Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-12-18

awe have no desire to interfere Ii
these (Politica) matters, but proclaim
that, as far as we are concerned. the
members of this church are entirely
and perfectly free In all political mat
ters."
In leading editorial the Deserei
Evening News reafirmed the'position Of
the authoriti, S as stated In their public
declarations and added:
"The public, however, must not ex-
pect that leading church man shall
become political eunuch because OF
his ecclesiastical position. He is az
much citizen with all the powers and
liberties of a citizen as If he were a
layman or an infideI."
And the views expressed by the first
presidency in the celebrated "Times"
interview must bear a portion of the
responsibility for the sentiments so
thoroughly grounded In me. I call your
attention to the following extracts from
the answers carefully pr epared by them
"Does the church claim the right to
dictate to Its members in political mat
tersl"
"The church does not claim any such
right"
"That being true, are we to under
stand that the church will not assert any
right to control the political action of
its Tt1Aulharc In
"That Is what we wish to convey and
have you understand. AS officers of the
church we disclaim the right to control
the political action of the members of
our body"
"Do you believe that 1t is the wish of
the Mormon people to unite with the
great national parties and to conduct
politics in this territory as they are
conducted In all other states2
"That Is the impression we have re-
ceived from conversation with the men
among us who take the greatest in.
trest In political matters"
ais there any reason why the mem
bers of the church should not act freely
with the national parties at all timess"
awe know Of no reason why they
should not"
ais there any foundation for the charge
that the Mormon leaders are now en-
gagged in political conspiracy to secure
political power for the church,"
"There is not the least ground for any
such statement. We are not engaged In
any conspiracy of this character"
"The opponents of party division on
national lines declare that they want ev-
idepce of the sincerity of the Mormon
people. The Times would ask you to
state whether the declarations of SINGER.
thy on the part of those leaders who
have been before the public reflects
your views and meet with your ap.
prevail"
"Those declarationa express our views
and have our entire approval. What
greater evidence can be asked than that
which has already been givenl 1t has
been asserted, in addition, that the peo-
pie were governed by the priesthood in
political matters. This is now disproved
by the dissolution of the peoples party
and the union of its members with the
two national parties. What could posi-
bly, be gained by the action of the peo-
pie If they were not sinceres If the ele
ments of sincerity were wanting, such
movement would result in entire de-
mobilization"
II l could have looked upon these
grave and solemn declarations different
ly, might have been spared the pain
and humiliation following my failure to
sign what you say has always been
doctrine of the church," was not its
resistance in documentary form wholly
Unnecessary You ask:
"Why should Moses Thatcher alone,
of all the church authorities, feel that
he could not sign 1t, as he alleges, with
out qualifications Was not that In it.
itself evidence that he was and had been
out of harmony with his brethren? And
are they not men as little disposed as
any one living to stultify themselves, or
to assent to anything wrong that Is of
vital Importance to them and to the
churcha"
could not sign that manifesto be.
cause had endorsed the others herein.
before quoted, and because could not
reconcile this last one with those made
by file leaders and ecclesiastical superb
ors between 1890 and the date of Utah's
admission into the Union. l must be
permitted to suggest that my fellow
members of the quorum to which |
once belonged can define better than
any one else their views of right and
wrong, and their ideas of what consti-
tntes qualification" But, neverthe-
less, like myself, they are subject to hui
man weakness and human errors. AS
students OF history each citizen must de-
termIne how long any people can
prosper under the practice of punic faith
secretly carried into effect and openly
avowed and executed. The declarations
of perfect political freedom to all the
Saints are just as binding today as they
were before we obtained statehood, and
1t Is the duty of every citizen of Utah
to so regard them.
And now. having shown nv ouota