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Show KNOWING THE LAtY. The Constitution of this State, a3 we have abundantly shown by citation and quotation, absolutely forbids any Intrusion Intru-sion of sectarianism Into tho public schools. Tt follows that any statute, or construction of a statute, that should permit such Intrusion would be unconstitutional. uncon-stitutional. That the Mormon church authorities are so Intruding Into the public schools of Utah Is made very clear by the exposures we have made In connection with the uo-called "religion classes" of that organization. The Constitution of a State Is restrictive; restric-tive; it limits the power of the; Legislature, Legis-lature, and Is designed to protect the people from legislative :i"ggressIon and oppression. It is especially powerful in protecting tho rights of the minority from oppression by the majority, and that Is one of Its most beneficent purposes. pur-poses. This now comes into special prominence promi-nence when we consider the generality of the school districts throughout the rural ru-ral communities of this State, where the Mormons are In massed majorities. In such-ca.se, with the Legislature also under un-der control of the same majority Interest, Inter-est, the minority would have no rights at all, unless they could appeal to the Constitution for their protection. But this is precisely what they can do, and will do, and the lawlessness and encroachment en-croachment will havo to atop. Back of the Constitution, however, and of immediate bearing on the question ques-tion of sectarian intrusion into the schools, are the stipulations of the Enabling En-abling Act, which granted the magnificent magnifi-cent areas of land to this Stale for public pub-lic school purposes. This grant was regal re-gal in its magnificence, and It Is calculated calcu-lated to confer untold benefits upon the people of this State. But It was conferred con-ferred upon the express condition that there must be no intrusion ot sectarian-Ism sectarian-Ism In arfy form into the public schools so endowed with this mighty land grant. This land was granted on the condition condi-tion stated. If that condition is violated, violat-ed, there can be no doubt whatever that Congress can withdraw the grant Congress Con-gress can at any time when it is satis-fled satis-fled that Utah defies and refuses to carry out the condition upon which the schools were to receive -this land, forbid the Issue of further patents to the school lands; and at any time It can suspend such Issue until the facts are Inquired Into. In a church meeting at Brlgham City last week, Apostle Rudger Clawson referred re-ferred to what he called the crusade being be-ing waged asalnst the "religion classes," and said he wondered If the people engaged en-gaged in that crusade thought that the Mormon people were entirely ignorant of the law. One might indeed reasonably think so from their high-handed procedure pro-cedure In their Intrusion into and occupancy occu-pancy of the public school buildings with their "religion classes." But unfortunately, un-fortunately, the history of Utali shows that it is by no means ignorance of the law that causes the leading hierarchy to violate and defy it, but that spirit of determination to bo a law'unto themselves them-selves which has been so constant and so obnoxious, and which has brought so much unhapplness and misery upon the whole people through the stiff-necked obstinacy and viciousncss of a few who saw, or thought they saw, personal advantage ad-vantage and prestige for themselves in a course that brought the whole people under1 the ban, and visited upon the whole sect the condemnation of tho enlightened en-lightened sentiment of the most broad-minded, broad-minded, generous, and magnanimous Nation of people that dwells upon the face of the earth. |