Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-18

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 a 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 it
you might we'll accuse me of attempting
to oppose the accession of President
Woodruff, but my name was not there.
If there was a contest between human
smartness and simplicity of character
for the presidency, 1 assure you my
preferences were for the latter. Sim
plicity of character is an ornament to
any position, although it 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, considerate and conscientious with
my brethren. confess that have had
my personal views on almost every ques-
tson that came up. l had thought that
1 was entitled to them Had | entertain
ed the slightest doubt of my right in the
quorum to my openions l would never
have given the six brethren to whom you
refer, the opportunity to vote me an
apostleship. AS it was, protested part
of three days before giving my consent
to President Taylor. But if l ever resen-
ted the non acceptance of my views on
anv question where had been accorded
the right to present them. do not
recall it.
And now I 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. I regard this as the main differ
ence between us because of the space
YOU give it in your letter, and because
President George @ Cannon said plain
" to Elder B. H. Roberts that 1t was not
right to circulate other charges about
me. as nv name would not have been
dropped had l signed the manifesto, and
because a leading apostle declared that
within three days from my refusal to
sign 1 would have been brought to trial,
had nv health permitted; also because
was never publicly or privately ac-
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
You say "there was nothing new in
that document, as it relates to church
disciplined" that, ait contains that which
mas always been an established doctrine
If the church," and that casually men
10 not require much time to consider
natter which they have always held to
,e right"
Had my views relating to this subject
with your statements, there
would have been no hesitancy on my
art in promptly signing that instru-
nent, or to accept this rule of discipline.
lad I understood that it was simply an
Id and established doctrine of the
hurch l would have given no attention 2
D the previously published declarations 9
f the presiding quorum of the church {
the absolute political liberty r
nd individual responsibility of the citi- L
en- of Utah And I believe that perfect
.eedom of political action, uurestrained O
Y fear of ecclesiastical punishment, is h
'sential under our republican form of O
overnment This principle is so we'll II
established in the Declaration of indie O
sndence in the national constitution a
Id in the constitution of our state, that a
needs no argument to sustain it. r.
ould I have accepted as a fact your v
atement would have saved myself n
e distress that has followed my course
garding the manifesto of October, c;
90, which was generally considered b,
ID is still regarded as the first public re
d effective movement towards secur b,
g statehood in Utah. OF
But my vote was sincere, and so it was &C
year later, when the authorities and De
ints of the church, in conference as m
nbled, pledged themselves as individ- or
Is and as people to this government an
1t the members of their church should W,
untrammeled in all civil concerns. tu