audience with
James G. Blaine. Thomas 3. Reed, SEN
ator Stanford and other leading men of
the nation as to how these Affections
could be stopped" They were told
that the people of Utah were Demo-
Gratis and they must decline to do any
thing for them. To this Mr.. Smith says
the reply was made that they might be
shown more Republicans than they
counted on. And then these Republi-
can leaders replied that if these gentle
men could make a good showing their
way they would try and do something
for them.
If that is not an attempt of the
church to interfere in politics, of the
church to dominate the state. what in
the name of common sense is it?
How does this statement of Joseph
F. Smiths comport- with the resolu-
tons adopted at the general confer
ence in October, 1891, wherein it was
solemnly declared that Whatever ap-
pearance there may have been in past
times of a union of church and state,
because men holding ecclesiastical au-
thority were elected to civil office by
popular vote there is now no foun-
dalton or excuse for the statement that
the church and state are united in
Utah." etc? Very i'll indeed.
How does it comport with that
declaration made by President MILFORD
Woodruff and Joseph F. Smith on the
18th day of March. 1892, IF we have
any desire" it is that the people shall
study well inc principles of both the
great national parties, and then choose
which they VIII join, freely voluntar-
lily and honestly, from personal convic-
ton, and then stand by it in all honor
and sincerity. EACH PARTY
SHOULD HAVE THE SAME
PRIVILEGES AND OPPOR-
rUNITIEs AS THE oTHER?" Very,
very i'll indeed.
How does Mr.. Smith expect people to
reconcile these various statements?
he proceeds on the theory
hat all the nannle can he fooled ali