Discourse 1890-02-11
SALT LAKE CITY, —Presi-
dent Woodruff, the head of the Mor-
mon church, today gave to the Asso-
ciated Press the only statement he has
ever made upon the political fight
which has just ended here. His inter-
view, which is as follows, can be un-
derstood as the feeling of every Mor-
mon in the Territory:
"President Woodruff, I would like
to get your views as to the political
campaign here and the questions at
issue"
"Well, sir, I consider this as some-
thing more than a mere question of
what men shall compose the city gov-
ernment and what party they belong
to. There is a deep-laid scheme to de-
prive the Mormon people of all po-
litical right and privileges so that the
minority here may obtain control of
the Territory. They cannot do this by
fair means, so they resort to foul.
"By misrepresentation and taking
advantage of popular predjudice against
the Mormon, founded chiefly in ig-
norance, they succeeded in securing
the disfranchisement of the older set-
tlers who made the country, and then
of all the women. This not giving
these schemers a majority, they have
sought other means. The Edmunds-
Tucker act has helped them some-
what, but the test oath it provides can
be taken by a majority at least as well
as by their opponents.
"Now they want every Mormon de-
prived of the right to vote and hold
office, no matter how good and law-
abiding a citizen he may be. At the
Ogden election a year ago, large num-
bers of the names of resident voters
were stricken from the registration
lists, hundreds of non-residents were
imported and the election was carried
by the Liberals by open fraud, and
since then, by ficticious valuation, the
assessments of property have been
raised from three to five times the for-
mer amounts of taxes, vice has flour-
ished, official salaries have been
raised. Public improvements have
not advanced and the change is de-
plored by the best people of both par-
ties.
"Boasts were made after the Ogden
election, that Salt Lake would be the
next point of attack, and that it would
be carried by similar means. The re-
sult has proved the boast not to have
been made in vain.
"I consider the election has been
gained here by striking from the re-
gistration lists hundreds of legally
qualified citizens and by the votes of
hordes of new comers not lawful citi-
zens.
"I regard the action of the registrars,
their sitting as a court to judge of their
own acts, and the whole course pur-
sued, as part of the scheme to capture
the city at all hazards. I view it with
profound regret as prostitution of law
and official power that should sadden
every lover of fair play and welfare of
his country."
"What effect will this change have
upon the Church and the People's
Party?"
"Oh, as to that I cannot see that the
Church will in any way be affected as
an organization. It is entirely separ-
ate and apart from political matters;
members of the Church belong to the
People's Party, and they will natur-
ally feel that they have been robbed of
their rights at the polls. But I pre-
sume that it will not affect their polit-
ical views or status.
"The Church was not in that cam-
paign and the result will have no bear-
ing upon it at all that I can see."
"What will be the future policy of
the Church?"
"So far as I know, it will be to
preach the Gospel to all the world; in-
struct its members in their religious
duties, and move forward to its divini-
ty-ordained destiny as the actual liv-
ing Church of Christ."
"Is there any probability of the
Mormon Church or people removing
to Mexico or elsewhere?"
"None that I know of. I do not see
any necessity of such removal. Indi-
vidual members may go where they
choose to better their condition, but
there is not nor has there been any
contemplation of any such exodus as
you ask about."
"What is the Mormon idea of its
rule as the kingdom of God?"
"It is this: we hold that this Church
was set up and organized by com-
mand of the Almighty; that it has the
right to formulate and maintain rules
of church discipline applying to its
own members; that the extent of its
punitive powers is the excommunica-
tion of the transgressor; that it has no
power to punish anyone by depriva-
tion of life, liberty or property or pe[r]s-
sonal injury in any form; that gov-
ernments should not regulate the
church, nor the church seek to control
the state; that all men should be polit-
ically free and equal, free to vote as
they please and to sustain what poli-
tics they please, so that they do not
infringe upon the rights of others.
"We believe this Church will pre-
pare the way for the coming of Christ
to reign as King, and that this Church
will then develop into the Kingdom of
God, which all Christians pray will
come; that the will of God may be
done on earth as it is in heaven. We
believe in the full and free agency of
man, and that when the kingdom is
established there will be perfect lib-
erty on earth, civil, political and re-
ligious."
"Then you do not feel gloomy as to
the ultimate result of this election?"
"No, I believe taxes will be raised,
that there will be such a looseness of
restraint imposed upon immorality
and such a striking contrast formed
under Liberal rule that order, honor,
honesty and consistent progress of the
city under the People's regime, that as
in Ogden, the more respectable people
of all classes will soon desire a return
to former methods. The plotters
against the majority will probably be
emboldened to pursue their plans for
the destruction of a republican gov-
ernment in the Territory, but I should
be sorry to believe that Congress or
the country will proceed to such un-
constitutional and infamous extrem-
ities as those that will be proposed. In
any event, there is a Power superior
to all men, who will overrule all
things that happen for the good of
those who serve Him."
President Woodruff appeared to be
in good health and not in the least
worried over the result of the election.
He is now in his 83rd year and ap-
parently as strong and well preserved
as the ordinary man at 50.
