Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-12-18

situation OF affairs or cope with the
difficulties arising. He was overruled
but persisted in his views"
To my mind there never was any
question about the "proper successor" to
President Taylor. l did not regard II
as debatable matter, for l always held
President Woodruff as the logical sue.
cessor to President Taylor. main
tanned this at the time ard have since
testified to its propriety on many occa.
sions. | have, always held that, with
the death of president dies the author
lily of his counselors, and the supreme
authority of the church is then vested in
the quorum of apostles. Upon the death
of President Taylor Milford Woodruff,
as the head of the leading quorum of the
church. was therefore the leading Off
Ger in the church. In my view no one
had right to assume his authority or
issue addresses to the Latter day Saints
ignoring him Yet an address was Is
sued which did not deaign to mention
President Woodruff or any of the apos-
ties. Had my name been signed to II
you might well accuse me OF attempting
to oppose the accession of President
Woodruff, but my name was not there.
If there was contest between human
smartness and simplicity of character
for the presidency, assure'7you my
preferences were for the latter. Sim
plicity of chara 'nament to
any position, although 1t Is often sub.
servient to "human smartness."
You make this general charge against
my temper or disposition:
@His bearing with his brethren was
such that ne could not brook dissent
and resented non-acceptance of his
personal views"
/ have always tried to be honest, care
full, considerable and conscientious with
my brethren. / confess that have had
my personal views on almost every ques-
tson that came up. | had thought that:
| was entitled to them. Had l entertain
ed the slightest doubt of my right in the
quorum to my openions would never
have given the six brethren to whom you
REFER, the opportunity to vote me an
apostleship. AS 1t was, l protested part
of three days before giving my consent
to President Taylor. But if ever resen-
ted the non acceptance of my views on
any question where had been accorded
the right to present them. ! do not
recall 1t.
And now l come to what appears to
be the chief reason for my suspension
and subsequent disposal, viz, the politi-
cal manifesto read IN the April confer
ence. l regard this as the main differ
ence between us because of the space
you give 1t in your letter, and because
President George @ Cannon said plain
ly to Elder B. H. Roberts that 1t was not
right to circulate other charges about
me, as my name would not have been
dropped had signed the manifesto, and
because leading apostle declared that
within three days from my refusal to
sign would have been brought to trial,
had my health permitted; also because
l was never publicly or privately &C
cused of the other offenses you charge
until after its presentation for my sig
nature, and last, because at the Logan
high council meeting President Joseph
F, Smith gave that as the reason for my
suspension.
You say "there was nothing new in
that document, as 1t relates to church
discipline;' that, ait contains that which
has always been an established doctrine
of the church," and that casually men
do not require much time to consider
matter which they have always held to
be rigF t."
Had my views relating to this subject
harmonized with your statements, there
would have been no hesitancy on my
part In promptly signing that instru-
ment, or to accept this rule of discipline.
Had understood that it was simply an
old and established doctrine of the
church would have given no attention
to the previously published declarations
of the presiding quorum of the church
respecting the absolute political liberty
and individual responsibility of the citi-
zen of Utah. And | believe that perfect
freedom of political action. uurestrained
by fear of ecclesiastical punishment, is
essential under our republican form of
government. This principle is SO well
established In the Declaration of indie
pendence in the national constitution
and in the constitution of our state, that
it needs no argument to sestain 1t.
Could have accepted as fact your
statement l would have saved myself
the distress that has followed my course
regarding the manifesto of October,
1890, which was generally considered
and is still regarded as the first public
and effective movement towards secur-
ing statehood in Utah.
But my vote was sincere, and so 1t was
a year later when the authorities and
Slints of the church, in conference as
sembled, pledged themselves as individ-
uals and as people to this government
that the members of their church should
be untrammeled In all civil concerns.
When 1t was declared that there was no