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Show COMMERCIAL CLUB MISTAKE. Wo think that tho Commercial Club of this city made a radical mistake when it undorlook to mix up in tho squabblo between tho Mormon proso-lytors proso-lytors and t.hoso opposed to that proso-lyting. proso-lyting. The Mormon missionaries liavo a' perfect right to prosolyto in tho United States, without interference from anybody. Those who oppose them have tho right to nrguo againBt thorn, as thoy may sec tit. It is tho question ques-tion of a fair field and an open fight. It has always been the proposition in tho United States that "error is harmless harm-less when truth is left free to combat jt." We think the public is generally satisfied and ought to be satisfied, with that. Tho making' of ridiculous charges on ono sido, such as the reforenco to "whito slavery, cocaine, morphine, and other institutions of evil," or extravagant extrava-gant and. foolish claims on the other, are not worthy of refutation, siuco they aro so unsubstantial that tho public instinctively in-stinctively rojcels all such looso and fanatical talk. Yet as to polygamy, wo see no occasion to get into a lover about what Mis3 Wood says. But the Commercial Club is a busiiiess institution, having no proper functions in a religious or sectarian fight. It has a largo and wide field here for usefulnosB without mingling in affairs in which it has no concern. It would hardly be considered fit for tho Commercial Com-mercial Club to enter into a political campaign; but it would be quite as fit for tho Club to do that as to engage in a religious or soctarian fight, cither aggressive or defensive. With all such matters the Club has nothing to do, and it makes a very serious mistake when it undertakes to moddle with; matters of that kind. Wo trust that tho officers of the Club will take the sober second thought in this matter and withdraw as gracefully grace-fully as possible from this squabble, allowing all parties concerned to pursue pur-sue their own fight in their own way. If on the ono hand extraordinary and silly claims are made of superior virtue vir-tue and piety, the Commercial Club would, of course, take no notice of it. If on the other hand extravagant and frenzied charges should be made, and in fact are made, the Commercial Club, in like manner, should keop its temper tem-per and confine its activities to its own business. We understand fully the basis upon which the Commercial Club acted, this being the theory that the State of Utah would be damaged in its business by tho bringing of such charges as these made by Miss Wood. But surely nc one in his sober senses could imagine im-agine that tho State could be injured by extravagant and baseless .charges, such as white slaverj', cocaine, morphine, mor-phine, and the like. The extravagance of sectarian debate and sectarian arguments ar-guments in all ages of the world has given giv-en rise to extreme contentions and bitter animosities and recrimination. But in this day and age with a fair field and an open opportunity for discussion, the combatants on both sides can fairly be left alone to fight their own battles without the interposition of business bodies like tho Commercial Club. It is impossible to believe that such statements as those could have any effect upon the business or prosperity of Utah, and there is no propriety in urging that sort of claim as a reason why tho Commercial Club should depart de-part from its proper business sphere to enter into the arena on one side or the other of tho sectarian antagonisms, cither favorable or in opposition to that movement. Let everything proceed pro-ceed in order, each organization attending attend-ing to its own affairs, aud the Commercial Com-mercial Club attending strictly to business, busi-ness, letting politics and religion alone, and all contention relating to either, or to both. |