| OCR Text |
Show TTIIX EXTREMES SECTI Is a belief in a Supremo Being to be made an offense under the laws of tho United States Is Irreligion to become a predominating influence influ-ence over national legislation? Is the extreme of religious liberty, provided pro-vided for in tho American Constitution, Consti-tution, and heretofore enjoyed and boasted of by American citiiens, to be Joined to its opposite? The present pres-ent tendency of the current of events seems likely to produce affirmative af-firmative replies to those interrogatories. interroga-tories. Reduced to the' lowest terms, the arguments cTereJ In support of the disfranchisement of all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, embrace no substantial sub-stantial matter in addition to the fact that tho communicants com-municants of that Church believe be-lieve literally in the supremacy of tho Almighty, the God whoso laws and attributes are set forth In the Christian Scripture. This belief be-lief will be the real reason for their disfranchisement, if Congress shall be so uuju6t and unwise as to pass the bill for that purpose now pending. pend-ing. Willi the French revolution was In progress, and while the revolutionists revolu-tionists were in power, law, order and religion were submerged in a delugouf blood and anarchy. The mocking laughter of Infidelity, like the scornful glee of a demon in his hour of triumph,was beard throughout through-out torn and bleeding France. To blaspheme Deity was a favorite and popular sport, to hate all kinds and forms of piety was a virtue, and to accomplish the death of a religious teacher, was a praiseworthy act, though not required, provided for nor countenanced by law. And yet, in all the mad orgies over which the genius of irreligion held full sway, and while it was the preponderating power In the government gov-ernment of France, a belief In the existence of a Being who exercised supremo control over mundane affairs, and in the necessity of being obedient to His laws, was never by statute made an oflense in nor a dis advantage to any person holding such belief. Will the American Congrvss,in theface of the Constitution Constitu-tion which each member of It has sworn to uphold and sacredly maintain, main-tain, carry an assault upon the foundations of religion further than the irresponsible, faith hating revolutionists revo-lutionists of France dared to, even when their power was absolute? Undoubtedly there are men who disbelieve in the existence of the God of tho Christian Scriptures,who are mora! and law abiding In their private live; but history gives no account of n prosperous govern, ment established in any age or clime by a rwopie who were destitute of n religious faith. It is generally conceded that the imptlling motive which exercises the strongest influence in rendering a man obedient to the laws of his country, and in making him a good citizen, Is a belief In the necessity of being obedient to the laws of God. A statement by Herod that he really did not desire to shorten the life of John the Baptist, but only wanted his head that he might present pre-sent it to a favorite mistress, would not have been more absurd than for tho enemies of the "Mormon" people peo-ple to protest that no interference with the religious liberty of the latter is desired, but that the object sought is merely to give them a choice between political thraldom and adherence to certain fundamental funda-mental principles of the Christian religion. This is the alternative presented pre-sented to the "Mormons" in the Struble bill. |
