Show correspondence A NEW VIEW OF TIME PROPOSED ANTI moimoi legislation editor deseret news in reference to the utah bill now before f ore congress it appears very plain to me that if if passed into a law and executed as designed by its promoters it will undoubtedly cause difficulties and troubles of an international CHARACTER which the lawmakers law makers in their blind zeal to pass it appear to have lost sight of I 1 allude to the effect it may and will have upon the subjects of cordya nations now residing in this country whoever has carefully read the said bill and is at all acquainted with the locality to which it applies notwithstanding stand inz the excuse egense given for its adoption cannot tail fail to see that it is an unwarranted breach of international usage and customs I 1 need not remind you that Utah like all other states and territories in this great country contain hundreds and likely thousands of persons gathered from all civilized nations of the world encouraged by the boast of the american people that here was to be found that liberty both civil social and religious that would make life happy and desirable under this charm they have emigrated to this land leaving them the land of their birth biow and the graves of their fathers never more to return they have been allowed to land on these snores shores and to bring with them their various social domestic and rs re legious customs ideas and convictions they have also been allowed to labor acquire hold and possess property without being compelled to prot take ta e the oath of lof citizenship and in addition to this they have been at filiberty ya if religiously inclined to believe a and nd worship according to their consciences and convictions and to follow out what appeared to them to be right in order to insure their salvation anas inasmuch as such practices did not infringe upon others rights they being responsible to god alone and f further arther still SUBJECTS OF ALL NATIONS have had the undisputed right and privilege of adding their means together for the purpose of building churche and meeting houses according to their own desires and at the same time american citizens in forein foreign n countries have enjoyed the like vige with protection this custom has not only been pleasant and agre agreeable dable but in accordance with gu an international understanding and now after all this which has been continued for ages the government is desirous of making a law to ROB A CHURCH of its lawful property and why because a few of that comin community unity do not regulate their domestic affairs just as some isome other persons think they should good heavens Is this the result of american enlightenment ls Is this a specimen of the freedom of which the american nation boasts so much if so the sooner the world is undeceived the better and not only is the property of that church to be the whole community consisting of some persons are to be put under other restraints equally unjust and what makes the proposed anti mormon legislation still blac keris the fact that nine tenths of the people the lawful owners of the church property have broken no law the only against them being that they use the intellects god has given them and that their convictions are different to those 0 her people I 1 hope sir before the proposed edmunds bill becomes law congressmen will remember that at the close of the war the government made a demand upon the british nation for some 15 or 20 millions of dollars as damages to the property of american citizens by the thoughtlessness of a few english subjects that claim was paid thus establishing A RULE THAT WILL WORK BOTH WAYS and I 1 humbly submit that it would be perfectly legal and right for all al foreign subjects who feel aggrieved by the proposed edmunds bill to at once lay the case before their respective consuls at washington for I 1 feel quite satisfied that such a flagrant outrage rage upon international rights would not go unnoticed afien I 1 was in england some soine three years ago I 1 was a great advocate for the establishment of republican principles in that country looking to america as a pattern of what should be my political friends in the old country want to know what I 1 think of matters and things connected with a republican form of government now that I 1 have had a little experience under one Is it as good as expected does it guarantee justice to all men and parties Is it free from those wrongs and evils which afflict the count rys where kings rule I 1 confess sir that I 1 am at a loss to know what answers to make such inquiries I 1 after so seeing eing some of the results of the edmunds bill of 1882 and the despotic way it is carried out and knowing that another measure is now proposed more despotic and tyrannical than the last no doubt you will say gay TELL THE TRUTH yes that is just what all honest persons will do but then the truth as it Is in utah is of such an ugly character that I 1 hesitate for fear the that the fair name of republicanism should be tarnished thereby shall I 1 tell my english friends that the strong crush the weak that a mans house is not his castle here but that any despicable fellow called to act as aa a deputy marshal carries the latch key of it and when the key does not nt the axe is called into requisition that they can and do break in and in suit salt both male and female just as they please while their superiors wink at their deeds ought the world to know that virtuous wives mothers of families are dragged into a court or before a grand jury where the most secret affairs of married life are pried into and the most insulting and disgusting dis gustine questions es are put to them wita with a levity that would shame a sensible savage and if the questions are not answer edas desired they are sent to prison for CONTEMPT OF OB COURT shalli shall I 1 let the british nation know that little children are taken to court and frightened into the admission or of thin thins things s so that their fathers may be fined fined and sent to prison whether guilty or not while the deputy marshals marsha 19 grin like monkeys shall I 1 tell them that men who are not of the proscribed class may be guilty of the grossest lewdness and yet be screened and championed by the very men who persecute men for supporting and acknowledging their wives on the plea of morality shall I 1 tell them that any man who attempts up the crimes of the favored class Is liable to be imprisoned on a charge of conspiracy sp iracy oh how are the mighty fallen tell it not in gath rather bather hope that the next turn of the social wheel may brin bring other times and other men that will will do justice in this great country I 1 will say to my political friends in en england land 1 pause fause awhile Itis it is betterto better to bear the ills you have than ny fly to others you know not of A limited monarchy is preferable to an ill conducted republic your queen has a wise head and a good heart and it if you have to pay the cost you have a government that is improving national evils are being swept away your franchise is extended your home secretary wilt will listen to the complaint of the poorest subject and when he is wronged will grant redress your judges are gentlemen and comparatively sp speaking dakin judge fairly all around although there is is nearly one hundred different religious religion s societies et es besides a state church all are al alike ke protected protected in their beliefs and religious practices your government would not wink ink at the assassination of a mormon preacher and it if an official WantO wantonly lily shot a mann in the street law and justice stice would be maintained dja in its tn 1 integrity arity excuse me sir in troubling you so much I 1 only wish to add that if i any government besides the american were to pass such a bill as I 1 have referred to I 1 would not hesitate to say that it must be elt either hervery very short of cash or very low in its governmental morals when it can stoop to rob a church yours truly A BRITISH SUBJECT |