Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-26

That III" however Is entirely hypo-
thetlcal. No evidence Is ever offered
that ..ould be accepted In any court
or analytical mind, that such oppres-
sion. coercion, intimidation or force
is either claimed or exercised by the
authorities Of the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints.
The reques, has been repeatedly made
upon the antl-"Mormon" cranks and
wIlful slanderers who perpetually re-
peat their sophistries aud groundless
charges, to bring out actual Instances
Of such dlctation and give the names
OF individuals who have been ordered.
or required, or compelled TO vote for
or against any party or candidate By
the Church authorities. II this eccles-
iastlcal Interference had any substan-
tial existence. some substantial eyi-
dence Of Il would be adduced.
II anything Of the kind could be
brought forward 4; would show that
something had been done In conflict
with the doctrine and genius Of the sys-
TEN commonly called 'Mormonlsm"
The free agency and liberty Of all hui
man beings Is a fundamental Of that
faith. II encourages free thought and
tha free expression Of the will OF the
individual. with due consideration for
the views and acts Of others The in
dependence OF all intelligent beings is
proclaimed by the Church as revealed
from the Most High.
The so.called Mormon Church does
not and cannot. as an organized body,
dictate the political action Of its mem
bers. for It takes the whole body 10
form the policy Of the Church and It's
members are divided In their political
preferences and Affiliations. II Is Of
no use 10 pretend to the contrary, for
the facts and figures prove these con-
ditions II by the term Church dc
tation' is meant the domination OF
Church members by Church leaders,
that Is equally stupid and baseless, for
they also entertain different political
opinions, and neither the votarles Of one
party or the supporters OF another make
any claim 10 the right OF diotation as
TO the politics OF anybody, either as
Church members or otherwise.
As TO counsel" or advice" or per
suasion." men Of influence in the
Church are extremely reluctant even
when approached by people who desire
10 learn their opinions IN political
matters, and therefore do not attempt
TO exercise undue influence over them
and particularly avoid speaking ex ca
thedra. Indeed the highest authorities
n the Church decline peremptorily TO
express their views on these matters,
for fear that they may be open 10 the
charge which is 80 untruthfully made
against them.
The Deseret News IL Of the opinion
that every man. no matter what may
be his ecclesiastical status, has an
equal right with all other citizens to
express his opinions on living questions
of any kind that AFFECT the public well
fare. and 10 use the influence which he
has as a citizen 10 bring about the up
lifting Of mankind. This paper does
not take the ground that either the
Church as a body or its leaders in
their sacerdotal capacity, should at
tempt TO coerce the minds or acts Of
any HUMAN beings, to Impose penalties
upon them for declining to submit 10
such dictation, or 10 pose as political
masters In any manner or in any sense
)f the term.
Every member Of this Church il free
10 join with and support any political
party or creed and TO vote for any can.
iidate that he chooses TO aid, and is
not under any obligation to submit TO
arbitrary control In such matters from
any source under the SUM- This is the
ruth before God and the world. and
sll rational people should understand Il,
md close their ears 10 the tumult Of
falsehood and folly raised by the most
Of political Adventures
hat ever cursed any nation or oommu.
uft,s