Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-18
"MonMoN" LIBERTY.


As a matter 81 fact the church was
never froer from such political inter-
ference and dlctntion than II u right
now under President Lorcnzo Snow.
The foregoing IL from our esteemed
morning contemporary. In spirited re-
liy to uniruths In tho antl-"Morm1n'
organ. u n absolutely correct Who
can Justly complain Of any party bias
or influence In favor OF any political
organization or faction. ON the part u
the presiding authorities ~ the Nor
mon" church, They have abaiained
from expressions N their own choice rs
to candidates In many Instances. lest
their utteranccs 81 personal Views
might be- construed ms church iniiu-
.ndc In politics"
We have been OF the opinion that
they have been. N anything. too pnrtic-
ular on thi. aucatlon. They have. cer-
iainly. o. many political rights az other
citlzens In this state. Their liberties
ought not to be curtailcd. Freedom u
speech IA theirs under the laws Ne ipuch
AZ anybcdy's. aud their experience and
standing In the community entities
them To the respect ~ their friends
and aasoclatcs.
A. TO advice and counsel In political
affairs. We think they should be as free
az 10 many lawyers. or doctors, Or mcr-
chants or journalists They should b.
free 10 lmpart. and those who value
their opinion should be free TO seek Tor
and receive II. without any impuiaiion
81 using or submitting 20 that awful
scafecrow. Church influence"
II voter was commanded 10 east
his ballot for some person or measure
TO which he was personally opposed. or
threatened with any pains or penalties
for the free exercise Of his own judy
mcnt. or exposed TO any disabilities on
account OF his difference In politics with
leading Church authorities. there
might he some ground for objection.
and for STRUCTURES against ecclesiastical
influence In political affairs. hut In
their entire absence. the cry that II
raised II az absurd NJ II II gruundlers
and false.
President wilford Woodruff ffeauent-
~ declared that he never directed any
person how 10 vote. lie mentioned tho
fact repeatedly that no sons Of his
could say that he had ever asked them
to use their ballots In favor OF any par
ticulnr candidate. ana they differed
with each other freely NJ TO party poll
ties. The present President " the
Church has never interfcrcd with the
political liberties OF members or officers
under his Jurisdiction. and when asked
for his opinion has been very chary ~
rayinE anything that could bc distorted
into the exercise ~ ecclesiastical au-
thority In party affairs. We do not be-
ilcyc any one can tell. positively.
whether he favorr one political party
more than another,
During the campaign of last fan.
prominent churhmen were not limited
IN their liberty FOR or against any party
or candldnte. The utmost freedom
was enjoyed by all. The Church had no
candidate. II leaned 90 no particular
faction, IL supported No special cause.
u took no part In any political
discussion. II the Presidency had de-
clared against some nominee for the
suffragra u the people, II would have
given occasion for raising the charge OF
Church influence" hut ther wus no
such expression ~ Views an 10 any one
seeking FOR popular support. and no
voters In the United States could. pos
Fibiy, be- frcer In the exercise of their
political privileges than were the Lat
tcr-day Ralnts In the State of Utah.
The "Mormons" delight IN liberty.
Their religion promotes II ana teaches
them 10 maintain II. Its spirit IL tho
genius Of frcedom. II recognizes the
dominion Of law. however, and upholds
Its majesty when icRitimately dis
played. II infrlngcS on no other rcllg-
ion. II lnyadca M mans lawful sphere.
!, Requires submission only TO that
which IA true ana beneficial. and COM
pelz no one 60 bow to IT, DEGREES. what
It offers 10 humanity can be taken or
left at VIII. and those who attribute TO
Il any form of doapotism. either will
fully malign It or talk VI that which
they do not understand.