Show THE EFFECTS OF confiscation TUB decision sion of the supreme court of this territory in relation to the church property is variously commented upon by byea eastern steh alte autte a number of them regard it as s 1 9 severe blow to mormonism osla others ers say aay it is very radical treatment and neither endorse nor denounce it some gome think it seriously cripples the theocratic administration in utah and a few condemn the law and the course pursued to deprive a religious body of it its property pre perty among these the washington star is prominent in its dissent which 1 0 acred thred in the frie following pertinent language ge the decree of the aae e fourt of utah territory conliss confiscating cl aln I 1 1 the property of the mormon church cors cor S horation po ration may have plenty of law to i aai support I 1 port I 1 it t but measured by the 0 I every day life it wears the appearance pep pe arance 1 11 cc A pi tyranny the mor in 0 a C as a religious aei bious institution deserves t the api e apa consideration as say any other c church ot its followers practice iolj polygamy gamy the punishment of wair lawbreaking law breaking sat Q d be hel I 1 visited avon them aad not upon a great rest body of ineil men and women perfect ay iy innocent of offense against either law or morals it is difficult to see moreover how such a forfeiture as is wrought by the present decree of court can effect any good in the way of br breaking up a per 1 necious domestic custom on the old that might makes right many larsh harsh and extreme measures are a excused in the cori conduct duct of one government toward ano another whose inte resla are antagonistic to it but bat IL a policy founded on its were mere superiority 0 strength his has never been found a W atee one tor for a government to pursa oW ward its own or subjects A large arge body of thle the mormon ormon people are ar decent law abiding aud thrifty they may not dot be hiehle cultured and to the trained eye of the critic the book on oa which they plo pin their faith way may b bli tail ail of absurdities but that is no norea soa why they should lose the property which they have helped to gather because certain trustees la in charge ot it have violated the laws kw 01 thi the united states not dot to io aa official but in a strictly private capa eity let the gover Went asvery P practicable means to wreak up poleg amy by the enact enactment meni of laws against it and the enforcement of the prescribed penalties upon the persona or offenders but let jet it be equally ze zealoth alotis in avoiding anything which by its ito sweeping and ill measured con conae quen ceu favors of pl persecution and is likely to cause a revulsion of ment among lair minded men the star goes to the root of the matter in this sentence lt it is diffly mill cult to see moreover how such a far fellure as is wrought by the decree ol 01 can effect any godala good la the way of breaking aking up a pernicious domestic custom the truth is 1 acing any amount of pro property belongia to the latter day saints or of to the mormon if that tru is better liked can lave bave no effect whatever in changing the opinion or calmi of any person who believes believes be to in the tha of mormonism neither can it affect their lanfier of life li it way may serve to asive the roots of con deeper down into the bear hearts of those who consider they are oppressed tor religions rak fak that is 18 the only result tuat anat cau caa oe i nationally lation atio ally nally anticipated everybody very body knows that justly rig rightfully t and on any principle of bwy Y the government of the united ai att does not own one coat cent of erty it was originally abe property of the me members raters of the ilie church ro they ley donated it severally for the purposes purposed 0 et we ch so no matter leatter what may tv tie alleged or argued about those purposes it is clear to every person yui with a normal brain that the property does not delon belong to any anybody but the Cl as au an organization or the individual indivino Q members who compose the b bouy 4 1 whether it is taken from them by 14 law w or by physical force the process is robbery in fact A thousand enact mei meau will not change wrong into right or I 1 justify the seizure and ot of roods goods by an individual or govern went to whom they do not actually belong it if the church has acquired and abild more property than to Is right that wrong cannot be rectified by another is no forfeiture to the crown la in thess united states as in the old monar ehte which have been left behind la in the march of human progress the property of a defunct corporation g goes 0 es to the individual members member a th abere 0 ro of it Is not escheat to io the government even it if the united Sta teso not dot self ap appropriate prop I 1 aate the property seized by force of law from the actual owners it is 13 wrong and indefensible to use it for the beneat of people who fio never hover owned any part ot of it iti as provided in the act of Cong congress reals ehigh seeks to divert i hs property of the climb to tf the support of schools which are oyen open as much to the children of non coa giuffi bers berd as of members of that chanco charco the latter day saints know tut other churches possess much bueb kargir sums of money and a great deal mors real estate than has ever been acquired by the church to which they belong and are well satisfied that their church is singled out for spoliation because it is unorthodox all the sophistry that may he be emy employed loyed la iii court or out q of court will not alter that fact nor dane their unde understanding stand of it neither will this discrimination against then weaken their faith or change its effects upon them but as history teaches oppression injustice and a sense of injury will confirm them in the assurance that they are in the right and that it is bec because Cuse of that they are persecuted persecute dundar under the forms forma of law T at t is that men with the edn cation and d experience empera ence of most of oar nationiel nati onil 1 PT should imagine that wresting fr froeli 9 mhd no 11 their charob A w I 1 1 14 a effect upon a single F feature ot t tr religion I 1 if f the of J je I 1 christ of latter day JAI ams ai stripped of every vestige of wedi all its places of worship wen C troyed it it were left lef t without a do dollar r of money or a roof under which to assemble it would remain just as strong and united and full of force as before these suits were planted against it ft perhaps it would be stronger otro ugere more co compact coa pact more vigorous than loan now th toe unite faith enerd energies les and devotion of its are more than money a and nd t taaim Y possessions r mormonism mada its great strides and achieved its splendid before even it possessed fine thep tabernacles and houses houdei of worship or oi any orate powers for lej leahl aalf dt protection it imn can e d sur avi vive any number of au such severe 1 i 1 a fand d terrible blows as this despoiling of its goods AU all the mob dobbings bings and arly ings and expatriations to which it b baa been subjected have hare never deprived it of the spiritual forces which walca are an it its life and source of power neither caa they be touched by acts of congress or of courts suppose the property now in litigation were confiscated today loday instead of being held for the decision ol of the court of 0 last resort Is 13 I 1 s 3 there any latter day saint who would feel an any different than he does at present would he be have any loss of faith in the principles he be holds to be divine any I 1 less confidence in god and the alti ulti I 1 oate mite triumph of right any less food clothing air water sunshine health i or vigor not at all he might have less belief in the justice of legal I 1 respect for a power that rules in unrighteousness less admira i tion tor for a nation that permits such a I 1 ju flagrant nt wrong B but at his religion would 1 ter be it anything different more dear to him bim than ever and his bis determination would be more fixed and firm to cleave to ta it through evil and good report ahr through bubb life and ana death it Is is the greatest tolly folly to la the world for or legislators lawyers lawyer si preachers and editors to imagine that any such raids upon the property of a body of religious worshipers will turn them frouin from a principle a position a creed or a custom which they hold bold to be right it is 18 a wrong wron process in and of itself and will be an utter and complete failure as aa to the purpose designed design eil it I 1 so in the very nature of things lings ti liet reformers bring on their strong 41 s I 1 shed their great light exhibit their r superior views and manifest their exacted wisdom that the benighted cormons mormons Mor mons may behold and be coi converted buso not think that rack or prison or gibbet robbery or confiscation will ever convince a soul of the error of his WILYS ways or compel a convert to any sy system steria under tiie the SUB stin to forswear tor swear his bis faith or bow down at the dictation of his bis oppressors |