The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-04-04


ernor of the State can be called to act with the
judges of that tribunal, rather curious provision
of law
1t is clear enough under this decision, that per-
sons challenged at the polling places must take the
oath prescribed by the constitution, duty that Dem
ocratc chaengers tried to enforce at the last State
election when they maltreated, assaulted, ar
rested, placed in Jail, by order of the chairman of
the State committee, backed by the Governor of
the State.
These men will perhaps invite anarchy again by
repeating lawess assaults upon the constitutional
rights of the people at the next election, for, with
the support of the Supreme Court the opportunity
will certainly be given them by those engaged in
the battle against polygamy.
The Mormon press bureau, in of its un-
American appeals to the people, uttered within the
past few weeks said:
AS the Mormon issue is in the courts, and
as plank in a political platform cannot settle 1t,
let leave it to the courts to decide.
The courts have now decided, sooner, probably,
than the press bureau supposed it would be decided
when the bureau argued that the prospect of the
decision should admonish all Democrats to wait
upon its action According to the logic of the
tories, there is now no reason why the Democratic
party of Idaho should not repeat its platform dec
larations of 1904 and 1906 when it said:
We demand the determination of polygamy and
unlawful cohabitaon within the State OF Idaho and
the complete separation of church and state in po-
litical affairs.
Why it should not endorse the declaration of the
last National Democratic convention, which de-
cared
We demand the determination of polygamy in the
jurisdiction of the United States and the separation
of church and state in political affairs.
The imaginary obstacle has been swept aside and
the way is clear. Even the objectors can now have
no ground upon which to base opposition. The
party should harmonously sustain itself in its posi-
ton of four years duration in the State and IN
the Nation and refuse to recant.
1t can be safely asserted that the National Demo
cratic convention will place in its Denver platform
strong anti-polygamy plank for Mr. Bryan IS
committed to the determination of poygamy and
is no such time serving sycophant as he has been
portrayed by the Jack Mormon lbeers of Ada Coun-
ty, who have sown falsehood from one end of the
State to another. He would rather be defeated than
surrender principle and those who advocate the
surrender of principle in his inviting the
Just rebuke that will be visited upon them.
The opinion of the Supreme Court deals extern
sive1y with the words celestial" and patr1archaf
as applied to the plural marriage SYSTEM terms used
in Mormon parlance to DeW1lder the pubic III us
analysis of the crime of polygamy. The court can
be thanked for clearing away all the extraneouS
allegations surrounding these expressions and giving
society and the officers of justice plain and simple
directions in the premises. The court says:
Now celestial and patriarchal marriages to be par
tcipated in in the next world, or in future lite,
cannot be crimes here and in this life under civil
and nan-rnade government but whenever they are
practced in this present life to the extent of more
than one wife at a time, they become bigamous or
polygamous and prohibited by the organic law