| Show A CRISIS IN UTAH THERE has been no sensation in the political arena in the history of utah that equated equalled equal led that which has been in the mouth of everyone for the past ten days nothing could have been more unlooked unlocked for or unexpected we refer of course to the stand taken by the priesthood of the mormon church in reference to the rights and d duties of its members in secular or political affairs affair much has been said by the th e press and the leading men of this city some of which we approve and some we disapprove that a crisis has suddenly arisen in the affairs of utah there can be no doubt it is a momentous question and deserves calm and firm action one of the first questions that confronts not only the peor e c of utah but of the whole nation is is whether utah is prepared for statehood can a community of people as large as this be safely trusted with the power of a sovereign state when any ecclesiastical body of men can dominate at will over the minds and consciences of a majority of the populace such a proposition is so abhorrent and un american to our mind that simply to state the question is to suggest the ansden one would almost wonder whether we were in spain or r asia or living in europe in the bedim v val al age instead of being in the glorious united states stated and under the stars and stripes in the dawn of the twentieth century one thing must be settled and settled now that is will the ecclesiastical power and influence be supreme or subordinate to the natural and god given rights of the american citizen will the church render to caesar the things that are caesara caesars Cae sars or do they seek to invade the temporal world with their priestly authority and dictate in that sphere to the conscience of men it is the high prerogative of an american to be a free man 0 or r as s at near such a condition as can be b e attained t he must be free to follow any honorable and lawful pursuit to get wealth to marryann Mar marry and rear a family to go and come when he I 1 pleases and entertain such inch opinions of mind or conscience as he chooses no church priest or body of men should dare to trespass upon any of these rights directly or indirectly the position of U S senator a member of congress a governor of a state or even the lowest office in the village precinct is one of honor and respect and any american citizen who may be called by the people pleto to fill the same should feel it his duty as well as his privilege to serve the public to the best of his skill and ability without counsel permission or dictation from any church or religious organization no creed or church can exist in this country and in this age of enlightenment lighten ment that would assume to dictate to its members their course in in temporal matters we have outlived such monstrous notions and they can never again be revived upon our shores rather than such a condition should receive aid and and support in this fruitful valley we would prefer to remain a territory forever the duty of every man and woman in utah is to stand firmly for their natural rights the men who have been so highly honored by bv their fellow citizens as to be named for an official position should at once repel the hand of tyranny anny and deny the authority of the church to be the keeper of their conscience and show to the eyes of the nation that they are true americans we have not lost hope in the people of utah we believe they will do their patriotic duty in this trying ordeal and we believe the men who have received the disapproval of the church officials will I 1 be equal to the task of maintaining their manhood and their duty as american citizens the future happiness and prosperity for years to come to the people of utah depends upon the solution of this all absorbing question if we are to enter the union with such a stain upon our escutcheon we would be under the shadow of superstition and disgrace and liberty would be a mere mockery and self government a sham if such is is our real condition then let the gloomy banner of ignorance and oppression wave its mantle of disaster over the unborn thousands and happy homes of this beautiful territory until the struggle is ended and we as a people come out of the furnace as tried of the fire |
