The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-21
THE SORT OF FREEDOM

The inconsistencies displayed by
Mormon church officials in their various
attitudes upon questions which have
constituted the controversy IN this
commonwealth for many years past, arc
SO thoroughly known that to further
exploit them would seem 10 be
work of supererogatlon, But con"
tinued reference to them is made neces-
sary through the repeated hypocrisies
Of the Deseret News, upon occasions
when II desired to misreprcsent the
actualitics The church organ is eX-
trcmely fond of shouting out to the
world, when opponents declare TO the
contrary, that the Mormons are free
in the broadest sense of the word. it
is a part Of the hIerarchical game to
which the News is especially partial.
in April Of this year the first prcsi.
dency issued manifesto over their
own signatures, in which they declared
for political freedom in the following
language:
The absolute freedom of the individual
from the domination Of the ecclesiastical
authority in political affairs,
or recent years there has been no
particular necessity for openly drastic
action on the part of the Mormon
church leaders against individuals. The
movements Of the hierarchs in this
respect have all been pretty we'll con-
ccaled under cover Of party action.
il is true that the News has sometimes
been somewhat indiscreet in partial eX-
posure Of the prophetic plans and po-
litical desires; but on the whole, the
ecclesiasts and their organ have sue
ceeded moderately we'll in turning their
schemes with a Etine Italian hand. -
aged TO place their followers Just
where they wanted them in the line
mp Of political campaigns, and the
world has been advised only at the
time Of their occurrence concerning
such outward demonstrations of the
hierarchical power in politics ass had
been observed from the outside. How
ever, there was a time when less eau
ton was observed. as will be noticed
in the utterance of tue Deseret
News at the time when the entire
mechanism Of the church was devoted
to an exposition of its real attitude,
as touching the above excerpt from
last April manifesto On April q,
1896, the Mormon church adopted
rule, which at the time was declared
TO have for its purpose the ameliora-
tion of the bitter condition of strife
which had arisen from intrusion in
political affairs by high church officials.
In part. that rule was as follows:
We hold that unless he [any high Off
Ger Of the Mormon church. including
apostles and presidents OF scYenOes,l Is
willing to consult with and obtain The
consent OF his fellow-laborcrs and pre-
siding officers in the priesthood he should
be released from all obligations associated
with the latter before accepting any new
position.
On its face, and in view OF ac
companying statements. that was
very innocent-appearing requirement.
In fact, il was set forth in the same
document that IN making that rule
the church authorities did not wish to
dictate to men concerning their
duties as American citizens, or TO in
terfere with the affairs of the State. y
At that time there was one highly
intellectual and polished gentleman,
who was a member of the apostolic
quorum, who had refused 10 subscribe
to the political condition imposed by
the presidency. This man was can
didatc for the United States Senator
ship. His was a high place in the
esteem and affection Of the citizenship
of Utah. he was the favorite son of
the political party TO which he be-
longed. He foresaw the absolute and
dangerous power which the church po-
liiical rule would place in the hands
of n few men, lie revoltcd against
it, and his party was with him. Now,