Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-20

that.
H.
| have tried TO make Il clear TO this
committed, too, that this committee de-
rlving its power, OF course, from the
House, branch OF the legislative de-
partment Of the government, has had
no rl.ht TO invade the sphere Of the
judicial branch Of the government and
undertake the establishment Of the
guilt or innocence OF this member Of
the House as 10 the commission OF a
mIsdemeanor In the State Of Utah, and
that the only evidence that would be
admissible for the consideration Of this
committee would be such as Is estab-
lished by court record where q con-
weldon has been had after due process
Of law and where the one charged with
the offense had the protection OF the
forms that are afforded by due process
OF law
Tie demurrer on that head at the
time II was offered was set aside by the
committee, and the members from Utah
was investigated as 10 the Offense
charged. but ~ this committee shall
follow the rules OF evidence that OBJ
the oifense OF unlawful cohabltation
has not been proven against the mem
her from Utah beyond what Is estab-
lished by the court record Of 1889 in the
Territory OF Utah But H. contrary TO
my contention, the committee should
hold that the evidence before Il Is sufil-
Gent to establish the misdemeanor
charged, then | hold that the misde-
4
location for the office OF Congressman.
The contention that the Disqualified
lions for voting and holding office cr4-
ated by the Edmunds law and once
operative upon the member from Utah,
and that II now operates upon him. Is
untenahle, In my judgment, for the rea-
son that II was measure Intended TO
| operate strictly and alone In the Terri
trcies Of the United States and other
places over which the Congress has ex-
elusive jurisdiction; that II was not
! any part of the intention Of the law
making bower 20 make II operate as a
disqualification for a member Of Con-
| gress. However Il might operate upon
delegate from a Territory, creature
Of the Law Of the United States, is not
pertinent to the question.
II way not intended az the time OF
| its passage TO constitute new quail
fication for membership In the House
Of Representatives, and therefore ought
not 10 be considered with reference 20
the present member from the State OF
Utah. And then, again further call
attention TO the fact that the disabIl-
ties that once operated upon the men,
Der from Utah have been removed by
the effect Of amnesty, by the effect OF
the Enabling Act. and by the act Of
the State OF Utah when II declared
what the qualifications OF its electorate
should be. Any one OF those acts is
sufficient TO remove those disabilities,
and certainly all three OF them. oper,
atiug together, would place the ques-
ton beyond all possible doubt.
III.
Such are the circumstances surround
ing this case, such the circumstances
surrounding the settlement OF the
pOlygamy question In Utah, and such
the peculiar conditions that obtain ow-
ing 10 the beliefs OF that people, that
broad-minded craftsmanship and ev-
cry consideration OF good policy require
that the settlement Of this vexed ques-
ton OF polygamy in Utah shall remain
under the terms fixed By the Consti-
tuition OF the State OF Utah and the
acceptance OF the State by her admis-
sion 10 the Union. The State OF Utah
has been making great progress in the
natter OF coming into harmony with
her sister states. We have had our
difficulties and conflicts in the past. I
am not here to claim that my own peo-
ple-the Mormon" people--haye been
free from blame entirely and have not
offended against the canons. perhaps, OF
good taste and sound reason In their
contentious FOR what they regarded as
their religious rights.
| am not here TO ask that Ii be con-
sldered that they have been perfectly
blameless in the spirit In which they
have waged their warfare against what
they have regarded as an infringement
Of their religious rights; but l call at
tention 20 the fact that while at times
they may have been Oyerzealous in
these things, they and their religion
have been beset by class Of men, not
Of the first order Intellectually or OF
sound Judgment, IN a manner that was
| irritating and not Christian. I think,
gentlemen, that / ought to explain 10
you. in view OF at least some express
sions that ! may have used when re-
ferring TO the seotarlan priests IN Utah.
] have In my heart a profound respect
| for men who consecrate their lives to
the good OF their fellow-men. It mat
tiers little 10 me whether the person who
has so consecrated HIS life comes
clothed In the splendid robes OF a car
dlnal Of the Church Of Rome or ap-
pears IN the plain garb OF the Quaker.
or in the dress o. a Salvation Ar.Ay
captain, II his heart. Is true and his
conservation TO the work genuine.
sly that there Is no man who has a
| profoundor regard for such q character
than ! have But, on the one hand 10
the extent that honor such characters
as these, so on the other DO I desplse
those who make merchandise OF such
profession and who make vicious war
fare upon people who chance 10 differ