The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-14
MIR. THATcHER's REPLY TO MIR.
SNOW.

The reply of Moses Thatcher to Pres
ident Lorenzo Snow, of the quorum of
apostles of the Mormon church, which
appeared in The Herald yesterday
morning, is certainly a very strong
and able discussion of the questions at
issue.
With that portion of the letter which
deals with Mr.. Thatcher's conduct as
relates to his church duties and the
personal differences between him and
other church officials. The Herald has
nothing to do
That the Mormon church has a per-
feet right TO make and enforce rules
regarding the conduct of its officers
and members in relation to their
church duties, no one will dispute.
And in all things pertaining TO church
affairs. so far as Mr.. Thatcher is con-
cerned, the right of those in authority
over him to discipline him, by depriv-
ing him of his official position or even
TO excommunicate him, must be con-
coded. Mr.. Thatcher claims that so
far as he is personally concerned, he
has no serious complaint to make be-
cause of the action of the church au-
thorities. save on one point, and that
is in relation to his right to maintain
and exercise his political independence.
On the 10th of May last, The Herald
had occasion to define its position
relative to the manifesto issued by the
Mormon church at the April conference
and in so doing. said:
40 citizen OF Utah. whatever his
station NAV be, should permit his 20
litical voice or action to be stifled or
turned aside II ON what he deems the
right. Let the full force of his indi-
vfduality be made manifest in the af-
fairs of the state, absolutely free from
dictation or control, ecclesiastical or
otherwise. In SO doing he will find
The Herald his ally and supporter.
AS between Mr. Thatcher and the
church authorities. The Herald will be
in duty bound to defend his right to
do as he pleases politically. The
church may of right say that any per-
son holding a particular ecclesiastical
position shall not accept of a political
Office or nomination without first re-
signing his church Office, but the rule
must be absolute and not constructed
on a sliding scale applicable under
certain conditions or subject to the de-
termination OF anv man or body of
men as to when it shall be enforced or
annulled
Regarding Mr.. Thatcher's candidacy
for the United States senate, The Her
aid does not feel called upon either to
support or oppose him. The fact that
he is not in harmony with his church
leaders should not. in the opinion of
The Herald. contribute either to his
election or defeat He should be con-
sidered, in this connection, solely on his
merits as q Democrat, givins due
weight to his ability and general quail
fcations to ill the position as we'll as
his service to the party. The fact that
he is a candidate must net and will not
act as bar to the aspirations of other
gentlemen who must, under all circum-
stances, be accorded the same rights
and privileges as Mr.. Thatcher.
In the selection of a man to repre-
sent Utah for the next six years in
the senate of the United States, the
Mormon church. or its officials acting
in its behalf. has nothing whatever to
do. The members of the legislature.
acting for the Democratic party. will
attend to that duty and in the exer-
else of the right of choice, each men,
Der must be absolutely free.