The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-28

manner In which Ii has ruled the city,
or the shortcomings of its officials and
its rank and file, is the question to which
have adverted and TO which the people
that is the question whether it is wise to
beat the Mormon people into one solid
mass and for Mormon and Gentle, ar
rayed in opposing pha1anxes, TO glare into
into each others eyes in anger.
Always VIII Be a Democrat.
The question has been put to me as to
what will do in the event that l am de-
feated for congress at the coming cleo
ton and am made satisfied beyond all
question that my defeat was occasioned
mon church and the president of that
church. ! am glad TO answer that ques-
ton and to answer II publicly. L have
given much thought to the situation here.
do not like defeat any better than other
people If I have proof that the presi-
dent of the church, or any other church
leader, interferes in the election and de-
featS any Democratic candidate, i will
not hesitate to denounce such conduct.
But. so far as such action changing my
own attitude, that will not be done. L
shall remain a Democrat, but | will fight
a little harder against ecclesiasticism in
politics. ] will make myself heard in
some way and 1 will try to make my in
fluence felt. For me to abandon the DEM
ocratic party and join the American"
party simply because / found that the
people were servile enough to surrender
their manhood and honor, as wen as their
political convictions upon the counsel or
command Of some high churchman, would
be to allow myself to be governed wholly
by a spirit OF vengeance, and 1T would
clare and actuated solely by the hope of
personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT In the fight
made by me politically in this state. l
consider the advancement of Utah, the
absolute separation of church and state.
the absolute independence of the people
from church dictation or control in po-
litical affairs to be objects more to be
sought after and more to be desired than
| the advancement of the political fortunes
of any individual. / concede honesty of
purpose to the great mass of the members
of the American" party. l think that
they are wrong in their methods and
| that the result Of success for their party
will be to postpone the time when there
will be no excuse for division OF the
| people here upon religious lines.
Republican Organ Quoted.
Americans have insisted to me before.
| and no doubt they will now make answer
! that this is the only course to pursue.
They declare as their firm conviction
| that it is the duty Of the Gentiles, ir-
respective of party. to unite. and to car
| ry on the crusade with vtgor, continuing
| tx for years, If need be. until the church
pUrges itself of connmercialism, and no
| longer permits any of It's followers to
make merchandise in political campaigns
] of the religious sentiments of its men,
bers. We have the word of the Repub-
| lioan organ of Utah that the church has
| dictated the election of men, and that
president of the Mormon church has
/ placed at least one man in the United
| States senate. Grant this to be true.
| Grant that the whisperer who goes about
! preying upon the religious sentiments Of
! the devout is authorized so to do. Grant
! that the organ Of the Mormon church
prints editorials with words between the
| liIes, calculated to throw an election one
way the other; grant that we have
no such thing as a fair and square po-
| litical fight here in Utah. After all, Is
| the way to cure the evil the way that
| the American party has selected? VIII
not bitter words breed bitter words in
| return? Will not the fact of the Cen
| tiles making common cause against the
| church and its leaders cause the Nor
mons to make common cause against the
! Gentiles? And when that is done. will
| you have removed the Objectionable
| things about which you complain? Will
you not aggravate the trouble2 You will
| control a few counties of the state, but
| you will not control the state govern
ment nor the law making power Of the
| state.
No Hope From Republicans.
| I grant you that there is no hope for
| relief from the Republican party. 1t is