The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-08-28
MORMON ALLIANCE.

ated by politics. The founders
of this republic wisely attempted
to prevent any union or mix-uT
of church and state, and succeed
ed, except in comparatively is
olated local instances. Teach.
ings of the Christ and of history
condemn the union, which has
ever resulted in a corrupt church
and tyrannical government.
That the Mormon bosses, as
church officials, deriving their
influence from that force alone,
have displayed pernicious activ-
ity in the politics of Utah, here
in Idaho, in every state where
they any considerable strength,
there is not the shadow of a
doubt. In fact, no one with any
regard for his reputation for YER
acity denies this patent truth.
On this point one sees in the dis.
honest partisan press apologies
and evasions, both bunglingly
awkward and insincere; but the
fact stands boldly forth, unde-
MED and undeniabIe.
The church of Latter Day
Saints is shifty and thrifty. 1t
is srlendidly disciplined force;
nowhere can better example of
shrewd, forceful leaders ruling
absolutely the ignorant mob
through the combined influence
of religious superstition and a
system of material, earthly re-
ward and punishment. So it is
that an edict issued from the bee
hive temple in Salt Lake is inn
plicitly obeyed, be it in reference
to religious, political or domes,
tic affairs. Having no love of
country, no reverence for our
government, these church boss
es are welded to neither school
of politics which our republican
institutions and ideals have de.
veloped. They go in for" poll.
tics for what there is in it-for
the church, for themselves. Nat
urally, therefore, they attach
themselves to the ruling party,
the winning side, and trade their
voting strength to the faction
that poffers the highest bid
loyalty to party or clique being
impossible without loyalty to
government.
At present, that is during re-
cent years, the republican party
of Idaho is burdened with the
odium of Mormon alliance. The
politicians, opportunists most of |
them, think they are using"
Mormons, but they are paying
dearly for the service rendered, !
and the state more dearly still.
This being the situation, elm.
mating all the lofty motives of
good citizenship, all high ideals
OF patriotism, it would seem to
be good practical politics for the
democrats of this state to array
themselves openly against the |
Mormons; fight viciously against
this Salt Lake church interfer.
ence in our state affairs. ANY i
outside dictation is obnoxious to
men of independence, men with
warm, red blood in their veins.
As the situation grows more
acute and transparent, as it in.
evitably will; white folks, becom.
ing indignant, will ally them
selves with the democrats, on
local issues at least, and wipe
the Mormon party off the local
political map. Democrats have
nothing to lose by adopting this
policy, for the Mormons are go
ing to vote the republican ticket
as long as it is in power. This
will drive many self-respecting
citizens into the democratic fold.
perhaps only temporarily. Whe-
Their sufficient number will be
so moved this year to create
democratic landslide, is doubt
full, for the masses, like all great
bodies, move slowly; but that
such movement has already start
ed, no one except the partisan
blind can fail to see. That land
slide is coming, however, just as
sure as fate; possibly this year,
more probably two years hence
when this generous growth on
our body polite will be removed
with the knife of radical legisla
ton. MT. Home Maverick.