| Show LEGISLATION AGAINST BELIEF AMONG other uther newspaper criticisms on the report of the Utah Com Com nis Com sion nis- nis sion is the following which w we e cUp clip from the Detroit Michigan News of September The Utah Commissioners are re- re reported reported re reported ported to have recommended to the Secretary of the Interior certain measures for the restriction of poly poly- polygamy polygamy polygamy gamy A number of the recommend recommend- recommendations recommendations recommendations are in the line of definitions ot of criminal offenses arising out of the polygamous relation and favor more severe measures of punishment for persons convicted of misdemeanors f ors rs against the principle of Mono Mono- Monogamy Monogamy Monogamy gamy These are all right so far as they go but they are coupled d with other recommendations that are as asfar asfar far r from the American spirit spirit as the principle of polygamy polygamy polygamy amy is itself Such for In Instance in- in instance instance stance is the recommendation pro pro- pro prohibiting the immigration of people who believe in polygamy and the further recommendation that people so believing ng be deprived of the right of entering and settling on public lands The public has not Dot been a aware ware of the fact hitherto that we punish people in this country for their beliefs People ought to beas be beas beas as free to believe in polygamy polyandry or any other marital con con- con conceit in iu A America meries as they choose to fill when they begin to put beliefs into practice that the government has haa a chance to kick Begin legislating against one belief and it will take little time to extend I the legislation lation until it becomes ty- ty tyrannical tyrannical ty tyrannical That is the true American doc doc- doctrine doctrine doc doctrine trine concerning religious liberty However some enJi enlightened people may differ in regard to the powers of the civil government in the re- re restraint re restraint sz of conduct proceeding from religious principles and re regulations aU all true Republicans and Democrats whether believers in or fE of creeds unite in the sentiment that 6 all citizens of this republic rE should be protected in ill the ri right ht of opinion 5 f falone d d that for any kind of belief alone they must not be deprived of any political right- right or privilege There should be no religious test either for holding office or exercising exercising exercising ing the elective franchise He who advocates such a test attacks a fund fund- fundamental fundamental fundamental personal right and the let let- letter letter let letter ter and spirit of the Constitution of our country It does does not Dot matter with what specious arguments l or 01 allegations of expediency the disfranchisement disfranchisement dis- dis disfranchisement of citizens for simple membership in an unorthodox 1 Church hurch may be urged No matter what may be the end in view the means proposed are destructive of that liberty which this great government government gov- gov eminent was waa founded to secure They are shameful and unjust and if proposed against any other people i C 1 than those belonging to a society 1 which excites the prejudices of other religious bodies would cover l the projectors with everlasting dis- dis disgrace disI disgrace I gm grace When this great nation shall pass trl enactments that proscribe any class of its citizens solely because they are are members of a Church the tenets of which are obnoxious to the majority majority ma- ma majority of the country it will prepare the way and dig a Q mine for its own speedy dy destruction That which J is done in one case may be done in Inz t another and the excuses In one In In- In Instance 1 stance may be reproduced in many s more and thus true civil and religious religious ious liberty will win come to be but a f y name We do not believe that i either Congress or the country is A ready to take this fatal step |
