The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-12-28
Differs With His Party.

III BOISE, M Alexander, OF Boise, delivered an ad
dress, by invitation. few days later his address
was reproduced in the columns of the Boise Capita
News thus removing it from the privacy of the club
and giving it to the public in general
In his address, published, Mr. Alexander de
voted himself largely to existing business conditions
and to the currency issues of the past and present.
touching briefly and entertainingly upon other Ma
tional topics He came finally to the question of
polygamy which has been made an issue by the
Democratic party in Idaho
In his remarks he repudated the wisdom of the
party to which he processes allegiance and set up
a standard of his own, calling upon the party to
abandon its policies and beliefs and accept the poll
cies and beliefs of NJ Alexander, saying:
| want to say to you now, and [ am speaking
for myself, M. Alexander, that l am firmly op-
posed to the entire Mormon issue as it has been
brought up in this State.
The speaker took issue violently with his party and
upon his partys most important question. His party
said in its platform of 1904:
We demand the determination of poygamy and
unlawful Cohabtation within the State of Idaho and
the complete separation of church and state in po-
litical affairs
His party said in its platform of 1906:
We demand the determination of po1ygamy and
unlawful cohabtation within the State of Idaho and
the complete separation of church and state in DO
litical affairs We pledge the people of Idaho that
in the event of Democratic success at the polls in
November, will make effective by legislative
enactment the wise and patriotic declarations in
State constitution contained in section three article
six.
Up to date, these reahirmed principles stand as
the expression of the Democratic party of Idaho,
and in excepting to them the club speaker endorsed
a policy of the Republican party and upon the issue
of polygamy he is Republican, if he is sincere and
not a Democrat
In another important particular, Mr. Alexander
becomes admitted apostate. He said in the
speech of last week. before the Democratic Club:
You must not expect much of speech from me-
the last political hollerng did about thir-
teen years ago, when l. in conjunction with other
citizens, went down Main street hollering Sixteen
to and no compromise" and Free and unim-
tied coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to
without the aid and consent of foreign nations" [
didn't believe word of it, | was gold standard
man at that time and today.
Perhaps, when the speaker said he was opposed
to the entire Democratic Mormon issue of his State
he did not believe word he was saying for man
who will deceive his party at one time will deceive
it at another time But, giving him the benefit of
sincerity in this instance, why was he called upon
to address Democratic club? AS gold bug he
manifests Republican instincts. AS an apologist for
the crime of poygamy, he accepts another Republi-
can doctrine. Thirteen years ago, by his own adj
MISSION he was sailing under false coors-mis-
leading his party associates in pretending to favor
the double standard when opposed to it.
Like every other under the protection of the
republic this club is entitled to his own view
on any public question. He may with proprety
attempt the conversion of his political associates to
his beliefs. But when he enters upon public dis
,usson of issues in opposition the policy of his
own party, he gives to the champions of that policy
he right of protest through public argument
In +hot+ Tho tic Of