Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
"Mormons" Must Eventually De-
fend the American Constitution.
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF
situstion ia the United states Par
aiieied with That OF Rome - In.
Just Action Ia nobcrts Case.

Brigham City. Utah. Dec II. 1899.
To the Editor:
Historians tell us that at the most
critical periods of Roman history. when
her artful and designing cmperors were
making insidlous assaults upon her lib
critics. these same petty tyrants were
the most scrupulous In maintaining the
ancient forms OF popular government.
The same may be said OF the pagan re-
llglon OF the Romans: about the time
they were losing their civil liberties.
each WED with his nelghbor in observ-
Ing carefully the forms OF the estnb-
llshed religion. ana would often try to
procure advantage over his opponent
by charging him with the lack of re-
llglon. which In secret. he heartily des-
pised.
We Judge the future by the past. and
20 the careful reader OF history II Ii
certainly interesting and instructive.
but at the same time alarming. TO
compare the modern trend OF events.
especially In our own beloved country
TO ancient nations which have passed
away.
Macaullay chronicles more than one
dangerous precedent established by the
British Parliament. during the reign OF
the stuarts, at the time OF great politl-
cal and religious excitement. which af-
forwards came home TO plague the par.
ty In power.
II Is no wonder the present wave OF
rellgio-pollticai excitement Is caus-
ing serious thought among the real
lovers of liberty when It is seen how
timid are the pcoplc'a representatives
and how ready they are TO pass rcvolu-
tlonary measures for fear their motives
might be misconstrued. and that they
would lay themselves open to the
charge OF their opponents OF not telf g
In the same moral band wag IN with the
majority,
II Is believed by constitution
al lawyers Of high rcpute. that
Congress- has pasted laws curtailing re-
ligloua liberty and cN-post-facto In their
nature for the purpose of reaching an
unpopular church, Viewed from q
distance. Ike ancient Rome. the people
Of the United States seem to be follow
Ing In the footsteps OF the founders OF
the Republic, In political matters. and
90 have the plety OF our revolutionary
modern Jefferson whose Views were so
bi Dad that he was willing. should the
majority 30 decide, that an iniidel might
occupy the highest position In the gift
OF the people. ana that even tho Turk,
[ could live undlsturbcd under the broad
protection OF the stars and Stripes.
| Then the nations modern religious lend :
ers are distinguished more as sensation
nj plngnrlsta and FOR cant than for real
plety. They assume q virtue II they
have II not. Thy attachment OF the
multitude IL often uncertain and capri
clOus The Greeks banlshed Arlstides
because they had become tired OF hear
Ing him called the Just. but In times
OF trouble the tickle people were anxious
to recall him TO render them assistance
against the common enemy. So the
| people OF our nation have ostTaclsed
the unpopular "Mormons." but the time
| VIII come when the real worth and solid
| virtues OF these same "Mormons" will
| be realized aud In times OF danger tho
| finger OF scorn Will be changed Co a
reckoning hand. Then when the real
truth loving and patriotic people OF the
| natlon--I don't mean the noisy storm
starters and those who lrst cry stop
thief' and for show do up petitions In
the American fiag-nnd the Constitution
In imminent danger. they win rally
round the ensign OF liberty raised by
this peculiar people who win
have the courage and power to main