Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-08
THE TURNER CASE.

The case OF Mr. John Turner now be-
fore the United states Supreme court,
Is one Of more than common inter-
est, because II involves the question
whether the law excluding immigrants
from this country because Of what they
believe, Is constitutional. The Supreme
court has, on a former occasion, empha-
tlcally stated that there Is no authority
TO interfere with a mans belief, but
only with his acts, and II has been gem
orally understood that IN this country a
person can believe whatever he wants
no matter what Il Is, az long as he does
not teach, or practise anything contrary
TO law This liberty, IN fact, is uniyer-
sal There Is no country on earth where
man has not the right to believe
whatever he chooses as long as no says
nothing about It TO others. But Mr.
Turner was refused landing In the
United States because OF his belief IN
anarchy, and the question Is whether
the immigration authorities had n right
TO exclude him, before there was any
overt act with which to charge him,
The law relating 20 his case provides,
THAT no person who disbelioves In or
who Is opposed to all organized govern.
ment, or who Is member of or Anil.
ated with any organization entertaining
or teaching such disbelief IN or oppOsl.
ton to all organized government q.
shall be permitted to enter the United
States This law was enacted shortly
after the murder Of President Mckinley
by the anarchist Czolgosz,
MIR Turner has for many years been
prominently connected with labor
movements in Great Britain. He came
to this country last fall, and on Oct.
g. last he was arrested at meeting
he was about to address In New York.
| He was taken TO Ellis Island, and after
Il rather secret examination, ordered
deported to England A writ Of habeas
corpus was then obtained, but the
| Judge before whom the writ was re-
turned decided against Mr.. Turner He
held that az laws excluding aliens for
insanity or disease, had been held to
be valid, 1T is not perceived
why the principles laid down In long
line OF decisions do not apply equally
TO a person who is differentiated By the
possession or advocacy Of specific be-
llcfs as TO the conduct and regulation
Of society" In other words, accord
Ing to this decision, beliefs are as much
subject to legislation, IN the case OF
aliens who desire to enter this country
as are their physical c, lditIons
Against this decision the appeal to the
Supreme Court was taken.
The law was enacted at a time when
the entire country was agltated on &C.
count OF the Buffalo tragedy, and nc
legal enactment seemed too harsh, as
long as by them anarchists could b.
barred from coming here, Had ther,
been time for cool reflection, the Law
would not have been passed IN thai
form, We hope the Supreme Court viii
correct the mistake committed, Fol
II the principle admitted that legls
lation is concerne, about a persons be
lief. there is but one step to Legislation
for the establishment OF opinions ant
Views favored by majority, Aud ther
farewell TO both religious an civil lib
erty. Let not only beliefs, but discus
sion be free and untrameled In thl,
country. only so can truth prevail
Action. too, should be perfectly free
as long as no one is injured and the In
forests Of the state, home, or society
are safeguarded. II this is not Amer
lean liberty, In what Is II dlreren
from that enjoyed In Russia, for IN
stance2 There, too, YOU are nj nbert,
TO believe whatever you want, both il
politics end religion as long MS YOU d.
not say anything to anybody else.