Confidence, Congress and the Church

CONFIDENCE, CONGRESS AND THE CHURCH. BY WILLIAM HALLS. There is no word in the English language that represents a more important principle than the term confidence. It is the foundation on which the stability of the home, the state, the nation, and all the institutions necessary for the world's progress depend. If there is love in the home, it depends on the confidence the members of the family have in each other. However much the husband loves his wife, if he sees anything in her conduct to cause doubt in her virtue, his love begins to fail; if a wife sees any- thing in her husband to arouse suspicion of his fidelity, and ob- servations confirm that suspicion, jealousy will supplant love, poison her soul, and destroy her happiness; and the deeper her love has been, the more intense her hatred will be. "The bitter- est hate that heaven knows is love to hatred turned," The stability of the state or nation depends, to a great ex- tent, on the confidence the people have in the different depart- ments of the government. The efficiency of an institution of learning depends on the confidence of the pupils in the faculty. So in all the activities of life, confidence insures success; the want of it, failure. History is full of the evil effects of the lack of confidence. One of the most serious examples of want of confidence, ever heard of, and the most alarming in its aspect, is the condition of Congress, making necessary what is called a "People's Lobby." It is well known that the great corporations that control most of the business of the country have their agents in Washington when Congress is in session, who watch the progress of legislation,

CONFIDENCE, CONGRESS AND THE CHURCH. 249 and when a bill is Introduced that would interfere with the inter- ests, or lessen the profits, of these corporations, these agents manage to defeat it or get it. changed so as to make it of none effect. This agency which is called a "Lobby" is a wonderful power, it is like the "flaming sword" that guarded "the tree of life;" it cuts ev'>ry way. It reaches every man, woman and child in the country. It enablea.these corporations to continue to make every consumer to pay more for everything he buys than it is worth, and every producer take less for everything he sells than it is worth. By this means, a stream of wealth, fed by a little rivu- let from every hamlet, village, town and city in the land, forms a mighty river flowing night and day out of the pockets of the people into the coffers of these corporations. The motive in forming a "People's L'ibby" is to change this condition. This lobby is unique; ib is strictly an American pro- duct. History gives no account of such a thing in any other government, either ecclesiastical or civil. Its purpose may be un- derstood by a few quotations from Success: "The Pe.jple's Lobby will consist of a permanent bureau at Washington, with complete facilities for watching all committee and legislative work, for keeping faithful records of the public care?r of every senator and representative." "The weapon of the People's Lobby will be pub- licity." "The People's Lobby will merely see in a methodical man- ner that Congress hides no secrets, no secret alliances." "All legislation will be subjected to expert scrutiny. " "Carried on permanently it will cost a good deal of money." "We want an endowment fund of half a million dollars." This is a bad condition, this breach of trust, and abuse of confidence in our public servants. They are elected by their ^neighbors and fellow-citizens, at great expense, supposed to be the best men they can choose. They are paid to serve the people nearly twenty times as much for their time as a common laborer gets, and then the people must keep a permanent bureau at Wash- ington, at an enormous additional expense, to watch them, like a pack of thieves, to keep them from selling their friends for money to the highest bidder. And then what assurance have the people that their lobbyist will not betray them, as does the senator? He is chosen from the same people, cut from the same roll of cloth,

250 IMPROVEMENl ERA. why should he be better? A fountain cannot rise above its source; a government is no better than the people who form it. In every political campaign, just before election, each of the great parties spends a great deal of time and money to tell the people of the good qualities of their candidates; their intelli- gence, honesty, virtue, and loyalty, and how much good they will do if elected; and also how much evil the other peoples' candidates will do if elected. The respective candidates will also make great promises of what they will do. And whichever is elected, it mat- ters not which, they will go to Washington, after being sworn and making a solemn covenant to do their duty, and do just as their opponents said they would do. Instead of fulfilling their own and their friends' promises, they fulfill the predictions of their ene- mies. This is a serious charge, but the condition making a "Peo- ple's Lobby" necessary pi oves it is true, though, in fairness we will sa3% there are many exceptions to this rule. And we hope, and not without reason, for better things; there is yet the strength of the iron, though it is mixed with a good deal of clay. A great deal is said about church and state, the state seems very jealous bst it should be dominated by the least influence of the church; if there is any connection between church and state, the state seems very anxious for a divorce. If the church is any worse than the state, if religion is any more corrupt than politics, then there is very little hope for the church. As the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seems to be the greatest object of fear, whose influence is most dreaded, and from which the state is the most dntermined to be divorced, we will compare the condition of said Church with that of the state, especially as re- gards the principle of confidence. How is it that the thousands of Saints in their general con- ference, twice a year, vote unanimously to sustain the Presidency, and all the general authorities, with the trustee-in-trust? How is it that the Saints in the stakes of Zion, at their quarterly confer- ences, vote unanimously to sustain the president of the stake with all the stake officers? It is because the members have confi- dence in their officers, and they have confidence because they have never been betrayed. When the elders are brought before the courts, and called to account for their family relations, they al-

CONFIDENCE, CONGRESS AND THE CHURCH. 251 ways acknowledge their wives and children, choosing; to suffer fines and even imprisonment, rather than deny the truth. They believe the sayinp of the Prophet Joseph Smith that, "It is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive." In this they may be called fanatics by some; but they cannot con- sistently be called h}T)ocrite3. Ho\i is it that there is so much difference in the condition of the Church and the state, in this respect? How is it the members of the Church have so much confidence in their officials and the citizens of the state so little in theirs? It is in consequence of the influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on their lives. They believe in Jesus Christ and, through repentance and baptism, have received a remission of their sins, and, by the laying on of hands, the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of truth. They are taught to be honest, virtuous, and temperate in all things. The most urgent counsel of the leaders of the Church, especially in recent years, has been to live within their means, get out of debt and keep their credit good. By the application of these precepts, in all the af- fairs of life, the Saints are growing in grace, union and Christian fellowship. The Gospel of Jesus Christ obliterates castes, and levels dis- tinctions. ' 'He that is greatest among you, shall be your ser- vant." There is no more humble man in the Church than the President; none labors harder, nor is more frugal. The Saints prosper not by humbling the rich, but by exalting the poor. The Church will grow in power and influence for good, and as time rolls on, confidence will increase among its members; and the confidence of non-members, who have business relations with them, will increase. The time will come when many rich men will come to Zion, with their gold and silver to deposit for safety; because of the confidence they have in the integrity of her people, and. the stability of her institutions. For the Lord will establish Zion, and the people will trust in her. Mancos, Colo.