The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-13
WHAT RANK HYPOCRISY


Ecclesiastical interference in political
affairs Is the only issue in local poll
tics peculiar to the state. Both par
ties are opposed to the practice of po-
lygamy; both parties have nevertheless
nominated and elected polygamists to
office in the state. No distinction has
been made; no attempt to diefranchise
men involved in the system has been
seriously considered, although this is
the logical trend of the present cru
SADIE Poiygamists have been appointed
to federal positions by President Nc
Kinley, although all the circumstances
were laid before him. Ministers have
sought the aid of the local storm
starter in opposition to applicants for
postoffices in Utah on the ground that
they were polygamists. but the Janus
faced boss refused TO consider the mat
ter at ALL
When Senator Edmunds was leading
the fight against Mormonism. he told
the delegation from Utah that the real
objection to their organization was its
disposition to dominate political affairs.
and that polygamy was merely made
the excuse because its existence could
he proven. and because the moral senti-
ment of the country could be enlisted
to fight it and used to cripple the po-
litical machine.
But what has been the record of the
Salt Lake Tribune every time an at
tempt has been made to abandon the
use of church influence in political cam
paigns? 1t is always begging for it,
always making excuses for it, for it
has never been used except in the in
terest of the Republican, party. There
was an agreement made at the time of
the division on party lines whereby
Utah was to be made a Republican
state. The power of the ecclesiastical
machine was used to crush every man
who undertook TO thwart the fulfillment
of that unholy contract. Nobody knows
this better than the Tribune knows it.
Mormons have protested against church
rule. only to have the Tribune sneer at
and assail them. The rank and file of
the dominant church is opposed to any
ecclesiastical interference whatever in
their political matters, and we believe
the same way about it. But there is
a disposition on the part of the Repub-
Iican boss to force him into politics,
if possible, and TO use his name and in
fuence, by hook or crook, by misrep-
resentation or intimidation, in the in
terest of the Republican party. All
that Democrats ask is neutrality on
the part of the church. Its officials
have a right to go upon the stump or
run for office if they choose; but not
TO use religious meetings for either
party, or for or against any candidate;
or to speak through religious mediums
advising the people how TO vote. as if
it were the wish of the president of the
church. This is the position Democrats
have always taken. A few years ago
hundreds of Independent Mormons
gathered from all over the state 10 pro-
test against the unfair mixing of poll
tics and religion.
Did the Tribune give them any en-
Not much. 1t was on its
face in the dust worshiping at the HER
archal throne What did it say of these
delegates? Read:
They didn't know exactly what they
came for; but they knew there was
call. and they. being of the faithful. res
bonded. as does the faithful MusSulman
when he hears the call to prayer. One
after the other of them got I'D and de-
clared how necessary il was that this
region should be free from church rule:
ana then an address was prepared. and
we will guarantee that after election is
over. after the excitement has passed
away. that Judge Powers himself will
ra,-~1
fore so fiat a Deroration after an ex-
ordium SO sounding. The call was like
tha manifesto of some Central Ameri-
can braGgart. who. having no other
means to make a living issues a mani
feSto TO incite his fellow-loafers to
revolution. the object being
solely the spoils, although the watchword
is freedom. etc, etc
The Tribune denounced Mormons who
dared TO protest against ecclesiastical
in political campaigns. 1t
called upon "the decent men of Utah.
one of the stereotyped appeals of this
Journalistic hypocrite, and asked them
ito read the proceedings, to hear the
declarations running through those pro
that this people cannot be |
trusted. and to ask themselves what |
they have done since they fairly and |
frankly agreed to accept the situation. |
10 give an excuse for the public doubt |
which has been cast upon their in |
-egrity as men and citizens by the lead !
srs of that band of men in this terri |
-ory called the Democracy. We ask |
hem if there is anything in that adj |
iress except that the Democracy doubt |
d the good faith of the Mormon people |
md tried through the whole address to |
convict them: and we ask them TO
.ecord their verdict on the 5th of No
-ember.''
Could clearer exhibition of down.
light demagogy be given? Could the |
exposure of the storm starters duplic-
ty and insincerity be more complete?
Appealing to the prejudice OF the Nor
non people TO go TO the polls and re-
luke Mormons and Gentiles who had
,sked for an absolute separation of
.hurch and state, of political and &C.
.Iesiastscal labors, Putting it on the