Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-26
uNAMERICAN POLITICS.

In the Old World state politics
mr., often intimately connected with re-
naious beliefs and observanees. II used
Ia be out OF the question in some coun-
tries 20 advance either politically on
socially. or financially. unless It could be
proved hy the signature Of clergy
man that ones religion was OF the ap-
proved brand. To believe and 20 wor-
ship different from the common nero
was 10 brand. oneself AS social outcast
ana to cut on every avenue OF pre-
ferment
But in this country things are or
ought TO be- different. Here the gov
ornment Of the state takes absolutely
no notice OF the religion Of the ciu-
IONS Politically men may divide on
high or low tariff on states rights or
conservation. Temperance, or any other
question OF secular nature, but they
cannot lagitimatsly bring their relis-
ious differences into the political dis
oussion The question whether the
pope is the successor OF Peter. whether
the Prophet Joseph was true pro-
phet. whether immersion il the only
true mode of baptism whether man has
a free will, and thousand other ques-
lions are foreign 20 the state and the
political status % citizen should not
be affected one way or another by his
belief. or non-b belief. in such matters,
In the Colonies some churches had
government support, but when the state
governments were formed, and when
the Federal Constitution was adopted
state support was WITHDRAWN IL was
expressly provided that mo religious
tests should ever be required AZ quail
ncatlon for any Office or public trust
under the United states" This separa-
ton Of the churches from the state was
ono of the greatest points Of differ
once between tho New world and the
Ola Under this arrangement religious
societies and churches have tiourshed
and the state has been benefited. ana
tho principle has spread far beyond
the boundaries Of the United Statcs.
The ola World has adopted II in prac-
tee. il NOT formally. and the broad
minded people OF the old World are
grateful 30 Providence for this revela-
ton nt an important truth which lie
caused 60 be embodied IN American in
ttituuans by what right may Nyc
ask. does then. ID political demagoguo
stand iup iu poluicH convention and
attack the Church Of Jesus Christ OF
Iattcr-day saints. as was done, ac-
cordiug 20 report in the colonial thea
TIRE in the so-caIied American" cor
Jention on saturday? BY what right
docs anyone in this country under the
American flag turn political gather
Ing into an Rnti-church, denunciatlon
meeting? r. that the way 10 keep
church and state separatcf
It appears 70 M that the speakers
who prostituted the convention by. at
lacking a church thereby proved either
their ignorance or, or Indifference To-.
one Of the great principles or Amer
lean government and that the prcsid-
Ing officer who failed To- call thom to
order. proved unfaithful TO an inn
portant trust. 1t appears 20 US, fur
Their. that the men and women that
follow tho political standard bearers
who publicly disregard what ought to
me sacred inheritance from inc "a
theirs, and in their blind, bigoted fury,
tear. as It were the flag to shrcds dis
play a marvellous contempt for Ameri-
can standards Of right and wrong II
they had had any regard for those
standards they would have loudly pro-
tested against the Proclamation Of a
convention by the Introduction into II
NJ an element " religious persecution
Shame on aH prosecutors wherever they
are. but double shame on those who
under the American nag assume the
rple Of porsecutorsi And the fact that
they do so merely in order to get on
rhs and control OF tho money OF tho
PEOPLE they are defaming, does not
make their case any more respectable
Gentlemen. you are on the wrong
track. n you have any grievance
against political parties. that Is differ
chi. But In stating these, leave the
Church. and all churches alone. Fight
your hght on political lines like true
Americans, and do not sneak In false