Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-22
"MoRMoNs" ARE FREE.

lutflN Tree. POLITICALLY. II ~ perfectly
aware ~ tho fact that 1t is deliberately
falsifying but It's purpose is, 81 course,
to create suspicion IN the minds of per-
sons who can be Influenced by repeti-
tlon. oven against reason, So strong Is
the love OF liberty in thu hearts of the
people Of Utah that II Is hoped that
the mere assertion Of somebody that
liberty Ia in danger VIII have some
effect The sorpuni IN tho Garden Of
Eden also relied on assertion fot The
effect he desired Ia produce
This time we arc told that the con
troversy with Nh Moses Thatcher is
proof positive that there is no Free
dom In the Church. within the Nor
mon Church SO runs the indictment,
there Is no such thing as political lib
erty The members of that organiza-
ton are the veriest slaves of their cruel
masters" Now. think of that, you
members Of the Mormon" Church!
You arc slaves" and your masters
are Cruel" and you did not know itl
Was folly ever more foolish than
when 1t turned to the Thutcher episode
for proof that 'Mormons" are deprived
of political liberty? That argument
was used for all II was worth, and
more. by the anti-"M orrnons' In the
crusade before the Senate Committee
ON Privileges and Elections. And after
It had been duly investigated II was
found 10 be entirely untenable. il was
In
sane man will ever again use 1t as a
covering for his repulsive anti-"Mor-
monism."
MIR Thatcher. in his testimony be-
fore that committee emphatcally de-
clared that he was free as an Apostle
as well as a member Of the Church. TO
quote
Mr.. Van Colt. Did you or not consl-
der yourself free American citizen
while you We're a member Of the quor-
UNI of apostles?
MIR. Thatcher am glad you asked
the question, as perhaps my former
answer would be misleading. / have
never experienced moment In my life
since / reached mature years, when !
did not feel that II | was not free.
would go where j would be free. for,
while my allegiance to God Is very
high 1 hold that man must give his
allegiance as well to his country. That
has been my position" Proceedings
before the Committee on Privileges and
Elections. Vol L. page 1O50)
In the statement made by the minori-
~ OF the committee which statement
was adopted by the Senate by an over
wheIming majority, the controversy re-
ferred 10 was fully considered, The
minority said:
TT is claimed. however that the
Church, by an instrument called the
political rule has required of its mem
beers holding Office In the Church that
before they shall become candidates for
any political position they shah receive
the consent of the Church authorities
and that by this device the Church has
controlled the election OF Senators of
the United States
This political rule will be found
on pages les TO III. Volume l., of the
printed report OF the testimony OF the
committee, The meaning and effect
OF this instrument We're very fully
considered In the case of Moses
Thatcher, who IN 1896 was a cdndi-
date before She Legislature of Utah
for election as senator OF the United
States
The upshot Of It ali Is that the
political rule as construed by these
proceedings, left Thatcher. 70 use his
own words, absolutely free as an
American citizen, to exercise his
rights as such. and left all the officers
of the Church absolutely free. In
his acceptance of the decision Of the
council Thatcher expressly stipulated
that In accepting Il he violated none
% the engagements heretofore en-
tered into by him. under the require
ments OF party pledges respecting the
political Independence OF the citizen
who remains mtrammoled. as con-
tcmplated IN the state constitution.
Indeed. IN the political rule Itself.
II is expressly stated that II any Of
dccr OF the Church wishes 10 become
a candidate for political office, or
to enter into any other engagement
which will interfere with the duties
OF his Church Office. he may do so
without soliciting % obtaining the
consent Of he Church or its authori-
ties by reslguing his ecclesiastical po-
sition. The whole puiport and effect
of the rulo seems TO be that high
Church officials. flllng positions
| which require them 20 give their time
o. their ecclesiastical duties shall not
enter into engagements of any kind,
polltiCul or nthvrWlse, WhlCh require
them 10 abandon or neglect such eC-
ciesiasticdl duties, without first Oh.
taining the consent OF the authorities
~ the Church" Proceedings before
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
lions, Vol W. page 52D.
According 10 the views expressed
by the minority OF the Committee. and
which We're endorsed by the Senate,
there is absolutely nothing in the So
| called political rule which interferes
with the liberty OF any officer or
uomber Of tho Church, Mr., Thateh-
| cr himself so declared. And his word
WAS not disputed I'm the Senate The
assertion by tho ant-"Mormon" sheet
thar that 'rule" proves that the lnem-
beers of the Church are Slaves" is a
| reflection on the tuthfulness OF a
! gentleman Who is FAR above suspicion
! In that respect II Is a challenge to
] The Senators who, after searching
! investigation iu the broad daylight.
declared they could lind nothing OBJ
! jVotionable in tho rule, II is an an
archistie attJlnpt TO SGT aside as con-
trary To facts the decision Of the
highest legislative body OF the land.
| II Is rebellion IN spirit
The principles laid down by the
| Church In iis recent Address to the
Morld are these,