The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-05-09
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

ly sacrilegious Note the following lines in face
of these declarations and how inimical they are
to the recorded pages of the history of Mormonism:
Religion means, or should mean, nothing
or less than righteousness, the squarng of ones
duct by the decalogue and is Just the lack of this
necessary spiritual element in the present-day poll
tician that makes him a dishonest schemer, a brlbe-
taker bribe-giv and an all-round CRATER or
crook in political office.
1t is for the want of healthy infusion of religion
into the politics of the country that corruption has
become widespread to be menace to the ma
ton, and it only by return to its teachings that
a genuine reform, worthy of the name can be &C
complished The crying need of the times is for
awakened conscience in public affairs, and nothing
will contribute to this so quickly and so surely
a recognition of God and His Interchangeable laws,
not less in politics than in private life.
What 'heathy infusion of religion in politics" can
be looked for through the Mormon religion? What
has the experience of the past been with these peope
What hope for the future can be expected through
the channels of experience through which hundreds
and thousands of men have walked with this
American clan; the judgment Of all of whom is, as
the oaths of this organization evidence that its
members owe their highest allegiance to the church,
That they care for the state only reflective OF the
sentiment of the leaders, teachers councillors, proph
ets seers and revelators of outlaw organization.
What hope is there where the Mormon church is in
politics as it is in Utah. wyoming and Idaho for
"a return to its teachings that genuine reform
worthy the name can be accomplished"
The religion of all other churches stands as
guarantee of better things in politics everywhere
except in those places where the Mormon church
is in politics. Until their power is checked and
their leadership cast aside political force in the
politics of these western States there is not nor can
there be any awakening of conscience in public
affairs in accord with the spirit of our fathers
The Catholic Northwest Progress from which the
foregoing quotations are made reads as follows:
TO the minds of many, if not most people, the idea
of mixing religion with politics involves an element
of incongruity, bordering the grotesque 30
far apart do they to represent the opposite
poles of the moral world. The mere suggestion IS
enough to raise laugh OF der1s1on or Sneer Oh
contempt among the knowing" ones, implying that
conditions in politics such that nothing but harm
to religion could from the attempt, while politics
would remain in pretty much the same state as pc
fore Yet it is precisely for the want OF rehg1on
as vtalizng principle in the lives of men that poll
tics has everywhere taken the shady character 1t
VIGOROUSLY at the present time
RELIGION means, or should mean, nothing more or
less than righteousness the Squarng OF one conduct
bv the decalogue and is just the lack OF this neces
sary spiritual element in the present-day politician
that makes him a dishonest schemer, bribe-taker
and bribe-giver and an all-round CRATER or crook
in political Office
It is for the want of a healthy infusion of religion
into the politics of the country that corruption has
become so widespread as to be menace to the ma
ton and it only by return to its teachings that
genuine REFORM worthy of the name, can be &C
complished The crying need of the times is for an
awakened conscience in public affairs, and nothing
will contribute to this so quickly and SO surely as
recognition of God and His Interchangeable laws, not
less in politics than in private life