The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-10
AMERICANS FORCED IT.

Those gentlemen who continually howl
at the American party are now declaring
that the recent manifesto Of the Nor.
mon church is most pralseworthy doc
ument. But they overlook the fact
that if there is any good in that pro-
nounccment, they themselves are not
to blame for its issuance.
Through its channels of publicity, the
American party has been declaring that
the Mormon church dominated the pol.
itics of this State. As n result, the
leaders of that organization were
forced TO proclaim TO the world that
II Will advocate the complete separa-
tion Of the church from the state--and
the world will undertake to hold the
Mormon church good 10 its promise;
but with an experience in this matter
not encouraging for definite and prac.
teal results.
Americans have charged that prom.
inent ecclesiasts of the Mormon church
have used their religious influence and
authority 10 the destruction of per
sonal liberty in politics among their
membership. Resulting from that
charge is the promise of the leaders of
the church that the members of their
organization shall be politically free
and those members and the Nation will
hold that promise to be made in good
faith. But other and like promises that
have gone before havo been repudi-
ated
The American party has success
fully contended that the functions of
the state, both elective and appontive
have been numerically subjected to
church interference and dictation
Coming out of that contention is the
solemn declaration of the church that
it will sec to il that elections shall be
conducted with political fairness. and
that there shall be no interference with
executive officials in The exercise of
their appointivc duty-and the assur
ance is now given that the American
party will be vlgilant in attending to
The matter of fulfllment of that prom
Use.
Among the evils which the American
party has proved to exist here was that
Of the practice Of new polyeamy
Forced out into the open. after years
of denial, the Mormon church has ad
mittcd the existence of such infrac.
tions Of the law, and has sacredly
agreed that it will bow '.in respectful
submission to the laws enacted against
plural marriage and the church may
depend upon il that there shall be nc
disregard of that compact If the Amer.
leans can enforce it,
it has been shown by the American
party that the church has had no re-
spect for the authority of the Govern
ment Of the United States. Now comes
protestation by the hicrarchs that
the Mormon church and religion are on
earth for the purpose Of Fhonoring au-
tEority and government and the
people Of the United States (represeut-
ed in Utah by the American party) will
insist upon proper regard on the
part Of the church for ITS own asserted
purpose.
The American party has quoted the
utterances of the leaders of the Nor.
mon church in proving that it was the
intention of the organization dominat-
ed by them 10 eventually overthrow
the Government Of the United States.
| in common with all others throughout
the world Born of this exposition is
| the present declaration that the church
is willing TO be subject TO and help to
maintain civil authority strict ad-
herence TO which declaration will be
insisted upon by the party which com
| PEELED Its utterance.
If opponents of the American party
| fail to see that Amcricanism Las pro-