The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-08-27

Mhen the WauatebLo from the auLnOr-
titles Of the Mormon church cams out,
saying that from that time and here
sitter we will not practice or live IN
polygamy, aud we will not interior
ia political affairs. That was issued
by the presidency Of the church,
which lie the authority, and was sus-
tanned by the MoFmons In conference
assembled, consisting OF some 10, 900
Mormona. After that, these same
authorizes, representing the whole
church, sent their petition for am
nesty TO the general government. in
which they reiterated plainly that
they had given mp poiygamy for sll
time, and bigamy. and that they
would not interfere at all in political
affairs. Their rights were restored
70 them quickly. and quickly did
the citizens Of Idaho, irrespective OF
party, demand that the test oath be
removed. Why, we wsrs happy 10
take them BY the hand, aud for 1--we
or six years after that we had hope
aud peace Ia the south east. tha Nor
mons voting all the time. There was
no trouble until the heads Of this
church again stepped out aud said
''We will again take control Of the
political affairs Of IdabO.'' There
are two very distinguished gentlemen
10 the uudienee before me, the two
most distinguished Mormon gentle
men present. Each Of them and |
have discussed freely church interfer-
enoe In politics and devised plans
which were perfectly honorable 20
combat IL.
Now gentlemen, IL has been for
come time said In the press. that this
is a controversy Of mine. that Dubois
was making this eight. Nobody says
why. ! certainly cannot be making
IL for political purposes can II IL
there any one here who does not know
that 90 far 40 my personal political
career lie concerned, IL closed the
day ! enter again upon this desperate
tighs You knoW H. HoW am | going
TO winS Only II the young Mormon
will say: Here is our savior, We
we'll come 20 his rescue - laugh.
teri. And you laugh aud think that
IL not probable, neither do l. lGreat
/ applause. Bot / can say this TO
/ yon, every man, was q delegate 10
congress from Idaho Territory when
THE territory was made 4 state Of the
union. took the test cath down
there In our constitution. They
strongly objected admitting us With
the test cath IN our constitution and
! told them that they could keep ne
cut Of the union a. a state, but they
could not force us TO come In with a
constitution which We did not adopt.
/ Mormon church representa- We
was present during the last session OF
our Legislature and secured the passage
OF a resolution calling q constitu.
tioBal convention for the express
purpose Of eliminating the present
constitutional provision for a teri
oath.
The Mormon attorney general, Mr..
Baeley, quickly discerned that public
sentiment would not tolerate any
tampeFine with the test oath. He
found out In some manner that the
Law bed been Improperly passed, and
decided that the question would not
be submitted to the people at all. Al
q matter Of fact the Law Was passed
properly, aud " they would come out
10 the open, they would submit "a
the people this fall the question as "a
whether or not we would have con-
siitntionRl convention, the object OF
which lie to take the test cath out oi
the constitution. This polygamou,
apostle from Salt Lake City brought
on the controversy. We resented hi,
interference aud attempt 10 chang,
our constitution.
had the proud pleasure and priv,
leee Of bringing this territory intC
the union Of states, pure aud undetll,
ed. and 80 help me God, u you want
TO turn q over to this Mormon hier
archy, you will not do Il with my
consent. tGreat cheers and applause.
! have detained you too long al
ready. | want 20 emphasize one
thing so that there will be no mis
take. This 10 no Hght on the Mormon
people. know them. have livet
among them for 90 years. They ar,
all right, II they are let alone. Il
their church leaders will not inter
fere with them in politics, we will
have that same reign Of peace anS
good will which we had for the eli
years after the ballot was restored /,
them, when the church did not inter
fere In politics. As say, the Nor
mon hierarchy at Salt Lake ha
. Z "a a. A.