Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-09-24
A .s,LsE DOCTRINE.

The doctrine that it is contrary to the
spirit OF the American government for
man who holds an ecclesiastical Of
flee to serve the state in a. responsible
official position, cannot be defended
successfully. Ifsthere is any character
lstic feature Of the American govern
mert, more prominent than all others.
Is II is this that 1t recognizes the per-
feet equality before the law of all its
Il citizens. There is nothing In the Con-
Btitutiors OF tho United States, nor of
m any state constitution. that can be
construed as aiming at the disfran-
rflsement of any American citizen be-
cause of any ecclesiastical position he
u may hold. The effort at reading into
the Constitution a spirit that is not
there. and was never intended to be
there. is un-American. Were it sue.
cessful. it would be dangerous For
the reasoning by which 1t Is sought to
f. be justified would lead, logically. to
the complete disfranchisement of an
4 entire class of the best citizens. Those
who would deny their right to serve
4 the people in a public Office would also
deny their right to vote, or TO exercise
any influence whatever upon public af-
fairs. The doctrine OF disfranchise-
ment cannot be defended.
We venture the assertion without
fear of successful contradiction, that
the spirit and genius of the American
government demands that all good cit
5 liens take an interest in public affairs
and that they serve the people to the
best Of their ability. in any position for
which they are qualified and to which
they are elected. Who shall be
responsible for the government of
the state, il not the od-feariIig, edu-
Gated, unselfish citizens? And these
are very generally found engaged in
ecclesiastical work of one nature or
another. Must they therefore be ex-
Guided from the responsibilities OF
citizenship? Far from 1t. Rather let
the men of great ability, the men to
whom much has been given Of wealth
and learning and opportunity, devote
to the public affairs the same earnest
ness, the same devotion. the same in
tclligence which ,characterizes them in
other fields, and the results will be
ROOtl, we Liz Itlell anu MpIiitll WIZ
are filled with a desire TO serve God
more frequently entrusted With the adj
ADMINISTRATION of public affairs, there
would be less opportunity for the
forces CT evil to enthrone corruption,
graft, and immortality. To achieve that
end is, we take it, the spirit and
genius of American government.
The evident present-day effort tex
Guiding God from the affairs of the
difference. 1t resulted in the reign
of terror in France, though Reason
was professedly enthroned in the sane
tuary. And that. we fear, will be the
consequence everywhere where such
an effort is crowned with success. Cow
ernnents are instituted By God for the
benefit of man. The State is an in
stitution existing by divine sanction,
Just as is the family, or the church
Each has IT'S own sphere, it's own mis-
sion, fer the education of man and his
preparation for eternal exaltation A
Goddess state is q deplorable institu-
ton just as a Goddess family or Z
Goddess church would he. We claim
that In the ideal state the chief eNecu-
tive, the legislator, the Judge, and all
other officers recognize their RESPONSE
bility to God for the manner in which
they perform their duties, and that
government viii never be what it
ought to be until those who govern
acknowledge their duty to serve God.
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