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Show Which, Asia or America? NEARLY forty years ago, Emillo Castelar, in the Spanish Cortes, said: "Europe has to decide whether she will confound herself her-self with Asia, placing upon new lands old al- tars, and upon the altars old idols, and upon the idols immovable theocracies, and upon the theocracies despotic empires, or whether she will go by labor, by liberty, and by the republic, to collaborate with America in the grand work of universal civilization." Castelar was making a plea for a republic for Spain; for a right about face and forward march for the Spanish people. The court of Spain had become a reproach before be-fore the world; the sufferings of the common people had become unbearable, and Castelar, in the inspiration of his wonderful genius, was beseeching be-seeching his countrymen to cast aside their superstitions su-perstitions and 'their slavery, and to stand forth to "redeem and regenerate and disenthrall" native land. Spain was too weak and too corrupt to arise and follow him up into the light of freedom and advancement; too weak to awaken anew the old manhood that once made Spain the foremost of nations. Since then she has lost her island possessions, and so low Is she reduced that her weakness has become her only safety, and for pity only her integrity in-tegrity as a nation remains Intact. We refer to it only to ask the men and women who belong to the dominant .church in Utah to I- read those words of the inspired Castelar, and mw make of them a homo application. HI You are adhering here to a despotism which is I purely Asiatic. We challenge the brightest of By you to point out how in its workings it is a bit I; dissimilar to the despotisms of Asia, after which I) nation after nation has been shivered to atoms H' because it was not fit to longer live. Hj So far as your chiefs and your creed are con- W fined to your religion, wo have naught to say, H; bo long as you keep within the laws of the Re- ', public. That is a matter which every man must Hi decide for himself. HI But when Jt comes to the government of this Hi country, that is a question which every American Hj is Interested in; a question which every Latter- H: day Saint should be interested in; for by and by H' in Utah either the despotism which binds your H, consciences must prevail, or the Republic In its Hj majesty will assert itself, and compel the alle- H; glance of its children. H; When your chiefs Instruct you how to vote, Hj their instruction being a command, they dis- H honor the Constitution and laws of this Repub- H; lie. When you obey, you are parties to their H. crime, and so long as you continue that servility H you wrong yourselves, your wives and children, H' and dishonor the country that protects you and H opens its blessings to you. m And we beg you look around you and see the H humiliations this servility of yours is bringing upon you. Think of it! Men who claim direct Mt inspirations from Almighty God, and power from ' Him to rule, obliged to make a corrupt political m bargain to trade your votes to a political party i in order to retain one of your inspired ones in a m political office! Think of your holy men, in M close rapport with Almighty God, obliged to bar- m gain with the brewers and saloonkeepers to hold m a county under control. '. Are you not tired of all that disgrace. And you read every night in your church organ that you are absolutely free; free to think and to vote as you please; that no ecclesiastical pressuro has ever been brought upon you; which is but jeering jeer-ing you, knowing how you are bound. Is it not time for you to arouse yourselves and take the News at its word and determine that henceforth you will be politically free, and be in truth and in full fealty American citizens? |