| Show THE VITAL QUESTION AT ISSUE THE bill for the admission of idaho as a state in the union has passed the house houe of representatives by a strict party vote the democrats however with one exception refrained from voting this may have been done for a purpose which will be developed later the result so far was anticipated when the intention of the republican party was made manifest there is one characteristic of that party which is entitled to some respect that is when a policy is defined it is lived up to and worked for with unwavering perseverance and fidelity the party does not back down or recede it may change front when necessity seems to require but that change is effected as a body and by common consent and without fear as to consequences the hief chief obstacle in the way of the admission of idaho was the cormor Mor mor question it is true that idaho has not them necessary population under the rule namely the n umber number to entitle a district to one representative in congress this would be in round numbers about a hundred and fifty thousand the most sanguine supporters support els of the measure only claimed a hundred and twenty thousand thol sand and that this was i great exaggeration everybody familiar famil with idamai affairs ra is aware aare little attention was paid to the ordinary qualifications necessary necea ary for the admission of a state the I mor imor mon question was the overshadowing issue from the debates in congress it is very blear clear that the root of this matter was not reached except by a few speakers on the democratic side the subject was treated as though polygamy and polygamists were the point of assault in the peculiar constitution submitted by the territory of it diaho aho the point was continually projected and the object in doing so was waa accomplished the average member imagined that in recording liis vote in favor of the measure he was aidt aiming ng a blow against polygamy awl ami doing something for the political discomfiture of polygamists ista this gross error ought to he be ex plodded it should be understood that the effect of the anti imor mormon clauses of the idaho tion will not disfranchise or debar from holding office any practical mormon polygamist all such persons have been effectually de barred from voting or holding office that was effected eight years ago by the so called calw cala edmunds act the aim and intent of these clauses claubes are simply but fully to legislate against a certain religious belief and the free exercise of that religion and by this we do not mean the exercise of religion in violation of law but the exer exercise cipe of religion agai against not w which h leb there here t is no law ro fo illustrate the elders of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints preach to the world that as necessary to salvation men and women must believe in god tt e eternal father and in the lord jesus christ repent of their sine be baptized for the remission of sins and receive the holy ghost by the laying on of hands of men authorized of god ir if oiny man in idaho should believe this and receive these ordinances ord I 1 nancee of baptism and confirmation con fl rma he kouki thus be made a mem her berof of the tM mormon thormon ormon church in doing this he be would violate no law he be would not mot do anything immoral or against the peace and good order of society yet vet under the idaho constitution he ha would for this belief and the exercise thereof be debarred barred de from the elective franchise c h ise from b holding old I 1 ng any pu public bl I 1 c office ce a ad from avi serving hg as a juror j u take another case the children of mormon parentage are as an a rule ru le baptized when eight years old and thus initiated into the church when they arrive at manhood if they should happen to live in idaho because of this membership they would le be shorn of all political rights and privileges partaking of the sacrament or contributing to the good of the poor in that church would be sufficient to shut them out from the polls observe this has nothing to do with polygamy these members may not even believe I 1 in a the rightfulness of polygamy in being baptized into the church the repentant believer is not required to subscribe to any polygamous agreement or tenet it is the belief in and the practice of the plainest gospel principles pies enunciated in the christian new testament against which the anti mormon clauses of the idaho constitution are framed and therefore in voting for it the house of representatives of the united states stales have given vitality to a law respecting an establishment of religion and prohibiting hi the free exercise thereof and this is in expressly and in terms for forbidden hidden in the constitution of the united states the rull 13 f the supreme court of f the united unite d states nates in a recent case will be cited as an a reason for the so ac tiou of the republican representatives in congress A perusal of that decision will show that the court did not touch or ii allude to the vital question involved in this important matter it switched off on to the polygamy line and devoted its attention to that leaving the main issue unexamined and the main jine line this grove grave question is yet to be met facelo face to face without dodging or evasion can an american citizen be debarred barred de from the political rights and privileges common to all who do not violate the law simply for belief in and the practice of religious principles against ahiah h there abere is no statute local or national and which involve no evil to the person or the community this is the real issue in the I 1 jaho question this should be understood by the press and by the country the polygamy P bugaboo is but a ruse on the part of those thom who are attacking the very foundations of religious liberty in america all lov ers erg of true freedom should look well to this for it will wal if left unchecked prove the beginning of the end of that guaranty which has been one the brightest gema in the crown of principles that adorn the aution of our country and one of the strongest safeguards embodied in that palladium of human rights |
