Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-26
A TEST SHOULD BE MADE.

The following paragraphs are taken
from an article 20 the New York Press,
giving an account Of action taken in
reference to two N our missionaries
who are sborlng in tho Eastern states.
So much prejudice biFotry ana inter-
ference with the common rights NJ citI-
zens is exhibited in the conduct Of
Mayor Coyne, that we cannot suppress
our surprise and Indignation The
Press account says.
1.-TWO Mormon Elders were refused
permission this afternoon by Mayor
Coyne 20 hold public meetngs ia the
sQuares OF the city of Nonkers ana
breach the tenets of The Latter-day
saints. and the Mayor also declined to
allow them 20 sell or distribute tracts
written by Elder Ben Rich explaining
the doctrines o. the Mormon Church.
The Mayor held that 20 give the desir.
al perrnission would De 90 take a step.
tho evil effects of which the city would
not easily ret ril o. He said he felt
that q was hig duty 60 protect the
homes OF the residents NJ the city and
the fair name OF the women Of Non-
kers.
Mayor Coyne has ma ie two visits 70
Salt Lake City. and is fairly We'll posted
H. Mormon literature He say9 he has
no use for the Morm1ns ana their
views on polygamy Tho Elders say
that they visited Alabama. New YORK
CITY and Philadelphia and that this is
the first place IN which they have been
yefpsed permission 10 hold public meet
ings'
The Mayor Of Yonkers ought 10 have
examined the tracts or other literature
which the Elders were distributing. be-
fore he issued HE peremptory ukase
sorbiddns them 90 sell or circulate
them. Like other unintormed persons,
that official evidently Jumped to the
conclusion without any basis for his be.
lief. that tho subject Of those puhlca-
tlons was polygamy. Also no imagined,
without reason FOR doing 80, that those
missionaries intended 10 preach on
rolygamy. n he had made the least
INQUIRY. he would have learned that he
was entirely mistaken both az to the
tracts and the preaching Also that
the homes and the fair name OF the
women" N Yonkers were not IN the
slightest danger from the Elders who
might call upon them, nor from the
irrlncrles get forth IN their teachings
and their pamphlets
What right had the Mayor Of Yon-
,ssrs to prevent the sale or loan OF the
tracts which the Elders endeayored TO
distribute? In his arbitrary edict he
went beyond hls legitimate authority
and no would fail TO md In the ordi-
names Of the city or the laws Of the
etste any excuse FOR thus infringing
upon the rights Of those two gentlemen
Who we're not disturbing the public
,eacs nor doing anything to inlure any
Individual Or society
We do not advise our Elders in 'he
mission field to resist the law or l''
oncers even when the latter trans
cond Inc bounds Of their public duties
pueve think it would be proper II
thew INQUIRED into the subject Of their
,sqal rights and privileges that test
NAV he made when necessary ot me
powers granted 20 persons who are
guided more by bigotry and prejudice
than by the authority vested IN them
under the law. Il may be that preach
inc IN the hubble thorouehfares 81 fon-
kers can be rlghtfuny prohibited by the
municipal authorities But that they
have mo- right 20 prevent the dls'rl-
hutton az religious literature that COM
,ains nothing uimical to the public
welfare. but simply presents 9criptufai'
christian doctrine in simple and ar
eumontatiys form. win not We think
he disputed by any person acquainted
At an with the rights and liberties Of
American citizens
The mayor and police of city 10 this
country are not authorized 70 dis'rim-
,rate between - .renCes of religious
opinion. nor 60 prescribe rules as 10
that which is orthodox or heieroaoX.
II the literature attempted 90 be- dis
,ributed by the I.atter-day saints COM
tained anything contrary to law or NOR
atty. or inculcated resistance to amy
civic regulations or legal inhib.uous. 90
might Dc within The purvIew Of public
officials % prevent such distribution
and punish offenders But in The case
under consideration nothing Of the
Kind was attempted and The mayor
and his associates acted lawlcssly
ihemselves
Every American citizen who is act
Ing within the law is guaranteed equal
rights with other citizens and is en-
titled 20 governmental protection. d is
better Tor our Elders 90 suffer wrong
than 10 40 wrong. hut AZ the same time
they should become fully acquainted
with their rights before me Jaw and en-
deavor 60 maintain them 80 a lawful
and peaceahle manner
We would respectfully suggest Co he
officials OF states. and counties. and
cities IN this FREQ country that before
they attempt 20 play 'he role o. Euro
pean despots. they become sure as Co
ihe powers they attcmp, 90 exercise.
and also ind out before taking any ac-
tive STEPS 'n the direction indicated.
whether there S. iust cause 'or their
interference with the uchts and priv
AegeH Of American citizens. who repre-
sent principles and church that 40 not
harmonic win 'he conflicting theories
and systems q modern Chrlstendom
They had better be sure hey ore right
before they forge ahead.
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