The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-01
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

fused its poisonous miasma into all OF Arizona and
Idaho, into most of Wyoming, Nevada and Colorado.
Mormons claim to hold the balance of political power
in Oregon Nor its operations confined to the far
west. 1t is again at work in the state from which
it started and through which it passed in the days OF
feeble beginnings and desperate struggles to found
Zion the outskirts of civilization. A Nor
temple is rising in Harlem, New York, where
many converts have been made under the leadership
of the notorious polygamous congressman, Brigham
H. Roberts. There Mormon meetings and
preachers in every large city The missionaries
der through the country and find acceptance, in
the early years, among the uneducated and neglected
classes
Mormonsm is not merely creed set of re-
ligious doctrines and practices, code of ethics 1t
is thoroughly organized and strictly disciplined re-
l1g1ous and political body which has maintained
that it is endowed with divine power far beyond those
OF any church or government and is destined to
sweep the earth with its dreadful tenet and its hor
rble practices. This system has imposed on its
deluded followers new Bible, history of the
world, new plan of eternal salvation, code of
morals, calling all evil good and good evil 1t has
boldly deted any power whether state national
to prevent its triumph It's advocates claim that the
main course OF events in our own land in spite of
its seeming or temporary defeats has justified them
III their boastful prophecies.
The greater danger to country and its frnda-
mental institutions-the home and family-les in the
increasing political and commercial power of this
swarming host of internal enemies. The leaders are
as they have always been, cunning, ambitious, I'M
scrupuous, petty despots; the under them are
carefully trained and solemnly pledged to blind I'M
questioning obedience to the commands of these their
irresponsible masters The leaders have always
laughed and sneered at the federal government and
its weakness in dealing with them when they have
violated its laws and prosecuted the Genti1es They
have found huge enjoyment in their own guile and
cunning in evading punishment for their crimes They
still defy the federal law with impunty Their intri
CUES and conspiraces put them beyond the reach
OF any law yet enacted. Can David be found to
smte down this modern, disappearing Goliath?
Against this yet unsubdued host of evil doors I
venture again to raise my voice and WELD my pen,
which may be blessed by God as humble instrument
for the pulling down of the stronghold of erdor TO
the new generation which has arisen [ appeal did
their fathers and mothers to and exert them
selves against the porentious evil still threatening
our peace, our homes lives. | call upon you
men and women of today, to use every lawful means
IN church and state to oppose and abolish poygamous
Mormon1sm, to rescue those unfortunates who are
still held in worse than Egyptian bondage. To you
tell again the sorrowul tale of my slavery, my
also in outline the whole history of that mystery and
iniquity which has long defiled and polluted our
land exhibit the real character of the pretended
prophet who dared to organize what he b1asphemous-
" called 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, how he gradually turned from an earnest but
ignorant christian preacher to visionary fanatic
of lies nstigator of robbery and
murder destroyer of the scanctity of marriage and
the family exhibit still more fully the whole career
OF his worldly and powerful successor Brigham
Young, showing his humble origin his vaulting am
bt1on, his faculty for controlling men and women
his audaclty III claiming power in heaven as on earth
tor time and eternity and in breaking the laws of
God ana man reveal as a necessary part of my
own story OF his domestic life with its various lights
and shadows his Sampson-lke combination of weak
ness and strength, his variegated harem..
People of America, these incarnate fiends, who
stole the livery of heaven serve the cause of Satan
in, still to be objects of worship and reverence to
thousands of our countrymen? Is this impious sys-
tenn of iniquity to be let alone while it uses every
effort to control the power of one state but of
many Against these powers of darkness, I invoke
he light OF truth L expose the means by which they
nave grown to such formidable greatness I warn
ny fellow countrymen against their false pretences,
heir adulterous practices, their murderous oaths