The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-12-12

dent wrote another letter on this
subject 1t was more than a letter
it was a message to congress. fie
asked Mr.. Hopkins. and all uf the
senators. that In view OF the fact
congress could not prohibit polygamy
now In Utah because IL was a state,
that they might submit TO the peo-
pie an amendment TO the constitu-
tion so that congress could tear cut
this great crime Of slavery.
The president used this language
In that message. read AN extract
from the presidents message asking
that congress be given power 10 stop
polygamy within the states;
sit Is neither safe nor proper 10
leave the question OF p0lygan,y &C. be
dealt with by certain states. When
home ties are loosened, when men
and women cease TO regard healthy
family life as the best worth living,
then evil days are come TO the COM
mnuwealth.
This Is plea by the president to
the senate OF the United States 10
give him power 70 stop polygamy
where he Is non powerless., II polyg-
any has been practically stopped
since the manifesto, why In the
name OF common sense did Theodore
Roosevelt ask for an Increased power
In congress TO stop that crimcY lie
begged congress In this message, dur
Ing last congress, to give MIN the
power TO stop polygamy, and Mr..
Hopkins answers the presidents re.
quest by seating one OF the twelve
apostles, and the leading teacher oil
the doctrine OF polyeamy, as Unit
ed States senator.
| / disagree, also, utterly with Mr.
Hopkins WREN he claims that AM
state can establish state church
and ssrequire the taxpayers OF tina
state to support that church, II
order that there may be no misun
derstanding, will read from Senl
tor Hopkins speech In the Ree'
Smoot case, ut page "a:
! II wish to call the attention OF TIN
senators that there Is nothing In TIL
constitution OF the United State
that prohibits state from havinl
an established church. Ii the peopl
OF the state of Michigan can revis
their state constitution so as To re
aulre the taxpayers OF that state {,
pay annually certain sum for til
maintenance OF the Episcopal, tn
Catholic, the Presbyterian or tn
Methodist or any other church, sue
, La clause In the constitution OF Mich
gan or any other independent stat
III the republic would not be antap
| onistic to anything contained IN Iii
constitution OF the United states. "
II is true that when the states de
egated power to the government b
the constitution, they. did n,
specially attempt to limit themsely'
Q In the matter OF religious libert.
I There are many things which al
: omitted In the constitution, the d
I ing OF which would be so repugnaI
Z to the spirit of the constitute
y and the institutions Of this COVER
d ment that they would be held TO
j Unconstitutional. Whether there
q anything In the constitution seekil
II to limit the power OF the states
"a regard to the establishment OF I
T. church or not, the courts have til
)f and again held that such a tax
81 Mr.. Hopkins says can be laid TO CO.
ID pei Taxpayers OF that state To p
J. annually certain sum for the mai
10 tenance OF the church, would be /
ID terIy repugnant to the constitute
~ OF the United States, for IT wor
Of deprive the taxpayer OF his proper
y, without due process Of law, and wit
s. out ''just compensation.
t. II Mr.. Hopkins Is right, then VI
ne can amend Its constitution, .pass
III law establishing the Mormon chur'
in and compel citizens Of Illinois, "
p- own property In Utah, TO supp
st that church or be deprived OF th
cd property. The supreme court OF
United States IN the case VI Dow
] a vs.. Bidwell:
US There are certain principles
I natural Justice inherent In the Ans
= Saxon character which need no
" preston In constitutions OF statu
ne TO give them eject"
'or In the last biog raphy and pul
IS, record OF Albert J. Hopkins, ISIS
a. by him. without signature, from
lat headquarters IN the Federal ba
GU ing In Chicago, as shown by bis II
re- AZURE, he speaks thus modestly
90 himself:
,he 1.-THE position taken by Sem
.be Hopkins In the Smoot case not
ytv places him In the front rank
~. American constitutional lawyers.
IVY showed him to have the courage
try bis convictions.
1ou 1t Is refreshing TO have Mr.. j
at kins admit that he Is great
ate stitutional lawyer" and IL Is to
at regretted that no one else, ex'
him, has ever observed this pecul
my ity. and now challenge him and
.ss. friends u get any gentleman,
on, has ever been a student Of const
icb tional law, TO say that Mr.. Hopl
eed Is right when he says that the s.
eY of Utah. or any other state, may
avs prive any citizen OF his property
emit the support Of any church.