The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-11-03
THE IDAHO TROUBLES.

Oar specials from Idaho, this morn
ing. tell of the continuance of the excit-
ing state of affairs politically which has
heretofors beFS noted in The HERALD.
County officers working n Inc INTEREST,"
81 Mr., Dubois loaded down with var
rants, are securing the county IN
search of Mormon Demoel ats. THESE J
lat, are men who have publicly and
Nv letter Withdrawn from the Mormon
church, and being no longer members
of that organization have taken the test
oath and registered as voters. The OBJ
iect OF arresting these men is to prevent
them from voting for Mr.. Hawley,
ra,ner than to prosecute them Tor any
crime or alleged crime, for we cannot
see how it can be claimed that they
have violated any law. There are some
sttikingly peculiar statutes in the Idaho
hooks. but there is certainly none which
prevents a person from withdrawing
from a church association. FOolhardy
and reckless as soma Of the legislatures
in the Territory have been none has at
tempted to say that having joined the
Methodist, Mormon or Baptist Church,
the Individual must forever be Metho-
dist. Mormon Or Baptist. If man
concludes that he doesn't want to
longer be a churchman, neither the
church nor TIE law can compel him TO
continue a member of the church.
There are ways out for him, and the
easiest and most expeditions way is to
Withdraw, Just as these Idaho Nor
mons have done. Nor does one have
to be out time on probation before he
is really and entirely out. He may
have to get IN by stages and degrees
hut getting out is a matter OF one act
and the moment the membership
ceases the discontinuance is as com
plete as though the withdrawal hat
taken place years before, The wisdom
or the p1opriety of these Idaho Nor
mons severing their connection VIII
the church is Ia matter with Whic
neither the courts, tie law nor tbs he
to do. It is something which concern
onIv the parties themselves. II tn
latter are content, we cannot under
stand why Mr.. Dubois should obJec
especialiv as his chief object in lii
seems to be to destroy the Mormo
Church, and there can be no sure
way of destroying it than by deprlVlr
it of members.
Tie law of Idaho declares that men
hers of a church which teaches certal
things are not entitled to register al
vnte. The Associate Justice of Idat
has decided that the Mormon churC
teaches those certain inhibited thing
and therefore that its members cam
exercise the right of suffrage. If f.
the sake of the elective franchise or +
anv other reason men choose to wit
draw from the Mormon church, the
are no longer members of the Pc
liti,aily tabooed organization, or OF al
other which teaches forbidden pra
tices. and they are therefore as mu
entitled to vots as though they b
never been Mormons. The law honest
auplied cannot be made to run AGAR
them, and it is to be hoped that none
these men will permit himself to
buIldozed out of his right to cast
free and fair vote, by any threats OF {
rest and prosecution. THE HERAL
advice to those distressed Ieople is
same that it always has been, to
olate no law. but obeying the law q
abiding by its judicial Interpretation
tho prope- authorities, maintain
YOUR rights to the bitter end!