Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-25
THE PREACHERS PROTEST.

The protest Of the Ministerial asso-
citation against the election Of Hon.
Reed Smoot as United States Senator,
viii doubtless cause something OF
furry here and elsewhere The Ques-
tions that arise In many minds are, who
are these seventeen persons that as
sumo to dictate 10 the State Of Utah
and the Senate OF the United States, as
TO the election Of q Senator and his
qualifications to a seat in congressY
Are they of any particular importance,
that they should air their notions on
these points? Where do they come from,
what are their antecedents. In what re-
spect are they entitled to take the top
lofty attitude exhibited In these reso-
buttons?
Who are they anyhow? Why they
are seventeen preachers of different
conflicting sects, who can come togeth-
or on one ground OF union-antipathy TO
everything bearing the name Of Nor
mon" They pretend to fear union of
Church and State II Mormon Apos-
tie is permitted to sit In the United
States Senate. Is not that an absurd
ity on It's face? Does not the assump-
tion Of these preachers In their attempt
to regulate the AFFAIRS OF this State,
SAVIOR far more Of such union than
that which they endeavor to prevent?
Are the members-elect to our State
Legislature TO be governed in their Of
fetal action by this small clique of
"llttle Minister'S" The distinctive fea-
ture Of their pompus manifesto. is its
arrogant lmpertinence and presump>
ton
AS to their unsupported accusations,
and insulting attacks on gentlemen
whose character and standing and rep
utation are at least as good. and high,
and extensive as their own, we will
merely say that they come with very
ill-grace from such a source and really
have no relevancy TO the qualifications
Of the gentleman whom they are so
anxious to defeat, nor to the question
OF his chances for election.
There Is this to be said, however, we
are OF the opinion that II any of his
supporters were In doubt as TO the pro-
per thing to do. the yirulent attack of
his clerical enemies will have the effect
Of sweeping all dubiety away and rally
ing them to his support Anti-"Mor-
mon" malice. which has slumbered for
awhile In the breasts of those sectarian
preachers, has found an opportunity
to burst forth anew, and II Is but a
repetition Of the old charges in the
same old. bitter spirit and deserving
only OF pity and contempt.
The election OF United States sem
ntor for Utah is still matter to be de-
cided. II rests with the Legislature
alone. The attempted dietations OF the
seventeen professors should amount to
no more than seventeen feeble breaths.
The idea that the gentleman who Is
elected will be chosen 20 represent
them, is sufficiently ludicrous to make
their manifesto an absurdity, Whoever
goes to the United States Senate from
Utah, win represent the state as an
entity, and not any portion or faction
OF its inhabitants. The inflated and
pompous protest of that handful Of
preachers: WE object to being repre-
scented In the United States senate by
man who Is chiefly Mormon Apos-
tle."
Dear mel What potent obstacle Is
thus raised in his wayl The whole
State should stand by and pause. The
commonwealth is nothing compared to
the seventeen directors. The Legisla-
ture Is nowhere. when their resistance
Is in the way. OF course, after their
pronunciamento, Reed Smoot will retire,
the Republican members who favor his
candidacy win be mum, and the doors
of the Upper House OF Congress may be
considered as locked against the man
whom the wonderful seventeen object
to 60 there to represent THEM!
Seriously, we do not think the opin-
ions of those preachers count for much
on a subject of this kind, and they would
be in better work II attending to their
preaching and mindlng their own bus