| OCR Text |
Show I WHY THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES OF THE MORWojfl CHURCH SHOULD NOT BE ACTIVE IN POirrl That reason is not becauso they arc Mormons. 2Zo man 's religion should bar biro from office, nor help him into it, nor forbid him exercising and enjoying en-joying all the privileges of citizenship. Undoubtedly there is a strong and almost universal projudice against Mormonism, which would inevitably defeat de-feat a member of that faith from an election as president. The prejudice may be altogether unjust, un-American, and a violation of the letter and spirit of the constitution; but all that will not avail to put tho prejudice aside. t Prejudice is too stubborn for argument, argu-ment, and violates right and constitution, constitu-tion, and is without legal redress. It can be modified, if not destroyed, by the cultivation of fraternity, friendship and fellowship, by closer association and better knowledge of ono another. Mormons arc not alone in this ostracism. ostra-cism. The Jow is equally a sufferor. The Catholics have felt It heavily in tho past, and Protestants feel it today in Catholic countries. The negro is denied many privileges of an American Ameri-can citizen, merely on account of his color. Booker T. Washington, if nominated nomi-nated for president by oitner of tho two ! great parties, would bo abandoned by possibly nino-tonths of his party, because be-cause he is a negro. Everybody concedes con-cedes his ability, his moral integrity, his character a3 a mau; but all theao would weigh as nothing in tho ecalo against blood. But. it -may be urged, Mormons do not obtrudo themselves upon the nation, na-tion, but confine themselves to their privileges as citizens of a state. Whothcr true or not, tho opposition nr.isos in the state. And thnt opposition is based upon the fact that an un-American and unconstitutional un-constitutional interference emanating from an ecclesiastical body intorforcs with the frcodom of doctors. Whetbor , that bc truo or not is not germane to j the writer's prosent purpose; the con- viction that it is truo is very goneral , in Utah, and is not confined to non-Mormons. non-Mormons. Let us try to find a way out. Is thero prejudice in Utah? Woro there no Mormon Democrats who scratched Judge Powers two .years ago, because ho is a "Gentile." and further because, in the tense times when tho Mormons were in controversy with tho nation as to polygamy, he executed the law as be found it. in accordance with his oath of office? No one who mm gled among the pooplo and caught tht undercurrent of feeling, can deny it. Is thcro no prejudice in Utah against the iDomocratic party? A prejudice thnt many hold not from any t persona, grievance they have, but which comes from the personal attitude of church men, who exercise a personal favoritism for one party, and, consequently, a personal antagonism to the other! Those men are regarded as exceptionally qualified to judge in all m-'ittcrs nnd their mind is regarded as the will and the word of the Lord, and carries with it all the moral authority of a revelation. revela-tion. While this favoritism continues tue Democratic party can certainly receive re-ceive no favors from them, nor und a fair field of battle. . Tho people "'ho hold them m this high esteem as leaders and counselors will not determine their party affiliations affilia-tions by personal convictions as to political po-litical policies, but from religious considerations. con-siderations. That is inovitablo.and m harmony with prevailing conditions. Mr. Smoot may be a conscientious Republican, with strong political convictions; con-victions; but his followors will largely be of those who follow him because ho has tho approbation of tho presidency of his church, lie will win many votes, not by the cogency and power of his arguments, but by a subtle, lormidablo potency that bo carries as an apostle, running for office with the express consent con-sent of the man who speaks ior God. Church influence in Utah, or in any other state for that matter, is not exerted ex-erted through arbitrary commands, but, liko the power of. gravitation, it grips ovcrv part of the body and draws it lo its center. The intensity of that power will be measured by he intensity of tho reverence which members have for it and the measure of their habitual obedience to it. No ono doubts the lovalty of tho body of bolievers. to their ecclesiastical head, nor thoir passive obrdienco to its wish. Somo months ago several ladies were taking tea together t I waH said whic ;V m church influence. oKVSl ' devout Mormon, rose frSL ? hfting her bsn.l 8a.d?m A? 81 take my oath that ho L 1 1 9 to influence my yo,.?&31 P. Smith has sat at 1? frl a guest at my house.7 ft told me the facts in -t said, 'Now, Sister tM ing to influence your vr.t fcfl fectly fee to vote as Thero it is the mflW-" encfi "You are like " How did she fiv.J ho bad set the facts &TM 'any one doubt? A good v on the streets of is as good a woman .. Jo votes j n,t as Sogl committee deliverpmey"l up a good part of his & V prove that he was not firS9 W mop church; that hi ffiHB anud the persecutions Missouri and that hl MB mother if not his-owa ffitB impossible for him tr a,''i jB she loved. Wh r?ie0cPa,W he handled Mr. Smoot SfJSfl h vered his argument, SM apologetic tone, that 0?B .lumping up and sayi m B man, take off your g0v StM win. and if y0u Lann rlM apostle wben3yoaB&B licans, do m not offer anv -HB Any cause is lost that is fS9 hall-hearted way, mst .rM damn a man with scant praiJB . The secret of the matfM I fact that when a man Xl ecclesiastical office entln hftfl ! for a political one. h! tSa&M afraid to pummel Mr. jwriB ; of hurting Mr. Hydo. ; Conceding fully that, a, . .M personal right, any AoeiieSB may aspire to any ofUce h nsM tho people-' ' the WJjfoi&B court confirms it"-s!jJIlfB lo" experience and chastdB , atfliction. advises the belter B , Let tho men in antoriVS from all politica' activity, hM htical party openly or mci.3B overy man who covertly striuM once votes by pretending to them, and so leave their tslB lutely uninfluenced in alinSH selves 111 political parties ataH go far in settling the storms i9 keep the state m a deDlora.VM 1.util.h.18 trljnC adjutuB the Union. . Sho has a nnioM for the state was originally t The snint that grew on; of tiMl , like the spirit that preraihB t states. Some of her practices iB dernned universally, outside oi H boundaries. The power of tiiB rulers, once indistinguishable faS of the state, lets go Telntntlr.B former privileges. The coofjtfB end until the church and tUU'S only separate, but also until u9f arise under which there caa tB currenco of it. It is now in the power of tB who have the authority to'lB about by their own free act. TtB insuro permanent peace, and bB tho era of "good will.-'' g Should they do so, it vrill tmt them to the favor of all coodiB stamp them as men of clev raH . broad patriotism. If they doB power pf the people will coitnH brought to bear and by tha vB numbers aud influence will coH to do what it is now in t.eir-K grant. "The prudent mas.K tho evil and hidctb hiniK&B foolish pass on and are ptmiiteB BISHOP aME |
