The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-05-23
A College Grafton.

ara OF canyon county, which won hrst place IN tn
college contest at Waa Walla, and second at tn
Inter Collegiate contest at Pullman.
The Grafton reflects great credit on this youn
student, and is significant in showing that the you'll
of Idaho paying attention to this great evil which
threatens not only state but surrounding state
and the Nation.
We commend an examination Of the facts presented
by this young man to the north of the state on whom
will be imposed the duty of maintaining higf
ideals and in making effective the constitution of ou1
state.
When many of the noblest people in a state loya
to their old political parties for years. desert those
parties and flock to a new standard, there must be
some burning reason for it, and men in the neighbor
ing states who think have to question, why
This great state of Washington may not have felt the
SILENT insinuating, soudestroying force atwor<
to their borders Yet in Utah and in Idaho,
where my own home is because the principles of
these old parties have been so far perverted and
debased by the domination of the Mormon church,
their members having deserted them have Joined
the new legion the American party, established for
the one purpose of fighting the enemy an
enemy promulgating non-American principles We
love peace rather than strife and harmony rather
than discord, but the menace confronting us has
aroused our indignation has provoked us beyond
endurance
Our simple Mormon neighbors we do not condemn
They to blame for their actions than are
the soldiers of king, when ordered to kill and
ravage. No than the tools of the Standard Oil
Company, gripping and grinding the poor and the
helpless 1t is the organization of the church known
as the Mormon hierarchy, composed of the president
OF the church, his two counselorS and the twelve
apostles that is responsible for the evil deeds of the
church The common people from the first have been
duped and deceived When Joseph Smith proclaimed
himself to be and reveator prophet sent from
God to show the way of salvation it was time of
dlsquetude and restless curiosity and people fol-
lowed any sort of leader like lost sheep With the
help of his associates Smith established religion,
sent out missionaries and made converts. He claimed
to receive revelations from God to explain the fail
ure OF his bank and his own lcentious living Yet
his religion popular, and these plain people were
sincere; ignorant they easily persuaded curious
they were easily enticed creduous, they were easily
deluded No blame is laid upon them, but only upon
the crafty preachers and prophets who deceived the
people, that they might attain their own ends
In order to hold their great mass of converts the
leaders continually exhorted them obey the prophet
VINO was Gods representative on earth. ITO obey
the church is to obey Cod" has always been their
creed But further than this, rewards both in heaven
and on earth are promised the faithful and obedent
ana to them are given the offices in the church and
nigh social positions. Time was when if these things
I'D not suffice to subdue unruly members a man who
llso6eyed the church secretly attacked and his
goods taken from him, or he was murdered and his
house given to another man. Now political and
ocial compulsion is brought to bear the cuIDrit is
asst out of the church, loses his office and his liveli
ood is scorned by his Mormon neighbors is an
utcast until ne repents and his disobedient spirit is
roken. thus no matter what the crimes of the lead
rs OF the church may be- the people are persuaded
. excuse, bribed to condone, or compelled to over
ook them Joseph Smith used this power over the
ommon people to protect him in his wrong doing.
nd then broke the laws of God and Man Brigham
Dung and his associates lied, STOLE murdered com
lltted unspeakable crimes, all in the name of God
nd the prophet, and protected by their fol-
werS.
For thirty years the authority of the United States
Utah was dehed, and the Mormon people openly
billed against all law and discipline On the thir-
enth day of September, 1857, by order of Brigham
Dung, party of DaniteS an organization of oath
und murderers, the avenging messengers of the
urch was sent out under pretense of nrotection To