Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-02-05

without hesitation by the majority OF
the Council
Ever since the opening Of the present
administration there have been remarks
made with the apparent purpose OF re-
opening old antagonlsms and showing
plainly that the disposition to make at
tacks on religious grounds influences
the words and acts Of two or three in
dlylduals. The terms Mormon and
'Gentlle' have been flung In the faces
Of opposing members, and there has
been an evident intent to promote an
gry feelings and raise division be.
tween Mormon and on-"Mormon'
clements This ought not to be en-
couraged by any person or paper or
course the people who elected such per-
sons 10 Office, knowing their extreme
feelings and the sentiments which IN
spiro Thorn, are to blame for putting
them in The places they occupy Con-
lentlon on those old lines IL out Of place
and is not endorsed by The best ele-
ments on either side
The lnslnuatIon made in the city
Council on Tuesday evening that the
business Of that body is to be trans
acted at the Church Office" is utterly
false and extremely ill-adylscd The
authorities Of the Mormon Church
have taken no part whatever in the dis
pute that has arisen over the attempt
TO remove the Chief Of Police. There
was no necessity for dragging them into
this contention, II win accomplish no
good purpose, There Is not the slight
est foundation In truth for the sugges-
ton, We do not believe that the mem
bar who uttered It believed there was
any truth IN that which he set forth
II was one Of those ebulltions Of spite
which have been common In his utter
ences when at loss for a real argu-
ment TO sustain his side Of a public
question. II is hurled at gentlemen who
are known to be members OF the Nor
mon Church, for the purpose Of acar.
ing them into a course contrary To their
own convictions OF what Is right and
best for the public Interest. We
are pleased to see that the scheme does
not work II ought not 10 weigh a
feather In the scale They should do
their duty and stand by their convc-
lions in spite Of all such unworthy and
irrelevant attacks.
The same member predicted the pres-
ent state Of things in the Council for
two years. That prophecy win prob
ably be fulfilled II notice Is taken Of
his turbulent and disorderly harangues
by the rest OF the. Council. II peace,
good order and right government are
desired such intammatory speeches as
those In which he delights should be
stopped at once by the presiding officer
or passed by In utter silence and con-
tempt By the members, They should
elicit no reply. Let the City Council
80 on with It's business, attend to the
duties OF the hour, and by silence show
the futlllty OF those unseemly interjec.
tons and the disgust that is felt at
them by rght-mnded men.
The press Of this city should take the
side OF decency and decorum, and not
aid demagoguery and anti religious
outbursts by any appearance Of sane
ton to such proceedings, The Deseret
News has taken no side In the dispute
that has arisen In regard to the at
tempted removal OF the chief Of police,
nor In reference to the actual removal
OF three disturbing elements on the po-
lice force. The Council has we'll con-
sidered the subject and the majority
have taken consistent ground. We sup
pose the three officers removed are nom
'Mormons." And this perhaps has given
rise to the notion that religious dis
tinctions are being made, We do not
believe there Is anything to Justify the
belief. No such motives should enter
into the course Of any public officer or
public body
The appointment Of nom" Mormons"
to fill their places would, In our opinion,
be q complete answer to the groundless
charge But we do not desire to in
fiuence the chief or the Council In this
direction A mans religious opinions
or status should not be considered at
all either one way or the other That
contention should be forever banished
In our public affairs. We protest
against Its revival We deny most em-
phatlcally that the Church has taken
any hand In the dispute that has arisen
over the police question, and we regret
exceedingly that the accusation has
been made or any insinuation in rela-
ton to Il has been entertained by any
portion OF the public. All we desire in
this connection, is good government and
decent conduct on the part Of public