Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-05
-MoRMoNs" IN POLITICS.


Tho Caldwell idaho. Tribune made
ltn,e remarks shor, time ago ''"-
corning the influence exercised hy ilIe
"Mormons" IN politics and argued ihat
Il was quite right that they should DO
go. and further that unless we argue
that tho influence 0t church people
is generally bad. we must admit that
their influence is good 90 politics That
was aiken up by some anu+Mormon'
publications twisted and turned out
Of Us evident meaning. and made 10
serve the purpose OF politicians who en-
dcsyor TO excite the public mind In
reference To the alleged interference
Of the Mormon" church IN political
affairs
OF course the caldwell paper referred
TO the "Mormons' as citizens Of Ida
no in their Individual capacity and
simply took the ground that they ought
10 have MS much influence IN politics as
members Of any religious organization
should have. Replying now TO the mis-
interpretations OF its remarks on TINS
question. that paper stands mp for the
principle that religion should have
somo power to regulate the politics Of
the state and the nation. As TO the
mormon" church. q does not admit
that any undue power Is used by that
organisation as an ecclesiastical body
but says
our knowledge Is NJ the Mormon
people gained by several years resi-
dence among them We found that they
were as much divided politically as 9th
or church people. Many Of them are
Democrats. More are Republicans and
a few are Populists, Prohlbtionists and
Socialists as the ease may be-
That fac, which cannot be truihfully
disputed. dlsposes Of the notion thar
the Church as a religious body enters
into the sphere Of civil government so
far as partls8uship Is concerned. When
It's members vote for any person or
proposition. they do SO on their own
yolition and according TO the position
taken by the respective parties with
which they affiliate. Tho Caldwell
Tribune takes correct ground on this
matter. and that ought TO be occupied
by every Individual and paper that
considers the subject.
But The Idaho newspaper views the
subject from another standpoint, which
is equally fair ana consistent vim the
other. II expresses the opinion that the
influence OF religion being good, II
ought to be brought TO bear on political
affairs and that members Of one de-
nomination should have equal prlyi-
lcges IN this respect with others. and
closes IL editorial with this paragraph.
AS To the question, that Mormons
exercise an Influence In politics. the
Caldwell Tribune stan claims that they
do and that they should. An religious
men ana women should. The day that
every God-fcaring man exercises every
influence be- can 90 bring into being
those principles of government and
those policies OF party. which he thinks
are right that day VIII De seen clean.
cr politics. more just laws and bot.
tcr government % is the indifference
OF good. moral men and women thai
has permitted and fostcrcd a condition
that allows crime among authorities
aud corruption iu high places
There is a wide difference between
this proper influence that should b,
oxertod by every good man and wom
an. and the intrusion OF a religious or.
ganization into the domain Of the state
In the case supported by the IdahD
paper. each citizen is accorded IN,
right to act according 10 his own iudg
meut Influenced by religious impulse
for The promotion ~ morality, th
choice OF good and capable men 10
public office. and the elevation OF socie
" under a pure system Of government
IN the other. an ecclesiastical organiza
lion would dominate political anair
aid sway SIS members In a manner tina
would interfere with their iudiWdua
predictions and their personal choic,
one is emnentiy proper. the other !
distinctly improper.
Every member Of the Mormon
Church Is entirely free To- join O. polite
Al party or 10 stay out OF DO as D
chooses That Church as a rtllgiou
Institution does not attempt Co coatrl
him go the least in his political action,
As body 90 is not Do politics 80 al
but everyone of its members shoul
have The same liberty az non. Nor
mons" have Boz all political matters
iu the state or .n The nation Wit
that ylew Of the suhis.. Mounons
may exercise influence On politics with
out Just ccs,iue fum aus euur,s
when the public generally understand
ihis point. which Is clearly perceive
BY The Caldwell Tribune zoe s,usslc.
prejudice which political asltaiors sc
~ against them 800 soon pass ava!