Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-04
A MENACE TO LIBERTY.

P'ffAhVi hNlAiullu W AllNHlHHillli
who Is about to retire from the execu-
tive chair Of the State created much
surprise on Wednesday by including in
his closing address TO the Legislature
an attack on "Mormonsm." Accord
ing to the press dispatches he used this
language:
There is no threatened danger 20
the state more baneful than the lecher-
Gus teachings Of the Mormon Apostles
OF p0lygamy. II Is more dangerous
because II Is taught under the gulse Of
the ministry OF the Gospel The Nor
mons dlsclaim the open teachings Of
polygamy In the pulpit, but they teach
II IN the corner and the minister's
cloak gives potency to their speech"
1t is evident that the gentleman has
been Influenced by the literature that
has been so extensively circulated by
anti-"Mormon" preachers and papers
Also that as a candidate for the Unit
ed States Senate he is seeking for pop.
ular favor. The present craze de-
mands offensive action against re-
liglon, which is supposed to be hostile
10 the American home and the marriage
system OF modern Chrlstendom. While
that deiusion lasts, there viii be yio-
lent explosions similar TO those that
startled the Mississippi Legislature on
Wednesday, and which have disturbed
many religious congregations during
the last few months
The teachings Of "Mormonism" are
the very opposite of lecherous They
enjoin chastity, temperance, constancy
and self-restralnt No other Christian
denomination promulges such rigid
rules on these virtues as are found In
Mormon" ethics.
II the Governor OF Mississippi had
taken the precaution TO Inquire into
the facts, before placing himself on
record as to something he does not un-
derstand, 1t would have been better for
his lasting political reputation. Going
OF half-cOcked," to use a common fig
ure, does not tend to add to the infu-
ence and reliability OF big political
gun. The Mormon" missionaries in
Mississippi are not apostles OF
polygamy." They are not sent any
where TO teach It, either publicly or lin
corner" II any Of them should at
tempt 10 do that It would soon be
stopped The Governor has taken for
granted what some sectarlan minis
tiers have invented, or repeated, and
made himself Ridiculous In the eyes Of
well-informed people
There is something far more danger
GUS TO the State than the teachings OF
Mormon" doctrine, even II It were any
thing like what Governor McLaurin
imagines II to be. The advocacy Of a
custom which is thoroughly unpopular
which could not be practiced under the
laws OF Mississippi, which Is forbidden
by the Constitution and statutes OF
Utah. and which is contrary to the au-
thorized discipline OF the Church that
sends It's missionaries out to preach the
Gospel, Is not very likely to accomplish
much. even though some unwise per-
son should attempt TO introduce it. But
the adoption Of laws TO prevent the
teachings" OF any Church or religion
under the sun, as recommended by the
retiring governor, would be a real dan
ger TO the State and 20 the liberty
which the Constitution Of the United
States was framed to maintain.
Are there not light, and truth, and
eloquence, and power enough In the
churches and literary and social So
cietIes in the State OF Mississippi, to
impress It's people and combat errors,
II such there be, advocated by an un-
popular religious body? Is Mormon
ism" so strong and irrefutable that 1t
must be suppressed, II at all, by the
force Of law? DO the clergy and the
religious press utterly fail TO meet It
by reason and argument?
"Mormonism" as 1t is, and as II is
preached by its authorized ministers,
contains no menace against the peace,
dignity or social order OF any state in
the Union. II promotes faith In God.
support Of the laws and the Constltu-
ton OF our country, virtue. honesty,
industry and peace among men and
women, and the recognition OF all that
is good in every system, civil and re-
lIgious. that exists among mankind.
1t cannot be put down by force. Ef-
forts in that direction will recoil upon
those who project them. Let 1t be re-
membered that II one form Of religion
can be legislated against, others can be
treated In the same fashion. Start the
ball Of intolerance rolling, and II will
strike in places unexpected at the first,
and will grow in volume and In force
until the liberties for which the fathers
OF our country struggled and bled will
be swept out Of existence
There has not been a greater exhibi.
ton OF unwisdom, in response to ignor-
ant popular clamor within the century
now in its last year, than that PROPOSE
ton TO suppress a religion by force OF
law. and prevent free speech in one Of
the States OF the Federal Union 1t Is
to be hoped that the legislators OF
Mississippi are possessed Of sounder
discretion and better judgment than
the gentleman who. on ceasing 20 be its
chief executive, desires the responsible
and honorable position Of United States
Senator, 1t is also TO be desired that
before he touches on this question
again, in any place, he VIII obtain re-
liable Information concerning II and
o. to the real doctrines and principles
Of the system commonly called Nor
monism."