Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-15

clearer by the choice of his corellgion-
is,s.
The Deseret News has nothing to do
with his political status or the choice
to be made by the Legislative Assem-
bly, Mt its session next winter. II Is not
party organ. II has no advice to
give or suggestion TO make as to the
individual TO be chosen for the high
position OF United States Senator But
It does protest against the scare when
some interested persons are endeaV-
oring to hold w, to frlghteh
free men from choosing one
holding the Mormon" Priesthood
to represent this State in the halls OF
Congress,
The bugaboo is inconsistent to say
the least Hon. Joseph Howell has been
elected by the people as their Repre-
sentative in the Lower House OF Con
grass lie bears the Priesthood also
he Is an Elder in the Church That Is
one OF the Offices in the same Priest
hood as that held by Mr.. smoot Cast
out a man from serving his country be-
cause he Is an Apostle, and the next
step will be to reject him VI he Is an
Elder. The logical outcome OF the
whole business would be the position
taken by the Scranton Republican, to
declare that Mormon must not be
admitted to a seat In Congress. Begin
the opposition on the grounds men
tlone, and where will II end?
The Scranton paper talks about
Apostle smoot preparing to break in
TO the United States Senate" The gen
tleman Is not preparing to do anything
OF the kind II he should be fortunate
enough to reach the point OF his amDi-
ton to serve his state and the nation
in that body, he will enter II with as
much dignity and as many rights as the
esteemed senators from Pennsylvania
We would like to ask the Republican
whether Senator Quay. In his great
fight for the place, had to break into
the United States Senator"
That paper tries to draw some par
allel between the case OF Mr.. Smoot
and that OF Mr.. Roberts, but
has to confess that 1t does
not know what Mr.. Shoots
status Is In that respect That Is the
trouble with great many editors who
undertake to comment on this subject
Would It not be better to find out some
thing about Il before rushing into print
and exposing their ignorance? The life
Of Reed smoot Is open to the public
and. so far, his detractors have not
been able to find upon il single bem-
lsh. ii Is true, no doubt, as intlmated
by the Scranton Republican, that Salt
Lake ministers have been planning to
obstruct his way. II they could have
discovered anything really objection
able in his course. II may be depended
upon that IL would have been before
this dragged into light and held up TO
the public gaze.
The Deseret News puts forward no
candidate for any public Office II has
no AK to grind on that stone. All that
il has In view In this controversy is 10
break down the prejudice which some
people are trying 10 arouse in the pub
lie mind, at home and abroad, against
the active participation In the affairs
OF the country by any man who figures
in the Mormon" Church.
Against that we solemnly protest A
Mormon Apostle, High Priest, Elder,
Or lay member has equal rights before
the law with any politician, lawyer,
doctor, banker, merohant. or laborer in
the land When call,a TO work active
y for this Church. he forfeits none OF
his privileges as an American citizen,
and loses none Of his qualifications as
a man of busintss or as a statesman.
This Church Is not engaged in poll
tics as an ecclesiastical body but every
one of its members. from the greatest
to the least, Is entitled to the exercise
Of his rights and privileges under the
laws and Constitution Of this state and
Of the United States, and for these lib
critics the Deserei News stands in the
position 1t has always occupied from
the day Of ito publication. do what is
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