The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-01-30
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Senator Smoot has denied that be IL
q polygamist and that settles the
question Of his eligibility to seat
in the senate. Such logic amounts
20 little Did any one ever hear Of
a case where the person charged with
a crime, and Who was making .
determined fight against the charge,
admitted his guiltf Because Senator
Smoot says be is innocent does not
make him 50. And il il is admitted
that he is not a pOlygamist, and Is
proven that az one Of the twelve
apostles, he countenances and defends
polygamy, is he not equally guilty
with the persons who practice il: II
the oath Of allegiance he takes to the
church interferes with bis duty to his
country, is he not disqualified to sit
as a member Of the greatest legislative
body in the world: The question
whether or not SmoOt actually
practices pOlygamy is Of little con
sequence Does be, as one Of the
high church officials, consent TO aud
permit the doctrine to be preached
and practiced as one Of the tenets of
the Mormon religion: That Is the
question. IL be does. be should be
unseated, because be is breaking the
laws Of bis country which he has
sworn to uphold. 1t is not a question
affecting his religion, bat one Of a
purely moral nature affecting his
right to the seat he nov holds in the
senate. IL the charges against him
are proven, what excuses will bs
offered for retaining him as a member
Of the senate? The question Is one
involving the honor Of the senate and
the whole nation, aud should be
settled on the evidence, regardless Of
the technical quibbling Of those Eho
are afraid some mans religious
liberty may be infringed. The
SmoOt case should be sifted TO the
bottom and if it is found that the
Mormon church has violated the laws
and its solemn pledges, the rsTsdy
should be applied with all severity,
fo- in that case the church would
have forfeited all right to respect or
protection.
The other Objectionable phase Of
the matter is church domination in
politics. As an organization IL has
attempted to control the political
destinies Of Utah and Idaho and if
it is permitted to go on with this.
both the leading political parties will
become its victim or must rebel
against the authority. Religious
liberty and the right to worship God
according to the dictates Of ones
own conscience, does not mean that
the state must not interfere to per
vent church domination 10 political
affairs When the church attempts
to dictate the public policy Of a state
it Is time for the people TO rise up
and protest, even though a few poll
ticians who expect to benefit from
the unboly alliance may make excuses
and say that it Is all right. II l. all
wrong and the Mormon or any other
church that undertakes TO force itself
into control Of state uill discover
their mistake. The people will not
stand it.
We believe in letting the Mormon.
and the man Of every other creed,
travel his own road to that vast IN
known realm Of eternity, but he must
not interfere with the very founda-
ton Of this government political
liberty. That the MOrmons have and
are now doing this, We are thoroughly
convinced, and We will be found
hbgting the proposition 20 long as
there Is a Mormon TO stand up and
defend the action Of his church.
Unless this church immediately
desists from its interference in the
politics Of Idaho, We are ia favor Of
the reenactment Of the test oath and
believe majority Of the people are
Of the same opinion.
The action Of the republican state
committee in session at Boise this
week In passing a resolution giving
its quasi support to the political
attitude Of the Mormon church has
created a Juror at the capital aud
widened the breach in the party to
an extent that no compromise Is
possible. The committee has thrown
down the gauntlet; 1t has taken issue
with many Of the best men In its
party, and its action intsnsifies the
determination Of those opposed 10
Mormon domination to carry the fight
20 q finish. The committee cannot
hold the rank aud file OF its party In
line for the support Of polygamous
teachings and practices. The issue
is made and must he fought out on
the broad ground that church aud
state must be and remain separate.
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