The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-05-09
Religion in Politics.

Catholic Northwest Progress, a paper published
in Seattle, make some useful comments. The quota
tons from this article are respectfully submitted for
consideration by those who have persistently
deavored to compare the altogether righteous struggle
against Mormonism with the A. P A. fight of years
ago against Catholicism. So clear and distinct do
these quotations show the line of demarcation be-
tween the fake religion of Mormonism and the re-
igion of Catholicism, that the ordinarily intelligent
person should see it clearly. It's opening paragraph
says:
In the minds of many if not most people, the idea
of mixing religion with politics involves an element
of incongruty, bordering the grotesque. So far
apart do they to represent the opposite poles
of the moral world
The Mormon church is essentially political emit
ty It's high priests, councillors, teachers advisers
bishops and all who constitute its ruling authority
make special endeavor to dictate politically and.
where they have the power to hold public office
With their powerful and perfect organization they
operate as solid mass when necessary, to the
end that the ruling spirits or most ardent deVotees
of this most peculiar cult may be the financial
benehciares of the public payroll onetenth OF which
is contributed dolatrousy to the church
What a sad commentary such an attribute would
be in relation to the Catholic church and its leading
priests and bishops
Again the article says:
The mere suggestion is enough to raise laugh
of derision or sneer of contempt among the
knowing ones, implying that conditions in politics
are such that nothing but harm to religion could
come from the attempt, while politics would remain
pretty much in the same state as before
What harm could possibly nure to the so-called re-
ligion of the Mormon church, whose leaders live
with plurality of wives indulge IN poygamouS
relations with ALL the result of which is the bringing
AZ The awful
poygamy upon them? What harm could come to
the Mormons by induging in politics when the lead
ers of that organization, when held up before the
courts of Justice to answer crime, pleaded guilty
Of reDeated persistent and dabocal violations OF the
laws of God and of the land. This admission was
made by the head oficer-the president OF the Nor
mon church-before the committee on privileges ana
elections of the United State senate, and within
a wear of the time he finished his testimony before
that committee he pleaded guilty oense against
the laws of his state-that of living in poygamy-
and paid fine of $500 for doing Immediately tol-
lowing this and often since, he has been sustained by
the upfted hand of the gathered hosts OF Zion III
their seannual conferences at Salt Lake City, the
head of this organization.
What scandal it would be on the Catholic re-
1igon of this age if such sentences could be Justly
pronounced against their pope.
Following along the article reads
Yet it is precisely for the want of religion as
vta1izng principle in the lives of men that politics
has everywhere taken the shady character 1t no
toriously wears at the present time
What political organization anywhere has ever been
accused and convicted before courts of justice or the
bar of public opinion, of such offenses as have fol-
lowed on the trail of the Mormon church IN these
Rocky Mountain states since its unfortunate coming
to these hills and valleys sixty years ago Even
IN the darkest periods in the history of Pennsylvania
notifies such deeds