The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-07
NEW MANIFESTO issued

and state throughout those years was
carefully maintained. The president of
the church held for eight years the
highest civil office in the community,
having been appointed by the national
administration governor of the terri
tory. The first secretary of the terri
tory was a prominent church official.
An apostle represented the territory in
congress as delegate during ten
years. The members of the legislature
also held offices in the church. This
was unavoidable; for the most suitable
men were elected by the votes OF the
people, and, as we have stated every
reputable man in the entire community
held some church position, the most
energetic and capable holding leading
positions. This is all natural and plain
enough to those who consider the cir
cumstances; but it furnished opportu-
nifty for those who were disposed to as
sail the people of the territory to
charge them with attempting to unite
church and state. A fair investigation
OF the conditions will abundantly dis
prove the charge, and show its utter
falsity.
On behalf of the church of which we
are leading officials, we desire again to
state TO the members and also to the
public generally. that there has not
been, nor is there, the remotest desire
on our part or on the part of our CO.
religionists to do anything looking to a
union of church and state.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.
We declare that there has never been
any attempt to curtail Individual lib
erty-the personal liberty of any of
the officers or members of the church
The first presidency and other leading
officers did make certain suggestions
to the people when the division on
party lines took place. That move
ment was an entirely new departure,
and it was necessary, in order that the
! full benefit should not be lost which
was hoped to result from this new po-
litical division, that people who We're
inexperienced should be warned
against hasty and ill-considered ac-
ton. In some cases they were coun-
seized to be wise and prudent in the
political steps they were about to take,
and this with no idea of winning them
against their will to either side To
this extent, and no further, was any
thing said or done upon this question,
and at no time and under no circum-
stances was any attempt made to say
to voters how they should cast their
ballots. Any charge that has been
made to the contrary is utterly false.
CANNON IN POLITICS.
Concerning officers of the church
themselves, the feeling was generally
expressed in the beginning of the po-
litical division spoken of that it would
be prudent for leading men not to &C
cept of office at the hands of the po-
litical party to which they might be-
long. This counsel was given to men
of both parties alike--not because it
was thought that there was any impro-
priety in religious men holding civil
office, nor to deprive them of any of
the rights of citizenship, but because
of the feeling that it would be better
under all the circumstances which had
now arisen to avoid any action that
would be likely to create jealousy and
ill-feeling. An era of peace and good
will seemed TO be dawning upon the
people, and it was deemed good to
shun everything that could have the
least tendency to prevent the con-
summation of this happy prospect. In
many instances, however the pressure
brought to bear upon efficient and pop
ular men by the members of the
party to which they belonged was OF
such character that they had to yield
to the solicitation to accept nomination
to office, or subject themselves to the
suspicion of bad faith in their party
affiliations. In some cases they die
this without consulting the authorize:
of the church, but where important
positions were held, and where the
duties were of a responsible character
some did seek the counsel and advice
of the leading church authorities be-
fore accepting the political honors
rendered them. Because some others
did not seek this counsel and advice
ill-feeling was engendered and undue
and painful sensitiveness was stimu
lated; misunderstanding readily fol
lowed, and as result the authorize!
of the church were accused of bat
faith and made the subjects of bittel
reproach. We have maintained tha
in the case of men who hold high posi-.
tions in the church, whose duties arr
well defined, and whose ecclesiastical
labors are understood to be continuou:
and necessary, it would be an improper
thing to accept political Office or enter
into any vocation that would distrac
or remove them from the religion.
duties resting upon them. without frs
consulting and obtaining the approva
of their associates and those who pre-
side over them. 1t has been under
stood from the very beginning of tht
church that no officer whose duties ar,
of the character referred to, has tn,
right to engage in any pursuit, polite
al or otherwise, that will divide hi
time and remove his attention from th'
calling already accepted. 1t has beer
the constant practice with officers o
the church to consult-or, to use ou
language, to ''counsel'-with thei
. brethren concerning all questions o
this kind. They have not felt tina
they were sacrificing their manhood il
doing so, nor that they were submit
ting to improper dictation. nor that il
soliciting and acting upon the advic