Show 4 Setting aside the question of o polygamy Governor Caleb West In his ann al report to the Interior d de department de- de p In Washington for tor or 1888 and through ugh that department to the president ot of the tho United States m made de the tho positive declaration in which he challenged successful con con- that the M Mormon rmon people had never never been called to account t Said Governor West With polygamy out I make the statement and challenge successful successful contradiction th that t there is no tenet ceremony practice observance e or right inculcated or taught of ot a re religious religious re- re n nature ture by the Mormon church that th the law has been or Is under the law upon th the same sante foot- foot Invoked against The Mormon church a as a religious factor is ising ing as every other body or domination in the land with equal rights and privileges privileges privileges-no no ge-no no nomore more no less less and and it should be so left without Interference Continuing Governor West Vest said I 1 sh shall ll not arraign the Mormon people e as wanting In comparison with other people In religious devotion devo vo tion Uon virtue honesty sobriety Ind in industry industry In- In d stry and arid the graces and qualities that adorn beauty and bless life Nor will wm I attempt to detract from the praise or glory that is d due e or claimed for the hardy pioneers who settled and re reclaimed this land To Too often In In inthe the past arguments made upon this Una by the defenders of th the H Harmon Hormon rmon system have been made to do duty In concealing and protecting assailable and ible positions Not all th the sacrifices sacrifices thea of the plon pioneers ers had they been more glorious than history has re recovered recovered recovered re- re covered not all th the virtues of the highest Christian civilization through this people possessed them all II n nor the surrender surender er of the whole people to a willing martyrdom could Justify the despotism of the Mormon political system to a people who have known and appreciate the blessings of d g fr free e government In the Mormon policy established and governing the people of this t territory since Its settlement the unity of ot the church and state Is perfect and Indissoluble It is based upon a complete and absolute control control control con con- of a priesthood wielding priesthood wielding a su supreme supreme su- su Pr preme me power exercised and yielded to as emanating ly from God God in in all things secular as w well ll as spiritual The word of ot this priesthood J Is to the Mormon peo people copie co- co pie the command of God God not only In n matters of faith and morals but in all civil political and commercial affairs This priesthood not o only llY rules the church but buC governs the state stale A com complete let and comprehensive system of laws rules rule's and regulations regula regula- ions with all needed agents and of offIcers of- of Is provided to to direct and nd prescribe not alone the spiritual life and moral actions of the Mor mon men people but to control them In all rill their various avocations public and anc private It It is p passing strange yet true that Is in this land of ot and free government for forty years ears a power Ver more absolute and than any any other known to o civilization has held sway and ano dominion over a people whose birthright birth birth- right Ight Is IB freedom that here we have h had iad d as ds s It Is Is nowhere else In our and land a n union of church chur h and state the latt latter r subordinate to the former for tor- mer ther i I I |