Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-23
OUR POSITION.


Interference in politics" and. as such
"sure to make certain the insertion of
an anti polygamy and anti-Church in
flucnce plank in the Democratic plat
FORM We beg to say first, that moth
ing the "News" has ever said, or Is
every likely TO say. will influence the
course OF anti Church agitators OF the
Dubois brand. any more than the ar
Eument Of the lamb awaited against the
hunger OF the wolf. False stories,
such as this for instance, that
leading Church men were sent
on missions for political pur-
poses, and the assertions and
destinations that the Church interferes
in politics, when such stories and I'M
situations come from sources not gem
orally regarded as anti"Mormon," are
more likely to have the effect OF fur
nishlng nt-"Mormons" with mater
1al for antl-Church planks. than any
thing the News" can say. 1t should
be remembered that II is the very ex-
istence of the News" and the Church,
that is Objectionable to them. 1t is the
very existence of the Church that they
consider sufficient justification for am
t-"Mormon' activity. To please
them, we would have to cease to be,
but We are not yet prepared to ac-
commodate them to that extent.
In the second place, we beg to say,
that we deny emphatically that the
article referred to was written In a
partisan spirit. There Is not word
in II which can be construed as an
attempt to influence anybody. one way
or another. The News" did say that
Mr.. Taft, If elected. will make an ex-
cellent Chief Executive. but we will
say the same of Mr. Bryan. He, too,
has many OF the qualities needed in
the exalted Office Of President. We did
say that Mr.. Taft, in all probability.
will be elected, but that was nothing
more serious than a guess we ventured.
and II II proves to be wrong, no one,
we trust. is injured thereby. We
might have said that In the opinion
of the friends of Mr.. Taft he win in
all probability be elected, but although
that was not said In so many words.
st was the tenor and purport of the
entire article. We did say concerning
his election "Some close students OF
the situation feel certain Of that"
And then we gave the reasons why
they are certain of 1t. in quotation
marks. If II Is an offense TO
comment on current events of
national Importance and give the
reasons why friends OF Presi-
Dental candidate believe that he can
be elected. we are not aware OF 1t.
Is II partisanship, let us ask, TO
speak good word for man whom
great portion of this nation honors
with the candidacy for the Presi-
dency? Must newspaper go round
with a muzzle every time n campaign
IS on, like n dog during dog daysg
THAT is not our idea OF impartial jour
nalism, A newspaper exists for the
purpose Of giving the news of the day
and commenting on current topics
TO the best of it's ability. An indepen-
dent newspaper viii sustain the au-
thorities that be- regardless Of party,
of the citizens; or II not, It will
criticize such acts as come properly
within the scope OF legitimate critic
Ism; II will speak well of all, as far as
can be done without violating truth,
and especially of men and women in
the public eye. Such, briefly stated,
we conceive TO be the duty of an in
dependent impartial journal.
In the pursuit Of the duty as here
outlined. we have had the peculiar eN'
perience OF being made the object OF
criticism from all sides. sometimes
our Republican friends have thought
US rather Indifferent 10 their interests,
and sometimes our Democratic friends
have made the same complaint, but
on second thought II has generally
been admitted that the News has
aimed at fairness, lmpariality. ami
consistency We are proud of this
reputation for the organ OF the Church,
and trust that 1t may he retained nj
ways.
Having departed from our general
rule in saying this much for ourselves,
we may add that we are again author
ised TO say that the Church has taken
no position whatever In the coming
campaign, and viii take no position IN
q political contest OF any kind. Tn,
Church, as church, is not In politics.
j Is a religious organization that OK
lists for the proclamation OF the sospo.
OF the Redeemer throughout the world
and Il has no other interest In politics
than that which other churches have
the interest Ia the publication ot public
life and the prevalence OF honesty ana
morality everywhere. Church meme
bers. who are American citizens, may
have taken thor respective positions Ia
the coming campaign, MS IL rs their
right and duty TO do, und those who
have made up their minds win un-
doubtedly try 10 Influence those VINO
are open 20 argument one way or an
other That Is both natural and legit
innate.
The position OF the Church has been
made clear from time 10 time, IN
1889 manifesto was issued, signed by
the First Presidency. the Council OF
the Twelve and counselors. in which
It was stated as follows.
"rhat this Church, while offering nd
vice for the welfare OF It's member
ll AL conditions Of life. does not clain,
o' exercise tho right 10 interfere with