Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-04-29

The MaIad Enterprise, which


The Malad Enterprise, which is
published in the very hot-bed of Ida
no Mormonism. gives the members of
that church, in its issue Of the 23d
inst, very wholesome lecture, which
the Mormons ought to devour and
thoroughly digest and assimiIate, for
their own welfare, If for nothing else.
The Enterprise shows disposition to
extend helping band to these peo-
pie, if they will only exhibit positive
evidence Of sincerity in their recent
utterances of loyalty to the govern
ment and its laws and an abandon
ment Of old and rspuIsive practices.
After reviewing the case of DR.. Orms-
by, of Logan, Utah, whose profess
sions and recent practices do not har-
,nonize, and giving the Mormons .
whole lot Of good advice, with ac-
companying statement that It is dis
posed to believe that majority Of
the Mormons 1are deeply in earnest;
that they have thrown of the old con-
ditions and taken up the new; that
they esteem obedience 10 the law of
the land cardinal virtue; that they
are imbued with spirit of loyalty to
the institutions and laws of our coun-
try," The Enterprise closes as follows:
"But, unfortunately, there are many
things going to show that unlawful
cohabitation is not only q common
but very popular practice among
those Mormons who formerly enjoyed
the advantages of a plurality of wives.
A Mormon friend in Bingham coun-
ty recently told the writer that the
law was not being observed with any
degree OF respect. He said that sec
ond and third wives continued to
multiply and replenish the earth with
the same vigor and regularity they
did in the sixties; that there was no
visible change of conditions except
that he did not believe any more plu-
raj marriages were being solemnized
in the temples. A Franklin gentle
man recently told US that the same
conditions prevailed over there. He
gave US names of persons commonly
known to be living and cohabiting
with plural wives and gave as dates
of very recent births which under
other circumstances would have beer
surrounded with shame and disgrace
We cite those facts IN order to show
to our Mormon friends that they art
not regarded with suspicion without
some cause. But there is furthe
damaging evidence indicating de-
gree of insincerity quite as disrepu
table, though not as criminal, as th.
, unlawful cohabitation business. l
, has been told us on very good author
| ity that the church authorities hav,
made an agreement by which in thi
5 State, for a time, the leaders are near
, ly all to pose as Republicans Will
: nearly all the lay members shall ca
reen towards Democracy. We ar
we'll aware that such a plan has bee
discussed at length, but whether o
not fully matured can not say. w
. hope the Mormons have not adopte
any such transparent trick. 1t ca
' never succeed; it will only involv
! them in difficulties and plunge ther
into distress. They ought to kno'
by this time that as soon as peopl
D out of the church discover the plo
$ they will unite to Illustrate it. Th
: people of the United States, regard
less of politics, are opposed to churc
t rule in politics, and no trick to a.
n complish that design can succeed
There is only one wise course fe
o the Mormons to pursue, and that
on the line of honesty and good faitl
We adjure them to pursue th'
course. We warn them against d,
> plicity. They must bear in min
that their move is being watche,
= and if they are trying to gain improl
n er ends through dishonesty and h,
:, pocrisy, they may expect, with D
e Ormsby, to be caught, some da
tiagrante delisto--in the commission
crime-when their case will be as bs
u as his"