The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-11
IDAHO'S ADMISSION.
Some Truths About the Followers
of Joseph Smith.
THE MORMON QUESTION AGAIN.
The Peaceable and Industrious Habits of the
Sect, and their Popularity in Mind
ing their own Business.
THE MORMON QUESTION AGAIN.

Under the abve heading, the New YORK
Commercial of q late date has the follow
ing:
SIN deciding to advocate the immediate
admission Of Idaho, the senate commlttee
have provided for the addition OF two new
members Of their own body and nave also
added to the republican representation IN
the house, for which, especially the iaGter,
we are duly grateful, by whatever methoo
the conclusion was reached"
The Tribune of the Doth instant Clu NOT
say that, but it was what it would nave
said If it had been honest.
This is what it did say:
''In deciding to advocate the immediate
admission of Idaho, the senate COM
mittee on territories did not take hasty or
ll-considered action. The Tribune has
discharged what is considered public
duty in calling the committees attention
TO the situation in the southern part OF
the territory, where the Mormon church
is so strong that if any way is lett open
Tor 1t to assert its power, serious social
political troubles may be apprehended-
The committee, we are sure, mas not IN
the least under-estimated the Willingness
Of this INSCRIPTIONS hierarchy to sac
ritice the peace and prosperity OF Idaho to
Its own financial greed and love OF power.
On the contrary, this question has been
thoroughly considered, and the commltbee
has reached the conclusion that ample
safeguards have been provided in the con-
stitution adopted last fall by the people OF
Idaho against all such calamities.
There is no question that in all material
respects the territory is ready for self gov-
eminent. Its population is nearly, II not
quite, 10000, and every day ADDS to the
number. 1t is a permanent, well-settled
population
The Tribune is always ready to discharge
public duty when 1t can obtain votes
for its party, and l regret that did not
see its article pointing out the manner in
which the Mormon church in Idaho could
''assert its power'' and the processes by
which it could produce serious social and
political troubles 1t is gratifying to
know that the committee have provided
ample safeguards to curb this ''unscrupu-
lous hierarchy which is prepared to sac
rifice the peace and prosperity of Idaho to
its own greed and love of power"
am curious to know how the Tribune
obtained this information which it i'm
parted to the committee. For the last
fifteen years have hadmy summer home in
1daho-in southern Idaho-and in that part
of southern Idaho where these terrible
Mormons are mostly settled.
1t may be a political necessity to dis
franchise the Mormons, but it is the first
time that l ever heard that this small
minority of its people, minority embrac-
ing the most quiet, orderly and Industrious
of all the inhabitants, had it in its power
to tyranniZe in this way over the great
majority. In all my experience about the
world, never came in contact with body
of men who so carefully attended to their
own business and who paid so little atten-
ton to the business Of others.
The whole population Of Idaho is here
stated at 10000. The last report 1 have
seen-I think it was about year ago
made it 103, 900. Two years ago it was 7S,-
600. Every day adds to the number That
sit is permanent well-settled population
ran only be said of the Mormons, who
number about %, 0O0 A great part of the
rest is probably more migratory than that
Of any other territory. 1t is composed of
miners, cowboys and sheep herders in
great degree. 1t is well known that there
are immediate incursions of miners every
where that strikes are made and cor
responding exodus when the strikes
''peter out.n Mines are generally doing
the one or the other. If there should be a
new Comstock discovery in Nevada the
whole mining population of Idaho would
emigrate en- mGsSe, Cattle are driven about
without any regard to state or territorial
lines, and sheep are always on the move
from north to south and from east to west.
AS distinct from this rowing population,
the Mormons are farmers, often living to-
gether in little communities, and by own
ing agricultural machines in common and
assisting each other in gathering their
crops, they have so economical labor that
they gain a comfortable subsistence from
land which other men refuse to bring
under cultivation. They are always too
busy earning their daily bread to engage in
the nefariouS schemes which the Tribune
has laid to their charge.
am opposed to the statehood of Idaho
for several reasons. The permanent popu-
lation, if the Mormons are excluded from
the estimate as they properly count for no
more than cattle if they are to be d:sfran-
chised, is too small. Taxation would be
increased, without any advantage except
Ing to very few men who expect to be-
come office-holders or become political re
representatives.. The poor devils who are dis
franchised will not forfeit the privilege of
being taxed. 1t will be in vain for them
to raise the cry which stirred our fathers
to rebellion, mo taxation without rep
resentation ~ And l would oppose the
statehood of Idaho for precisely the same
reason that l would oppose the statehood
of Utah. In the latter territory the Nor
mons outuumber the ''gentiles' in about
the same ratio that the gentiles outnumber
the Mormons in Idaho. If either territory
gets the other sect in its power, the sect
that is in majority would be likely to
have rough experience.
have read the late decision of the su-
preme court affirming the constitutionality
of the Idaho test oath legislation somewhat
hastily, but 1t strikes me that it has not
put an end to the question. have not the
test oath at hand to quote its exact Ian
guage, but Invested of legal superiuities.
it reads that ''every man shall be disfran.
chised who belongs to any organization
that teaches the practice of ,polygamy.n
Whatever we may before have thought of
the right of any man to believe anything.
provided he does not practice anything
contrary to law. we are obliged to admit
that there can be no appeal from the final
arbiter of all our quarrels.
But even under this decision, the Nor
mons will come up to the polls and
attempt to vote. The right will be denied
them. Then will arise another Question
before the courts. The Mormons will say
that they belong to an organization that
did teach polygamy, but they will insist
thatit teaches itno longer. The president
of the church has publicly stated through
the associated press that he has issued
orders to all his clergy to preach the doc
trine no more. AS to Idaho, am confident
that there has not been new case of
polygamy for long time, and that there
never will be another in consequence off
Mormon teachings.
What more can be required of the nresi-
dents Is he expected not only to enioin
the discontinuance Of the practice. but
must it be insisted upon that he shall tell
his people that the polygamous ssreyela
ton'' to Joseph Smith was fraud?
Is not a Jew or Christian who beleves
in all the revelations said to have come from
the Almighty to Moses, allowed to
vote?
He would be more than disfranchised
he would be hanged, if at the present 1ay
he should attempt to put some of them in