Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-18

ters."
In leading editorial the Deseret
Evening News reafirmed the,position of
the authorities as stated in their public
declarations and added:
"The public, however, must not ex-
pect that a leading church man shall
become a political eunuch because of
his ecclesiastical position. He is as
much a citizen with all the powers and
liberties of a citizen as if he were a
layman or an inhdeI.p
And the views expressed by the first
presidency I'm the celebrated "Times"
interview must bear 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 10
dictate to its members in political mat
ters?"
"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
rs members in the future"
"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 it 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 states'
"That is the impression we have re-
ceived from conversation with the men
among us who take the greatest in
trest in political matters"
dis there any reason why the mem
bers of the church should not act freely
with the national parties at all times2"
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
idence 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 given? 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 PEG
Die if they were not sincere? If the ele-
nents of sincerity were wanting, such
movement would result in entire de-
If I could have looked upon these
,rave and solemn declarations different
Y, might have been spared the pain
nd humiliation following my failure to
ign what you say has "always been a
doctrine of the church." was not its
Issuance in documentary form wholly
You ask;
"Why should Moses Thatcher alone,
all the church authorities, feel that
e could not sign it, as he alleges, with
ut stultifcation' Was not that in it.
self evidence that he was and had been {
ut of harmony with his brethren' And
re they not men as little disposed as
ny one living to stultify themselves, or :
assent to anything wrong that is of n
ital importance to them and to the h
lurch"
1 could not sign that manifesto be- :,
Iuse had endorsed the others herein O
fore quoted, and because l could not
concile this last one with those made 81
file leaders and ecclesiastical superb =
s between 1890 and the date of Utah's a,
mission into the Union. / must be II
rmitted to suggest that my fellow &c
embers of the quorum to which 1 -
ce belonged can define better than In
y one else their views of right and ar
ong, and their ideas of what consti- tr
les qualification" But, neverthe- ~