The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-29

State Committee Statement People of Utah and Bids
i Them Grid on Their Armor and Be of Good Cheer.

OF a strong central government as
expressed in the activities and usurpa-
lions of the present Republican pres
ident, we have nothing less than a
vicious example.
The adjudged inadequacy of the Re-
publican candidate is apparent from
the fact of his being pushed from his
pride of place" as standard bearer of
his party, by the strenuous president
who makes a Republican party asset
of that high Office which belongs to
all the people"
The Democratic slogan. Shall the
people rule?" is growing in favor every
day as the campaign proceeds. and the
affirmative answer is swelling in VOL
ume with every passing hour.
Must Be UP and Doing.
AT such a time Democrats in Utah
cannot stand idle. Were defeat in our
state absolutely certain, still the fight
should be made, and made in dead
earnest, and in behalf of success for
both national and state tickets 1t Is
possible that the people of Utah will
swell the affirmative answer to the is
sue presented in the question, Shall
the people rule?" AT any rate the ma
tional issue stated in that question too
nearly resembles our chief local issue
for the people of Utah to be indiffer-
ent to an appeal made to them upon
that issue. the right settlement of which
concerns both the peace and prosperity
of our state.
1t is gratifying to note the progress
that is being made for the local set
Element of the issue, Shall the peo-
pie ruler Our state constitution ex-
pressly declares that 'all political pow
er is inherent in the people; and all
free government is founded on their
authority" Also, that there shall be
no union of church and state, nor shall
any church dominate the state or inter-
fere with it's functions. On the other
hand, the dominant church In the state
against some members of which COM
plant is made of the improper use of
ecclesiastical authority in political af-
fans. whereby the principle that the
people shall rule is infringed, since &C.
clesiastical authority, 1t is alleged. DOM
mates their political action-has said:
Position of the Church.
"The Church of Jesus Christ OF
Latter-day Saints holds to the doc.
trine of the separation of church and
state; the non-interference of church
authority in political matters; and
the absolute freedom and independ
ence of the individual in the perform
ance of his political duties. II, a,
any time, there has been conduct a,
variance with this doctrine, it ha:
been in violation of the we'll settled
principles and policy Of the church
We declare that from principle anc
policy, we favor the absolute
freedom of the individual from dom
ination of ecclesiastical authority II
political affairs" address to tn.
world, p. 16.)
This position was voluntarily as
stunned by the church: the principle and
policy above stated was presented BY
the presidency to the church in genera
conference assembled. 1t was ratified
by that conference and thus becam,
! the official action of the whole body
From the nature of things there car
be no recession from that position O
the dominant church. so satisfactorily
stated and announced. any more thar
there can be a reputation of the doc
! trine of the constitution. There cal
only be individual violation of tn,
principles and policy here so solemn
ly proclaimed. Nor can these indi
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