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Show KIMBALL'S POLITICAL POINTER. Mr. Kimball dorlarcd that Senator Sutherland hna always been friendly to l ho Mormon church and that it. Ih the duty of every pood saint to rally to Ida support and assist In returning him lo tho position lu now occupies. Krom ro-port ro-port of addrcs-H by Elder ,1. Ooldnu Kimball Kim-ball tn students nf Wobcr Stake academy, acad-emy, April 22, 1009. Jonathan seldom speaks but he lots somosort of ecclesiastical cat out of the bag. .However, it may bc that this entertaining first president of seven-tics seven-tics was merely expressing his personal preference, and was not speaking for the hierarchy of which he is 'a humble member. But in either case he has at once enlightened the public or placed himself in a fair way to bc called upon the prophetic carpet. In tho first place, if Elder J. Golden has launched his ponderous bulk into the political fray in defense of Jack-Apostle-Scnator Sutherland, without having first procured tho consent of I ho first presidency, he has committed a breach of his solemn covenant entered into when he accepted what, is known as the political manifesto of the church. If, however, ho has observed his agreement agree-ment thus made, and has first consulted 'with his superior ecclesiastical officers in the matter, then his outburst places the high ecclcsiasts of the Mormon church in the position of having again broken their compact lo refrain from interfering with the politics of this State, and to permit the people to make their own choices unrestricted and uninfluenced un-influenced by their religious leaders. In either event, J. Golden has acted and spoken as only .V. Golden could bo ex-peeled ex-peeled to act and speak. It is a difficult matter for the Mormon Mor-mon high priests to keep their hands off the affairs of the public that do not belong in their sphere of activity. For half a century in this commonwealth it had been the custom of these men to diroct all affairs, spiritual and temporal, in minutest detail even, as Brigham Young once said, to turning the hqcl of a stocking. Everything was done "by counsel," and nothing whatever was done in opposition to that ecclesiastical eccle-siastical advice, provided opportunity for success was desired. Here is an example of the complete control exercised, exer-cised, as given by President Young in tho tabernacle on February 2-1, IS56, (see Journal of Discourses, volume 4, page 2'AG) while speaking concerning a certain "Brother Joseph Hovey:" lie is a blacksmith, enrpenter. stone cutter, wood chopper;' or anything else within his power, the particular channel of his operations depending' entirely upon counsel. ' ' 11 was a bad habit the brethren got into in this respect, and one from the effects of which it is difficult for them to recover. Not only was the disposition disposi-tion to boss in all thing's bred into the bone of Hie presiding authorities, but the process cultivated in the body of the saints the most humble recognition of their expected duty to obey without question. The effects of these conditions condi-tions have not all disappeared,' Iry any means, but they are becoming weaker as the spirit of free Americanism spreads itself among the people. But, it would bc interesting to know how .Senn tor Sutherland stands with reference to this political activity iu his behalf on the part of Elder Kimball. Of course, it will all depend upon- how much value Mr. Sutherland attaches to this advocacy. If there is anything of political advantage in it to him, ho will accept it with every mark of pri-vntc pri-vntc appreciation, because George hns not heretofore been in the habit of throwing a ood thing of that nature over his shoulder. But it is patent that if Mr. Sutherland- oxpects to ho returned re-turned to the Senate for another term ho will look, to the same influence that placed him there in tho first plncc, and which he courted and gladly accepted. Still, wo can not be suro that tho church is for George, even I hough, as Elder Kimball says. George is for the church we must await higher confirmation. And that, most, likely, will Inrgely depend de-pend upon whether or not Apostle Hy-rum Hy-rum Smith is disposed to blnb on the subject. |