Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-03
THE RIGHTS OF FREEMEN

The controversy over the school cleo
ton In the First precinct is something
more than struggle Of candidates. A
principle IS involved II Is one Of i'm.
portance. especially to those citizens
who belong TO the Mormon Church.
II IA respecting the right Of such per.
sons to participate In election affairs,
on equal grounds with members OF
other religious denominations and those
who belong to none,
1t may be claimed that there is no
objection TO any "Mormons" engaging
in such activities who are not officers
In the Church to which they belong.
This does not materially alter the stu
alton. Nearly all the male members OF
that religious body hold some Office in
It's Priesthood, Who Is to draw the line?
1t may be argued that the opposition Is
not TO the exercise OF the rights of an
individual "as citizen" but to the us.
OF his priestly office in election affairs
Now, II by that is meant any degree
OF ecclesiastical authority to coerce or
restrain or oyerawe, or exercise force
OF any kind upon a voter we will
heartily agree with the obiector, and
say IL ought not 10 be permitted But
there Is no evidence that anything Of
the Kind has been attempted IN the
proceedings In the First precinct or
elsewhere. Rumors have been &c,
aiioat but they have been started by
anti-"Mormon" schemers who have no
rational argument to offer In support OF
their desires.
Inc Deseret News stands for civil and
religious liberty. We repudlate the notion
mat a citizen loses any right or priyileea
before the law, or as factor in the
community, when he is chosen as an
Elder a Bishop, President. an Apos-
ne or to any other Office In the Church
lie can use exactly the same pow
ers and agencies as any other citizen
jew Gentle, Inhdel or Pagan. So
may minister Of any religious denoml.
nation.
why, then, should a sectarian Pastor
me Reverend anybody be at liberty
without protest TO act prominently in a
political convention as a citizen and
when a Mormon official appears he
must be denounced as a Bishop or
what not interfering in politics?
We say to our friends. exercise your
rights as citizens in every proper vay
regardless Of the insane hoWllnge NJ
aAu-"Mormon' plotters and zealots.
Pey no attention TO their mouthngs
whether In print or IN private or on the
platform. Don't be muzzled or deferred
from using the same Influences as clti.
zens that are right for lawyers. doc
tors. journalists. merchants, saloon.
Keepers, ward-heelers, corner ioaferl
aud hired wire-pullers to exercise. You
me at least as good as they and ought
TO WELD a power for good In the COM
inunity in every walk OF life. Act as
freemen and use those liberties your
solves that you wish others to enjoyl
The News" In referring to the bolt
ers candidate, Mr.. Eyer, who is not
very well known in the precinct where
In he desires election. said It was un-
derstcod that he hailed from Kentucky
We are informed that the gentleman
denies this. We take his word for IT,
He knows and we do not. II seems ht
came from Indiana. Well, the News
did not wish to cast any reproach OF
the gentleman nor on the State o.
Kentucky. There are numbers OF chiv.
alrous and elegant gentlemen who ar
proud to claim Kentucky as their ma
tive home. But Il Is stated that Mr
Eyer was born In Ohio. The News
wanted TO know n he had any qualin
cations for the Board Of Education
seeing that none had been set forth b