The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-15
Origin of the Conflict.


Mormon issue They do not understand the ques
ton, because of their short residence in the state
and also because they have not in contact with
the Mormons except occasionally.
The Democrats who have lived among them for
six months understand fully and it is almost inn
possible to find such who would consent for a
moment to abandon the contest.
The Democratic party of Idaho is insisting that
every citizen Mormon well Gentle, shall live
up to the requirements of the Constitution of the
State
This contest was not sought by the Democratic
party 1t was deliberately forced upon the party by
the Mormons. 1t is not fight anybody's religion.
Neither the Democratic party self-respecting and
law-abiding citizens could avoid the contest, and it
is we'll that it while the loyal citizenship has
the power to protect itself The fight was carefully
planned, premeditated and brazenly, openly COM
nenced by the Mormon Hierarchy.
They demanded that the Constitution of our State
be changed in Constitutional Convention by
the elimination of the "test oath" They made their
political trade with the Republican leaders and de-
pended them carry out the details, they turn
ing the Mormon voters to the Republican party
There was absolutely no justification the Nor
forcing this ISSUE provided they do not prac-
tice and encourage polygamy, exercise political dom
ination in politics. place the ecclesiastical above
the civil law, offenses expressly inhibited by Con-
stitution
There had been peace and good will between the
Gentiles and Mormons in Idaho from the date of the
Manifesto in 1890, down to and including the
election of 1900. There Mormon question.
Those American citizens who had come to our new
during those ten years did not know there was
"test OATH in the constitution.
During the era of good feeling in the session of the
Legislature of 18945 the statutes making it effective
repealed, unanimously and by direction of the
state conventions of all parties.
The Gentiles accepted the pledges of the Mormons
so solemnly made in the Manifesto" in the pleas
for amnesty signed by all the authorities of the
church, and the more especially because the Mormon
people themselves in semi-annual conference at Salt
Lake, twice ratified accepted and made binding on
themselves the Manifesto" proclaimed by Presi-
dent MILFORD Woodruff President Woodruff testi-
fed that the Manifesto" came to him "as a revela-
ton from God" Believing in the sincerity of the
Mormons, the Genties quickly struck from the
statutes of the states all the laws enacted to
troll them during the fierce struggle which ended
in the complete surrender of the Mormons.
The Gentiles were united in the determination that
there should be no union of church and state and
polygamous living under the sanction of religion in
Idaho. The Mormons accepted this determination
and approved of it in the most solemn and binding
manner in the eyes of the entire world.
Both. sides to the controversy rejoiced that
he end had come. The subject was dropped There
was Mormon question Had the Mormons kept
aith there never would have been a revival of it.
This. could not be however, for the authorities at
Salt Lake, the Hierarchy determined after statehood
vas given Utah by deceived Congress- to renew
heir old practices of polyganiy and political dom
nation
We will briefly recall the carses for the oreeen+