Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-19

NIIINI INlI HNN INAN|N ANNAANlNh NlAN N.AAhAA"
lies and would prevent the election Of
any Papist to public Office, the opposi-
ton is chiefly polemlcal and the abuse
verbal. and the antagonism is mani
tested On conventions and at the polls.
Experience has demonstrated that
Catholic can be as patriotic and eff
Client as Protestant in an public az
fairs. and can exercise his individual
Judgment on an matters that pertain to
the state. without dlctatIon from any
priestly source. The complaint, there
fore. that Is made by the millions Of
Catholic citizens that they are discrlm-
mated against because OF their religion,
IS real grievance. ana their endeavor
to unite for their own protection and
the attainment OF equal privileges with
their eountrymen Of other beliefs, APP
pears TO be justified. II II shall be
shown by experience that this organlza-
ton becomes O mere political lever In
the hands OF prelates, TO effect ecclesl-
usucal purposes by political methods,
and TO promote the aims OF the church
through the powers OF the state, sup
porting only Catholics and working
against Protestants, It will be an
agency Tor evil. But as It now is pre-
scented. nothing Of that kind Is APP
parent
A similar spirit 10 that exhibited IN
many quarters against Catholics IN
politics. crops out every now and then
against the "Mormons" It IS equally
wrong in both instances. Il is not now
very often shown in outspoken sen.
fences or in public gatherings, but is
exhibited in private conversation and In
the returns al elections. Candidates
Tor office are objected 10, occasionally,
simply because they are "Mormons.'
To paraphrase the Catholic protest, the
cry Is raised, Don't vote for him; he
Is Mormon" The effect OF this, too.
Is similar 20 that which is produced In
the Catholic mind, The desire Is at
once entertained TO unite for mutual
protection and 10 obtain the rights and
privileges TO which by virtue Of num-
beers. such citizens are entitled
II may De that a similar feeling IS
sometimes entertained by individual
"Mormons,' as against nom" MormOns'
mentioned for public positions We do
not believe, however. that this would be
az all prevalent II It were not caused
by anti Mormon" action. In either
case It ought not to be INDUCED in. II
a man Is a suitable candidate. qualified
for the position Tor which he Is named,
the question Of his religious faith or un-
faith ought not 10 be raised In a pure
ly political contention Whenever II
shows itself It ought to be sat down
upon with emphasis.
II Is perhaps quite natural that some
OF the old Mormon" and anti
Gentle" influence should be felt IN this
community, as a relic OF past bitter
ness, but the sooner II is entirely eradl-
Gated the better It will be for the State.
The question Is he a Mormon" ought
not 10 be raised, any more than Is he
Cathollc?' when one Is named for an
official position Of any kind outside Of
the church TO which he belongs. The
church is not to dominate the State,
according to our Constitution, on the
other hand the State is not to dominate
the church in matters religious.
When It Is evident that menu
bers OF the Mormon Church large
ly predominant in numbers IN any
given locality. and endeayors are made
to place nom "Mormons" in office 10 the
exclusion Of others, It naturally pro-
vokes a conflict along the lines that
ought to be avoided. Il causes retalia-
ton and promotes IN feeling. II there
are to be any divisions Of that kind.
they should be arranged with perfect
fairness according 10 the just claims
OF the respective factions. But in our
political affairs what IS his rellglon?"
ought not TO be among the questions
asked concerning any person named for
a public office. Catholic or Protestant,
Mormon" or non Mormon" II he is a
it and suitable candidate his religious
affiliations should cut no figure among
his fellow citizens.
The only way TO prevent Catholics, or
any other religious body IN the United
States, from banding together In such
a way that they can become a formid-
able organization affecting local or ma
tional affairs. Is to refrain from raising
the Objectionable issue as to their
church membership. and to accord them
equal political rights and privileges
with all other citizens Of this Republic.
TO that they are entitled, and anything
less than that must in the very nature
OF things cause them great dissatsfac-
ton and suggest to them the only eff