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

We publish today on another page an
! editorial from the Scranton, Pa, Re-
Il publican, which is a sample OF num-
Der of newspaper illusions concerning
the candidacy of Hon Reed Smoot for
the position Of u. S. Senator from the
= State of Utah. We also give place to
the statement Of that gentleman re-
s-ayowng his intention to stand for cleo
ton TO that important office.
6 There have been many foolish re-
. marks on this matter INDUCED IN by
sectarlan preachers and a number OF
editors. 1t would appear from their OBJ
jections that they are not acquainted
with political affairs in Utah, or In Con-
gress because they seem 10 think that
the election of Mormon" Church dig
nitary to the National Legislature
D would be "A new thing under the sun
] They ought to know that almost every
: delegate in Congress from the Territory
Of Utah for more than forty years, was
4 an Elder in the Church OF Jesus Christ
! vof Latter-day Saints.
(; Hon. Geo. @. Cannon served for sew
eral terms while he was one of the
Twelve Apostles. His seat was finally
fdenied to him, not on the ground that
he was Mormon" Apostle, but be-
3 cause Of the retro-application OF the
!, tEdmunds Law In relation TO polygamy.
/ Hon. b. II. Roberts was not objected TO
vbecause he was q high eccesiast In the
o"Mormon" Church, but for the reason
sstated by the Scranton Republican
Z Hon. John r. Game had held high
4 tpositlons In the Church before his
| selecton to Congress; he was never OBJ
2 Elected to at ALL SO with Hon. w. H.
tKing, and others who have represented
= utah In Congress as a sovereign state
\ The notion which has been held out
{ by number OF newspapers that MI.
\ lSmoot ought not to occupy the position
y OF United States Senator while holding
the Office OF an Apostle in the Mormon
Y sChurch, is simply groundess senu-
4 tment. Il does not form a legal or other
, disability. 1t is not disqualification
z junder the law, or the rules OF either
! House OF the National Legislature, lie
8 Us no more Ineligible to the senatorshlp
Son that account, than Benz. Harrison
b twas to the Presidency OF the United
. Estates when he was an elder In the
Presbyterian church.
a Some comparisons have been drawn
y sbetween the position Of Mormon
/ Apostle and that of high prelate In
4 THE Ceaholic or Episcopal church. But
tthe cases are not parallel. A cardinal
Y or archbishop or similar digntary, Is
b sconsecrated TO that spiritual station,
y sand thus separated from ordinary secu-
Z Mar Affairs. His sole calling Is in the
,sacerdotal office; he wears the special
b robes of his station; his very garb dis
9 dlnguishes him from the common az
fairs OF life. He belongs 10 the sanctu-
larry There is no such exclusive dignl-
4 ,tary in the Church Of Jesus Christ Of
!, Iatter-day Saints.
q Our ministers are men occupying the
I various trades and occupations of or
4 binary citizens; they are called and set
J, apart for the church work entrusted to
q khem, but usually continue their busl-
ness relations and affairs Most Of them
EARN their own living and engage In such
enterprises and occupations as THEY
are suited for, or as opportunity offers.
Take Mr.. smoot as an example, he is
IN active business leader He is en-
4 Gagged In manufactures and different
Enterprises Of a secular characted He
2 pas been eminently successful In those
lines OF life. His venerated father, who
4 WAS prominent Bishop in the Church,
K was also q pioneer In practical works,
4 gas mayor Of Salt Lake City. was one
Of the founders Of Provo City, was fore
hest among the hard-working builders
5f the Territory, and figured as promln-
entity in public and private works as IN
The affairs Of the Church TO which he
belonged. Mr. Reed Smoot has a prac-
ical mind. is recognized as an active
iplrit IN q number Of secular enterpris-
s. and his position In the Church does
4 lot take him away from or hinder his
Isefulness in those capacities. He Is
| native American citizen, and when
allied TO be one of the Twelve Apostles
IL the Church to which he belongs. he
bst no right under the laws or the Con-
titution OF HIS country
II the party which he has served
With strong fidelity from its inception
/ n this state, chooses TO send him TO tho
United States Senate. there is no ra-
ional ground on which he can be re-
ected, or objected to. 1t Is for the
snajorlty Of the Utah Legislature re-
emily elected TO decide. The choice
Yes with that body. II he had not been
elected to the position be occupies in
be Church. we do not think a voice
yould have been raised against hi'
rank announcement OF his candidacy
md now that he stands as a valued
aember and officer OF that Church. not
me quality that he possesses as man
= a citizen, as a political partisan as
i shrewd man Of affairs, and as a ca
able representative Of the people
mong whom he was born and reared
1 iessened In the least degree. but y
hything Is brought out brighter and