The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-09-26
MoTAIMo 80 sur a CORPSE.

: 4 Il
The attempt made by the Boise
Statesman and its peculiar friends
to revive the Mormon question and
convert it into political issue, all
though CALAMITY seconded by Du-
bois and Donnelly, has fallen fat.
The Mormon question is dead and
il will stay dead for very long
time, probably forever. 1t can
never be revived except by the
Mormon's themselves and it is not
at all likely that they will do it.
Now, that it is all over, common
sense and common decency demand
that the historical treatment of the
subject shall be fair, truthful and
candid. There was time when
the Mormon church authorities did
use their ecclesiastical positions to
influence the political actions of the
membership. 1t was not done,
though, with an evil motive. When
the authorities advised, they advised
the thing that seemed to them wise
and beneficial and for the best in
terests of all. They had an abiding
faith in the divinity of their church
and naturally believed that any
thing which tended to the upbuild-
ing of the church and the extension
of its power made for the glorifca-
ton of God. The Mormon religion
is an adnixture of spiritual and
temporal in fair, practical proper
tons. 1t is intensely practical, and
next to teaching men how to serve
God to the attainment OF life eternal,
it teaches how to serve Mammon to
the attainment of wholesome ma
terial blessings. The fathers of the
Church, with scarcely distinguish
able zeal and piety, taught theology,
economics and politics. The writer
of this, many years ago, heard
Brigham Young deliver a sermon
at q conference in Brigham City,
Utah, in which the distinguished
leader passed smoothly from exhort-
alton to live pure and holy life in
the service of the Lord to patroniz-
ing home industries and scientific
irrigation. And there did not APP
pear to be the slightest incongru-
: ity in the grouping of subjects.
Pure religion did not lose any of its
sanctity by being associated with
successful irrigation, neither was
the. doctrine of the Atonement dis
credited by the homily on home in
dustries. Many years later, we
heard Mormon Bishop discourse
piously and learnedly on the appli-
cation of fertilizers to soil. This
occurred during the time of great
religious awakening at little place
called Cherry Creek, in this State.
And we actually believe that the
Bishop, who was from Logan, Utah
did more for the Kingdom" by
proving to the people that the ma
nure in their corrals was worth two
dollars load than he could have
done by preaching sanctifcatior
through faith. This much to illus
trate the practically of Mormonism
1t is distinctively an American in
stitution, Its theology is right VI
to date, in every particular, anc
covers the entire range of human
hopes, aspirations and activities
In respect to the Mormon view o
politics, that may be said of i
which cannot be truthfully said O
other churches. Mormons holC
political matters in esteem. The,
do not look upon politics as thinI
foul and wicked. They believe tina
the institutions of the country res
upon divine inspiration, and may
perhaps, be excused for chez
ishing pretty strong suspicio
that they are as able to manage tn
country as anybody else. And rigt
there all the trouble begins. If tn
Molmons would only be content
let the rest of us manage the cour
try. if they would only step asid
and not NEEDLE with public affairs
everything would be lovely all Ii
while. Nobody has anythin