The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-11

KAMAS. May S.-There seems to be
considerable talk regarding the late
manifesto. Opinions are many and
varied. Some construe it as positive
interference by the church in matters
of state. while others look at it in an
other light and justify the instigators
] have pondered over the subject ever
since its birth. and I am free to con-
fess that in my opinion it is a gross
injustice to the people. My theory is
that TIE voice of the people is the
voice of God. and unless the entire
people sustain it. it leaves it in pc
culiar condition. AS regards its being
a revelation, which it is claimed to be
by some of those who are presenting
II to the people, let us presume a lit
tie. There is an important office to
be filed in the state. A is a Demo-
crat: B Republican. The Demo-
Gratis choose a as their candidate; the
Republicans choose B. Both A and B
hold the same office in the church. a
high position, their names are talked
over at the caucuses in every precinct
in the state; they are nominated at
their respective conventions. which
are made up of representatives from
all parts of the state, the votes in
each case being unanimous. re-
ceives the vote Of every Democrat in
the state; B receives the vote of ev
cry Republican. Now, tvo-thirds or
three-fourths of each party are Nor
mons. Those Mormons all know that
A and B are in high places in the
church. Moreover, those Mormons. by
their tithing and donations, pay A and
3 for their services in the church.
True, they viii also have 10 assist in
paying them as state officers, though
the salaries as officers in state mat
ters are three or four times in excess
of church matters. Those Mormons
will be compelled to pay a larger por-
fion than they did formerly. yet for
all that they have expressed by their
vote that they prefer them as officers
of state, but 10 and behold, the heads
of the church step forward and say
to both A and B: You cannot accept
that position. We cannot spare you.
No matter what the wishes of the peo-
pie are a expressed at the ballot-box
we positively withhold our sanction"
The result is plain. \ and B must
abide by their decision and disappoint
the entire people or be id. for it was
preached that whoever disobeyed the
leaders in this matter would endanger
their salvation. Then see the situa-
ton a and B are placed in. Should
they accept the office some will say,
"Oh, they have asked counsel and are
obeying the leaders. and the chances
are they win be
LED BY THEM
in their political actions while should
they disobey and accept against coun-
sci, the chances are favorable for the
authorities to begin private system of
warfare against them to get them de-
feated, and, as a prominent Republ-
can here stated a few days ago. that
the Democrats and the Republicans
might both work as hard as they could
TO carry the election, there would still
be enough suckers left to obey coun-
sci to turn the election to suit the au-
Jhorities of the church Crowded they
wished to use their authority or infiu-
ence for or against either party) He
claimed it was wrong-all wrong. Now,
as the voice of the people is the voice
of God, and they say to A. I'VE want
you to fill such an office" and the same
to B, does it appear just and right that
a few men should say no? l have I'M
derstood that the people of Utah or the
larger part of them were opposed to
Capitalization of power, but if that
manifesto is not a plan to convert the
power and wishes into the hands of
a few to the probable injury of the
many, why I will give UP all
PRETENSE OF KNOWING
or believing that I know the meaning
of the word Capitalization 1 hope all
may work for good. but the world has
looked upon Utah with a suspicious
eye. and just as we had induced them
to turn their eyes elsewhere up jumps
the manifesto and fixes their gaze on
us more powerful if possible than be-
fore. What the result will be only time
IAN tell DEMOCRAT.