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

prominence, resident of the northern section of
Idaho, suggests a compromise for the Democratic
platform builders of the State the Mormon ques
ton He would omit all reference to polygamy and
concentrate Democratic protest upon the "undesr-
ability of hierarchical domination in politics.
He would condone polygamy and assa the in
fluence of the Mormon establishment in politics and
government This writer thinks it waste of eff
fort to continue "whooping it up against a few old
men who allied themselves with too many wives
generation or so back" Like many of those that
dwell in the northern portion of the State, outside
the sphere of influence of the church, this pacifica-
tor reasons from erroneous premises
The decaying polygamists of ante-manifesto days,
standing apart in their sin from an accepted con-
dition of monogamy for the present and future,
would constitute serious menace to society and
government for they belong to disappearing class
and might be tolerated during the few remaining
years of their lives
1t is chiefly against the encouragement and con-
slant growth of po1ygamy-new polygamy-that the
forces of reform within the Democratic party OF
Idaho are concentrating their efforts The old po-
lygamists are the teachers of niquitous doctrine
and the new poygamists are their pupils
While the man in the north, far from the scene
of contention may have assured himself that the
vice is passing along with departing generation,
he is mistaken in his conclusions and therefore in
his argument. Polygamy is countenanced and en-
couraged by the Mormon church, children are taught
that it was commanded by divine revelation and that
heaven holds its best gifts in reserve for those who
Give their religion" and replensh the earth from the
harems of many wives
Instead of decreasing, po1ygamy is increasing I'm
der the cover of a secrecy that cannot be broken,
because its votares protect their practices against
all The
of Justice This they are able to do through po-
1tical conspracies and alliances that give them
majority of the votes in those sections in which
po1ygamy thrives
The man in the north would protest against the
activity of the hierarchy in politics, against the ALI
ance between the church and the Republican party,
and in accomplishing this much would believe that
he had served his conscience and his country accept
ably.
He would be willing to perpetuate the crime that
makes it necessary for the hierarchy to combine
with politicians and dictate the terms of government
for Mormon or Gentle. He would smile upon the
cause and frown upon the effect. He would en-
courage Mormondom in its violation of the laws OF
the State but would insist that it shall not protect
itself against the consequences of its offending when
opportunity for protection is at hand
The man in the north does not understand that
but for the living issue of polygamy, there need De
no alliance between the hierarchy and a political
party If there was no polygamy, there would be
no demand for the churchly safeguard of political
supremacy and Mormon reigionists would take their
places along with other relgoniss attend to their
spiritual duties and leave temporal affairs to those
organizations of citizenship that have been Gre
ated for the direction of governing processes.
Solely because the hierarchy must protect its peo-
pie from the operation of the laws of the State If
is found in collision with political parties Destroy