Evening star., 1898-11-22
Attitude of the Mormon Church in
Regard to Politics.
SHOWN BY ELECTION OF ROBERTS
Important Statement of a Grand
son Of Brigham Young.
ROBLEM MOF POLY AMY
Eugene Young in the New York Herald

have not only Haunted polygamy in the
eyes Of the churches that long fought
the practice, but have given notice that
only those who faithful to the DEGREES
of the priesthood can hope to become pow
erful In Utah Both the solemn promises
on which statehood was granted have been
thrown back mockingly to the American
people. With franchise. prestige and prop
erty restored, the so-caiied Latter Day
Saints have established their hierarchy in
| the midst of the republic, and are prepa ring
to enter upon their promised heritage of
the governments of all the world
high church leader who still practices
polySamy and who upholds the right of the
priesthood to dictate in politics has been
elected by the men and women of Utah.
with half challenge for the House of
Representatives to unseat him. The ma
ton. In fact, is called upon to face the
Mormon problem again, and this time with
the belligerent people intrenched behind
all OF the safeguards which the Constitu-
ton has thrown about the state
Problem for the Nation.
The problem is not merely a moral one
| which we can leave to the other churches
nor local ore which we can shift to the
people Of the west, but is national in all
the sense of the word. Already Utahs
at the disposal of the Mormon Church
leaders Idaho has learned that it can
not NIL Its seats in the same body without
giving recognition to these same spiritual
potentates Wyoming, in its iercest con-
test, has found the Mormon legislators
holding the balance of power in the state
Nevada on the west and Colorado on the
east of Utah are being slowly invaded by
an army of this people. which is creeping
surely to their furthest boundaries and
which in the future make itself
OF the greatest Importance. Arizona and
New Mexico, future states do not hesitate
| to admit that the Mormon priesthood can
govern the fortunes of the parties within
their confines.
Governmental control is no new ambition
among the Rocky mountain saints. They
were told when they were a mere handful
hunted from state to state, that one day
they should rule America and from its
capital extend their dominions throughout
| the world as the viceregents of God on
earth. Joseph Smith, their prophet. in
! 1874, set himself Up for the presidency
and contended that he had a right as the
| mouthpiece of God to give the law to the
| people of the United States. Prophets
| who have followed him have told their
| followers that power for them is not far
distant and that they should prepare them
| selves for the responsibility. Polygamy
| itself, in the doctrines of the church. is
| founded on the idea that the people shall
| multiply quickly in order that they may
speedily extend their dominion.
Roberts "a Church Leader.
| In the election of B. H. Roberts the Nor
| mon idea of power, and of the continuance
| of polygamy well, finds its expression,
| for ne has been the center of the greatest
| fight ever waged in the sect. He is not a
| politician. He has been a missionary, a
| president CT elders in the church, and in
| late years it's chief writer on theological
I IN, fo hn ~, 70
explain the Mormon faith to the congress
| of religions at the worlds exposition in
| Chicago
He found an opportunity to enter politics
| seven years ago. The Mormon presidency,
| yielding at last to national pressure, SOL
| emnly declared that there should never be
| an attempt to unite the church and state
! in Utah and that the Mormons should be
absolutely untrammeled in their political
! action. High leaders of the sect plunged
| into politics at once, and Mr.. Roberts, who
| held himself as a democrat, except when
| the interests of the Mormons seemed to
| conflict with such an allegiance, espoused
| the cause of that party.
But he to learn that the presidency S
! promise was not made in good faith anG to
| be the instrument whereby the lesson that
| the priesthood still IN control was to
| be impressed not only on the Mormons of
| Utah, but on the Gentiles.
| Made to Bow to Priesthood.
| for Congress in the first state election i'll
| 1895. He had been chosen by his party be-
| cause even then there had been church in
| reference" and he had stood out against
several Of the powerful priests who had
| used their influence in favor of the repub-
| licans and had shown determination not
| to bow to ecclesiastical orders by opposing
woman suffrage, the pet measure of the
Mormon presidency Nominated on the
! same ticket was Moses Thatcher, an apos-
| tIx ri, -
| United States Senate. He was also noted
| FOR his independence in the face of the
| priesthood and it was on these two that
| the liberal people pinned their hopes of
keeping the church out of politics.
| In the last days Of the campaign, however,
| crushing blow fell upon them. In secret
meeting of the priesthood. gathered from all
parts of Mormondom, the late President
| Woodruff condemned the two men for TAX
| ing their nominations without having first
asked the consent of their ecclesiastical su-
periors.
The condemnation fell like blight on the
democrats, for they knew that to many of
| the Mormons the word OF Wllford Wood
| ruff was the word of God Extraordinary
| me assures were taken to offset it. The state
convention of the party was reconvened
| and a sweeping set of resolutions, declaring
| that church and state must be fought, was
adopted.
Compelled Men to Change Politics.
In these resolutions-adopted by a body
| of which twO-thirdS were deVout Mormons-
| the statement was boldly made that high
officials of the church had used their infiu-
ence in church meetings to compel the
| change Of politics of their followers In order
| to divide the voters almost equally between
| the two parties and thus give the priest
| hood the balance of power. Both Mr.. Rob-
erts and Mr.. Thatcher warmly fndorsed
| these resolutions and declared they should
never allow their church superiors to have
any voice in the control of their political
| actions.
| They had overrated their strength. Both
| went down to defeat in the election, and the
| son of George Q. Cannon. the real ruler of
| the church, was given the senatorship to
| v hich Moses Thatcher had aspired. To the
| rebels went the word that they were not in
accord with their brethren, and Mr.. Rob-
| erts, who had gained his livelihood in
| church works. was compelled to seek an
| editorial position the Salt Lake Herald,
| then the earnest champion of political free
dom.
| Then the peculiar pressure OF the Mormon
priesthood was brought to bear on him. Its
| extent was revealed afterward in Sc
Perhaps you use but little,