The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-03-26

in counting alliance with Latter
Day Saints. 1t is then the welkir
is made to ring with fine tributes tc
their industry, enterprise. frugality
and moral graces. 1t is then that
statesmen and politicians and lay.
men tell us that the canker of DO
lygamy is, by natural process, eat
ing itself away; that in little while
the last vestige of it will have dis
appeared. 1t is then we are urged
to view with serenity the conduct
of those who entered into the plural
relation, prior to the manifesto, and
continue to live in it. But every
once in while the leading politi-
clans in one or the other party see
fame and position for themselves in
agitating the Mormon question, and
then there is side stepping all along
the line.
Just nowwe are told that startling
and horrifying revelations have been
made at Washington; that men high
in the Mormon church have actually
confessed to living in polygamy,
and the moral sensibilities of the
side stepping politicians are dread
fully shocked. They never dream
ed that such things were, so they
solemnly aver. And being in doubt
as to what the effect will be, they
either shut up like clans or begin
talking two ways. To the anti
Mormon they declare that "the
= Mormon people are so stepped in
animalism that they must be swept
from the earth; to Mormons they
say, "Ah, this is but spasm of
political persecution and it will
soon pass away"
AS a matter of fact, there is not,
in Idaho, fairly intelligent man,
who has given any attention to
public affairs, who did not know be.
fore President Smith said it, as we'll
as he now knows, that practically
all the Mormons who took plural
wives prior to the manifesto con-
tinued to cohabit with them. It
was virtually so nominated in the
bond. And if those polygamous.
Mormons are chargeable with vio-
lating the letter of public pledge,
those who are now seeking to dis
turb them may with equal justice
be charged and condemned fort
treachery to the spirit OF covena n
just as binding and little less
formal and notorious.
In view of all the facts and in
common decency, the Republican
party OF Idaho ought to occupy
clear and well defined position in
respect of the Mormon people. 1t
ought to hold them as outlaws,
banded together for lusrtul and TIN
patriotic purposes, or it should re-
gard them as it does the members
of every other religious denomina-
ton. If they are to be held as
members of vicious conspiracy,
they should be driven from the
party and their organization de-
stroyed. If they are to be regarded
as other religionists, they must be
accorded the same respect and con-
tldence, the first step in the accom-
plishment of which is to cease hold.
ing one Mormon responsible for the
acts of another.
What justification is there for in
venting and applying to Mormons
rule that no one would ever think
Of applying to any other class of
people. Does any one ever think
OF condemning Methodists because
minister, or hundred of them,
runs away with another mans
wife! If it could be shown that
every member of the governing
board of the Presbyterian Church,
save one, was horse thief, and
that one established his innocence,
would that one be condemned, or
would he not rather be extolled for
his integrity under
such infuenoes3 The point is, that
f the Republican party continues
o affiliate with Mormons, it must I
reat them as it does other mem