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Show ELDER KING, POLITICIAN KING. It has not been noticeable to the public eyo nor to tho public ear that tho Hon. W. H. King, who is at times so free-spoken nnd emphatic in denunciation de-nunciation of church influence in politics, poli-tics, especially when tho church influence in-fluence rips the Democracy of Utah wido open, has been conspicuously blatant this year. In other years, however, how-ever, ho has been among the foremost in denouncing the church depletion of tho Democratic ranks, and has won tho distinction of being put in the Tabernacle Taber-nacle pulpit from time to time, there to tako back what he had said elsewhere else-where on the stump. Outside, and as a political matter, ho has denounced the church for going outside of its sphere and interfering in politics, to the detriment, damage, and confusion of tho Democratic party. In tho Tabernacle Taber-nacle pulpit, however, he gives in. his adherence to the proposition that thero is no such thing as getting outside out-side of the true functions and activities of the church; that the priesthood have a right to their voico eve'wherc and in every matter, and that this voice ought to 'be tho controlling voice wherever it is exercised or heard. So that the deliverances of Elder King in i the Tabernacle have been a complete extinguisher on the oloquenco of Politician Po-litician King elsewhere. But this 3'ear it appears that the church rulers aro taking timo bj- the forelock and have put Elder King, to the front in the Tabernacle, no doubt in the hope of heading off Politician King from assailing on the stump interference in-terference in church "politics. Accordingly, Accord-ingly, on Sutidny Elder King was put up In the Tabernacle pulpit. and required re-quired to give in his adherence to tho complete and comprehensive activities activi-ties of the gospel and their rightful function in controlling the affairs of mankind. It will not bo easy, accordingly, accord-ingly, for Politician King to go out on the stump and denounce church politics to any great extent this year. If he does his enemies will be at liberty to point tho finger of scorn at him and mako the charge that his political speaking Ib diametrically opposite to tho doctrines promulgated by Elder King in tho tabernacle. It is sad for a politician to havo such a dead weight attached to him as Elder King seems to have in his double functions func-tions of activity. As a politician he necessarily sees the trouble with his party, and where the defeat of it comes from. He knows that the church delivers de-livers the blow which strikes down his party into exasperating weakness and defeat. As elder ho is obliged to recognize recog-nize that this discipline of his party is from "tho Lord" coming through His priests ami authorized mouthpieces, mouth-pieces, nnd that it is the duty of himself him-self and of tho brethren affected to boar tho stroko with resignation, and to kisB tho hand that smites. No ono is more ready and willing to do 'this kissing than is Elder King, and no one has been so. loth to kiss as has Politician Poli-tician King. At tho same time no one has in 'the past been more prone 'to bring down tho smiting hand than has Politician King And so in his doublo activities ho runs tho gamut from high to low, and experiences all tho sensations sensa-tions that arc possiblo, from thoso of tho grief and rago of a defeated de-feated and e'xasporatod politician to tho heights of sublime and saintly ,ioys as an elder. As a politician he curses, as an elder ho kisses, tho hand that smites. And all this felt and roalizcd in his own porson, and even within a brief period of timo ronlizcd, embraced, and felt all within himself, and "not for another." And so thoso who pity and commisorato with Politician Poli-tician King should temper thoir sorrows with tho kuowlodgo of tho holy joy which ho experiences as an elder among the saints of tho lattor-dnys, when ho sees tho cloud of affliction sottlo down upon himself and his associates of tho Democratic part3-. |
