Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-03-27
THE MoRMoNs WILL VOTE.

Notwithstanding the fact that the
constitutionaity of the test oath has
been sustained by the Supreme Court
of this Territory, the Mormons of this
valley declare that it is their inten-
ton to exercise the franchise next
fall, and that they can, under the
present teachings of the church, take
the oath. If the Mormon doctrines
have undergone such change, we
can see no good reasons why Nor
mons should longer remain under the
ban of disfranchisement, providing
they exercise their rights as individual
citizens and not as segmental parts
OF machine that derives its power
from Utah.
II the Mormons have weeded out
from their theology all that is antag-
onistic to the government of the
United States, and have made up
their minds to heretofor live in con-
formity with law, they are beyond
question entitled to every right and
privilege that any other citizen is en-
titled to; but the question is, are they
sincere? If the affirmative can be
conscientiously given to these ques-
tons, we say every Mormon who is
otherwise qualified should go to the
polls at the coming election and cast
his ballot like any other American
citizen.
We have never entertained but one
serious objection to Mormon political
methods; and that is that but few
Mormons ever exercise individual
rights and independence at the polls.
For the same reason we also object to
Catholicism and other ecclesiastical
institutions that undertake to control
the political conditions of any State
or Territory. We will go further,
and believe that the political history
of this country will bear us out in the
assertion, that big political ma
chimes are subject to the same objec-
ton; as, for instance, the politics oil
a great part of Nevada are controlled
BY California politicians. The case
in this Territory is an exact parallel
in an exaggerated form. California
politicians do not pretend to interfere
in all the little local political affairs
of Nevada. They probably do moi
interest themselves farther than tc
control State elections. There i!
certainly no acknowledged authority
whose consent must be obtained IL
every minute political transaction
Herein lies the difference between
political control by politicians an'
political control by ecclesiastics.
We do not think there ever was al
election held in this county, in which
the Mormons participated, that wa
not controlled and engineered dowI
to the meanest detail by Mormon
authorities in Utah.
Let the Mormons of Oneida county
or Idaho Territory, for that matter
form all the political combination
and exercise every privilege know
to our government and we will neve
raise all objection, SO long as the.
are not under the surveillance and die
tation of an authority which has N
political connection with the loca
government of this county or Terrific
nv. The fact, so stated by the Nor
mons themselves, that the polite
of this county have formerly beer
controlled by church authorities, II
Logan and Salt Lake city, natural,
makes US suspicious of the future.
Locally speaking, we have nothing
to fear from the Mormons of Oneid
county if they do not allow them
selves to be controlled by hgl
churchmen in Utah; for We do no
believe there is as liberal and intelli
gent a people in the Mormon churcl
to-day AS those of this county.
The question; Can or will tn
Mormons of this county cut them
selves loose from, or rise above thi
kind of supervision? Have they tn
courage to say to the church author
tiles; ave will conduct our tenn
poral affairs as We deem for our hes
interests, aud look to you for instruc
tions in spiritual matters only?" WI
they do this? If so, may God spec
the day when the black clouds tina
now hang like pail over Mormon
Ism are dispersed forever.
Very MUcH LIKE AN ANTHEM!