The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-09-24

aAteF the chtlfCh mad selected Reed /
Smoot- 1t was useless for any non
Mormon to become a candidate
against the candidate OF the church.
Reed Smoot, therefore, is clearly the
senator of the Mormon hierarchy, and
Is Enthusiastically the representative Of
all that the Mormon hierarchy stands
for, and would do the bidding Of the
church as a senator, If the directions
Of the church came in conflict with /
The duties which he has sworn to per-
form as a senator OF the United States.
If Joseph Smith should receive a
revelation from God on the subject,
this revelation would be binding on
Reed Smoot, no matter what relation
1t might bear to the duties which be
has sworn to perform under his oath
as United States senator.
SEPARATE CHURCH AND STATE.
Non Mormons in this section, where
Mormon influence is predominant,
believe that the separation Of the
church from the state, the denial OF
the right of the church to dictate
and control the state politically. aud
the breaking down Of the church
hierarchy in political affairs will have
more to do with stopping polygamy
than any laws which possibly can lie
framed or enforced against the pract-
ice of polygamy. So long as the
political power of the church author
tiles is maintained and exercised.
just so long will every avenue for adj
vaucement in all lines to the Mormon
people be absolutely under the CON
troll Of the Mormon authorities. Every
incentive compeIs them, therefore, to
accept the conclusions and the
counsels of their authorities In every
thing spiritual, temporal aud poll
teal.
The masses of the Mormon people
do not approve Of the continuance
Of polygamy and poiygamous rela-
tions, nor do they approve Of the
union Of church and state, and the
indication Of the church authorities
in political matters. These coudi.
tions are no more pleasing to them
than TO the non Mormous. Their
own individual ambition is stihed. T
snd their independence Of action In !.
political and temporal affairs is taken
away. None would hail with more
delight the complete abandonment II (
ploygamy and political control By /
the leaders than would the great
number Of followers Of these leaders.
Their lives are so interviewer with
the teachings and doctrines of the
church, and they are so dependent la
every relation on the church organ
ization. however. that they dread
breaking away from ii entirely. and
rather than do that, with all its at
tendant consequences, accept present
conditions.
II the church authorities would
give them absolute freedom of action,
aud would not, by their example and
counsel, teach them obedience to
their leaders In political affairs and
defiance Of the Law In respect to
polygamy and polygamous cohabita-
tion, the great masses of the Mormon
people would quickly put stop to
polygamy and would, with viqor and
energy, exercise complete independ.
encs IN all political matters.
MASSES ARE SINCERE.
1t il my Judgment that the masses
Of the Mormon people intend 10 live
up 10 the promises made by their
leaders to the government, when
statehood for Utah was secured. They
believed their leaders we're sincere in
entering into a compact with the
government: that polygamy and
polygamous relations should cease.
and that the church would not inter
fere in politics.
IL Is the constituted authorities Of
this organization that the government
and the states have to contend with.
and not the masses Of the people.
So long as polyRamy and polyqa.
nous relations arc openly maintained
by the leaders Of this organization,
aud so long as the ruling authorities
of the church claim and exercise the
right to dominate the state political
ly, just so long will polygamous REIN
tious continue, and just so long will
the political power Of the church
authorities be maintained and strenR