The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-29


Under fundamental law and by long years of
training the American people have been taught to
be very tolerant OF anyoneS religious belief, and mas
much this organization calls itself church, you
hear in this community, people deCrying any
objection to the unlawful and un-American practices
of the organization, the ground that it is part
of their religion. AS matter of fact know,
and everyone who has come in contact with them fully
realizes that the Mormons have no religion as we
understand religion. That is to say, they do not
practice morality tenet of their faith 1t is not
necessary for a Mormon to be moral and upright
and clean in his life in order to be good Mormon
If he pays his tthng cheerfully and obeys counsel
he is recognized by the leaders of the organization
as good Mormon matter if he practices all the
vices which common to fral humanity. If any
organization anywhere in the United States should
openly proclaim the right to do and actually did the
things which are the every day practice of the Nor
mon leaders, the laws of outraged community
would quickly destroy such organization.
However, they had become SO fragrant in their
violations of law that the Congress passed the
EdmundS Act in 1880, providing for the punishment
of those living in the poygamouS relation, and under
its provisions thousands of Mormons were sent to the
penitentareS. This did not change the attitude of
the organization, and IN 1887 the Edmunds Tucker
Act passed, providing additional penalties and
among other things disncorporating the so-caled
church. taking away all its property amounting to
millions of dollars, and placing in the hands of the
United States Marshal receiver In addition to
this they dsfranchised in Idaho and bills were
pending in Congress to disfranchse them everywhere
The Government had its grip on the throat of the
monster, and it evident that the end had come
They must yield or be destroyed In this emergency
they resorted to subterfuge and hypocrisy In 1890
MILFORD Woodruff issued manifesto to the world
III which he promised in behalf of his people that
from that time on there would be more polyga-
nous llvlng,-no more union of church and state
This was followed by two pleas for amnesty one
sent to President Harrison and the other Presi-
dent Cleveland, and signed by all the authorities of
the church, in which it was promised in behalf of
the people that there would be polygamous
living and no more dictaton in politics bv the or
dtoned however, on the faithful performance of the
pledges made. The Mormons twice in their semi
annual conferences where from ten to twelve thous
and OF the officers of the organization were assembled
with upl1tted hands ratified and accepted the mani
festo of President Woodruff thus making it binding
on every member of the church The Gentiles
cepted these pledges being sincere President
Woodruff testified that the manifesto had come to
him as revelation from God
The contest ended Utah was admitted to state
hood The church property was restored to the
Mormons and they were again in full control, with
either no laws against them, or they themselves
powerful enough to prevent the enforcement of the
law Immediately after statehood they resumed
their former practices by issuing manifesto during
the first state campaign, that Mormon official
from the rank of bishop up, should aspire to any
political office without first getting the consent of
the church. They resumed their polygamous living
and have entered into numerous new marriages i'll
poygamy
Once more the American sentiment is aroused, and
once more the fight for the American home and for
American principles must be made. This time, in my
judgment, the contest will end forever the past and
present practices of this organization
In my opinion there are two ways by which you
can destroy the power of the Hierarchy and make
American citizens of the Mormon people, either
one will be eficacious. Take away the political
privileges from the Mormons,- disfranchise them,
or destroy polygamy. The Hierarchy hold and ex-
ercise political control in order TO protect them
selves in their polygamy. Should they be deprived
of political power, polygamy would quickly pass
away. If po1ygamy were destroyed the leaders would
have incentive to maintain their political control