The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-03-28
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

such restrictions and limitations on the right of fran
chise contained in this constitution. Soon there
after and in the autumn of $780, the president of
the church, MILFORD Woodruff, issued what has been
popularity known as the manifesto, whereby the
church authorities renowned the doctrine of bigamy
and poygamy and declared that it should longer
be tenet of the church or of their religious faith
doctrine, and should not be taught practiced
by it any of its members adherents. This dec
laration by the church authorities accepted by
the United States government and President Harrl-
son accordingly, on January 4, 1898, issued proc
lamation extending general amnesty and pardon to
all those who liable to punishment under the
law prior to November l. 1890, and who subSe-
quently obeyed the law.
The state of Idaho also accepted their declaration,
and from 1894 to the present time so far as
informed, the members and adherents of the
Mormon church have quite generally exercised the
right of franchise fully any other class body
OF our citizens. In their exercise of this right all
our citizens to have assented until within the
last few years. The inhibitions of section of art
1ce 6 of the constitution however, just posi-
tive today as ever against any person who may fall
within its prohibitions. Whether they do or not is
in every case purely question of fact.
In the light of the foregoing inquiry and investi
cations, conclude that the trainers of the consti-
tuition and the people in its adoption, in employing
the words b1gamouS, polygamous plural celestial and
patrlarchia marriages, meant and intended to pro-
hibt and forbid having more than one wife
at any time under whatever name or designation
he might choose to style his marriage and that the
use of each of those words directed against big
amOuS and pOlygamOuS marriages A celestial or pat
riarchal marriage, therefore, in order come with
in the prohibition of the provision of the constitu-
ton must be bigamous or polygamous.
One who teaches or practices having more than
one wife at any time or belongs to organiza-
ton that teaches such doctrine is disqualified for
the duties of elector and consequently for holding
any civil office under the laws of this state On the
other hand it intended by the constitution
to in any interfere with the religious beliefs
and opinions of any one The constitution was di-
rected against acts, practices and teachings with
reference to this life and not against beliefs and
opinions in regard to the hereafter
Under this decision by the Supreme Court of the
state, it is established that section three
of article six of the constitution (the test oath) is
sefexecuting. The legislation giving effect to the
section repealed several years ago and it has
since been contended that that provision of the
stitution imperative Under this decision of the
court it can be made operative and may be made to
do service in future elections in DISTINGUISHING those
who practice teach poygamy If it is shown that
the Mormon church practices or teaches polygamy
or the celestial or pariarchal marriage is used a
pretext for polygamy, Mormons may be prevented
from holding office, voting acting in the
pacty of jurors.