The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-10-22
CHURCH AND STATE.

of being electe to the high Office of
school trustee was full of promise,
evil minded machinators started the
rumor that we were a member of
the Mormon church, and we went
down to defeat and humiliation be-
fore the storm of persecution. Our
noble aspirations are assassinated.
Hope is dead in our breast. In all
the vast State of Idaho there is no
place where we may grow and
bloom and fructify. Up in the
Southeastern part, where the disci-
pies of Mormon and the children of
Lamar have gathered to await the
morning of the first resurrection, we
are hated and were prosecuted be
cause, for 90 years, we battled
against the hier archy and rebelled
against polygamy. We enlisted for
the anti-Mormon crusade in 1870
and stayed to the finish in 1900.
We came out of the fight battle
SCARED anddisheveled, but victor
ious, The prophet of the Mormon
church sued for terms. Terms were
granted. The manifesto" appeared.
The Utah Liberal party and the Ida
no Anti-Mormon party disbanded.
The dead issue was laid in the tomb
with appropriate ceremonies and
politics in the Valleys of the Noun
tains took on a more wholesome
hue.
But, unhappily, there has not
been an hour since the corpse of
Anti-Mormon propaganda was bur-
led that effort was not making to
exhume it and parade it before the
country. Has there been iustifca-
ton for this? There has. The
Mormons themselves have done
thing to provoke it. The election
of Roberts to the Congress Of the
United States is case in point. The
degradation of Moses Thatcher is
another. In respect of these things
there is nothing 10 be said in extern
uation. They were reckless and
determined attempts on the part of
the Mormon priesthood to dictate
and control political affairs in Utah
The Smoot case is of a different
order, for, while be naturally
had the sympathy of the First Pres
idency, there is nothing to indicate
that any improper influence was ex-
ercised There is, on the other
hand, every reason to believe that
ever since the Roberts-Thatcher in
cidents, the high authorities of the
Mormon Church have religiously
eschewed interference in political
matters. In proof of this may be
cited the fact that recent effort on
the part of Senator Dubois to enlist
church diCtation for the benefit of
the Democratic party met with
merited and emphatic rebuff, not
withstanding that the Senator had
very superior claims to considera-
at the hands of the Mormon author
tiles. He had given them substantial
support in their fight for Statehood,
and when the good faith of the
Mormon people was attacked, it
was Senator Dubois who stepped
into the breach and, before the ma
sion, vouched for their sincerity,
probity and morality. By the
rule of practical politics, Dubois
had right to expect favor, but the
fingers of the First Presidency had
been scorched enough by meddling
in politics, and they determined not
to play with that kind of fire any
more. Dubois was refused, and
failing to perceive the true cause,
went away feeling that the Mormon
authorities were ungrateful, and his
soul burned for revenge. He is en-
joying it now.
But is there no church influence
in politics?
To that question. the answer is
no and yes. If it is meant to in
quire whether the priesthood form
ally and officially directs the Nor
mon people in their political
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