The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-15
THATCHER REMAINS
IN THE CHURCH.
Continued from Page u


hearing. such as I now request
Fourth.-In writing TO President Lo
reno Snow, Nov. II, 1896, saying:
I shall not trouble my brethren
therefore, 10 convene in a special meet
ing named for Thursday at o'clocl
p m, in the historians office
And this after the meeting had beer
called at his special request.
Fifth.-By resorting to the quibbl.
that he was not invited to the meet
ing one week later. when he was mott
ned that his case would be considered
and in stating, since judgment in these
matters has been already passed
Sixth.-In charging President 10
Eenzo Snow with publishing matter in
order to crafty the apparent curiosity
of five young men, and describing his
Brother Snow's) explanations as a
bitter and acrimonious communication.
THE MANIFESTO.
'tSeventh-By endeavoring TO make
1t appear that the authorities of the
church, in publishing the declaration
Of principles, had contradicred what
they had previously announced in the
Deseret News and an interviey with
the Salt Lake Times, as to the political
lDerty OF the members of the church.
he used this language:
AS l have already stated I under
stood the manifesto at the time it was
handed me for approval, just as l
understand it now. While it ostensibly
appeared not to restrict the liberties
of the people, yet there was no limi-
tatlon to its application, and in view of
the fact that nearly every male mem
Der of the church holds some Office
and, as there has as yet been no public
decision announced as to the officers
TO be controlled by il, there have arisen
,f
TO its intent. This being true, and the
danger being that it could be applied
TO restrict the liberties of the people,
cannot sustain it. / thought then, as
/ think now, that such a course would
be a qualification. L had never
dreamed that a condition would arise
in my life where l could not serve God
fully and yet yield my complete al
legiance to my country and to my
state. The spirit Of the manifesto, as
1t appealed to me, was in violent
antagonism to all [ had believed and
publicly proclaimed for many years.
and 1 could not, and, so far, have not
been able to bring myself to a point
where I believed l should yield my
political judgment TO any set of men,
however praiseworthy their intentions
When the manifesto was presented
to me it appeared to my mind as
command on all to recognize the right
of the church authorities to control
political concerns; it meant, so far as
I was concerned, a recantation of the
principles l had for years advocated
a receding from the ground ! had oc-
cupied during the division movement,
and. above all, it made me feel that I
would be untrue to myself. I do not
claim that I cannot be wrong; but with
the light l have, the manifesto Zap
piled as its construction will allow, or
as it would be interpreted by men
whose personal ambitions might con-
troll and subvert their sense of right
could be operated to the injury of the
state.
''Eighth-While protesting against
the mingiing Of religion and politics,
he repeatedly thrust his differences
with the church into political speeches;
as for instance in the legislature at
the cOlse of the senatorial contest and
at a reception given him at Logan,
Feb. i, 1897. ana also a reception to
the Idaho legislature at his house Feb.
81, 1897:
There is room in this new state for
all societies and all organizations, but
they must conf1ne themselves within
proper limits. The men who enacted
the supreme law of this state, made
covenant with the citizens thereof and
with this nation that certain things
should be done and performed, and we
must keep those covenants. He who
desires peace and prosperity for Utah,
viii draw the line sharp between the
rights of the citizens and the powers
of the state and these of the church.
He who votes for the union of the two,
or the over riding of the church by the
state, is no friend of Utah. He who in
ViteS the Intervention Of the church in
state matters is an enemy to Utah. If
we think we can bring peace and con-
tinual prosperity to this new state by
tempcSizing with this question We will
be mistaken.
With the same honesty of purpose,
but with much more joyful heart, he
had voted with his quorum to grant
the Saints entire political freedom. He
meant It then; he just as sincerely
means it now. He who thinks because
We are surrounded by the walls of
statehood that it is now safe to unsay
that which has been said, to proclaim
by WORD or act that there was any du-
plicity or double dealing in order to
secure desired concessions, is mistaken.
He had not laid aside his office in the
church TO obtain political honors, but j
because he saw dire calamity confront ]
ing the people if this course were /
taken. His audience knew the position |
he had occupied for 40 years on the /
question Of liberty, and he could not /
now with one act eXpunge that record I
and stultify the avowed sentiments of /
q life time.
He spoke of the struggles of the /
Mormon people in the early days, anG .
dwelt on the relations between the /
church and state under a republican [
form OF government. He described the
position he had taken on this subject /
and reviewed some of the circum-
stances connected with the recent man
ifesto and his refusal TO sign it. He
conceded that the church had a right
10 discipline its members for the in
fraction of church rules, but it had no
right TO carry church matters into po-
litical affairs
TO THE LEGISLATURE.
''Ninth-In his own published ex-
PLANTATION of the remarks he made in
The legislature about a higher alliance,
as follows:
No legislator can keep his oath of
office inViolate If he or she allows the
ton to control his actions within the
province of the state.
The day must come in Utah when
he who (being an officer in the state)
holds a higher allegiance Ito the chiefs
If any alien or church organization
han that which (under his solemn
latn) belongs TO the state, must not
De a law maker in the halls of the
state
.-Tenth.-In the same article he uses
his language:
Doubtless a great struggle is now
naugura1ed in Utah, a struggle for
reedom, for liberty. for the integrity
# free government, for the principles
nooyror-o rod in American institutions. !