Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-23
THE ANTI. MORMON FURRY,

Among other tales OF woe prepared
FOR the willing ears Of the delegates
to the Los Angeles religious assembly.
who called at this city on their way,
were some fabricatlons OF q notorious
dissemination of antl-"Mormon" fiction.
'Sito figures In Presbyterian circles in
Utah. The poor fellow Is intensely
anxious to prevent the participation Of
Senator Reed Smoot In the councils Of
this nation, although that gentleman
was duly chosen to represent this State
by the regularly elected members Of
the Utah Legislature. To effect his
purpose, the clerical opponent OF the
Senator endeavors to attack his loyalty,
and to show that he has taken an
oath Of allegiance to government
that proposes TO dominate the govern
ment of this fair land
What that oath" Is the accuser does
not state. We have heard great deal
lately about "the oath OF an Apostle
oaths Of obedience to the Priesthood
and other alleged "swears,' that exist
only in the fevered Imagination OF an
ti-"Mormon" zealots, We never hear
what is the formula OF these terrible
"oaths,' Notwithstanding the fre-
duency with which they are held NJ IN
terroren over the American public.
The junior Senator from Utah has
taken the oath Of his Office as United
States Senator, and has made open
hvowals in print and otherwise that
his first duty is and shall be TO his
country, It's laws and Institutions. AS
an Apostle IN the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints his time
and talents were devoted to It's min
istry until, on request he was permit
ted 70 engage IN the political labors
that We're consequent upon his candi-
dacy and his election to the high secu
lar Office he now occupies.
In that permission there was moth
Ing more than what might be granted
by any firm or Institution to which
man owed his time and activities He
could not consistently engage In other
labors without such permission and
stiil retain his other position 1t does
not involve any dictation or interfcr-
ence with the duties of his oi5cc In any
manner whatever He is just as free
as any ether servant OF his country TO
make its interests his chief concern,
md fully carry out the obligations OF
his official oath. Other purportcd
"ca.hs' are pure myths.
But his detractor desires to make
it~appear that the Mormon Church
Is an<imperlum In imperio, veritable
political Organization of a secular ma
tira. And TO support this View he
has pr. !n print and circulated state
menis like the following. Speaking OF
the Church leaders he says:
"They dissolved the church political
Iarty, dividing their people and giving
taem over to the national parties, Re
r.ubllcan and Democratic. This was
done without calling their people to
gpther as citizens in convention, with
ont the voice or vote c. the people. and
OF course. was a high-handed exercise
OF church authority over the citizens
This was an astute piece ~ politica
lteerdemain Tor the double purpose OF
deceiving the United Status govern
ment and securing more firmly their
grasp on utan politics.
The utter fasehood Of that state
ment must be clear TO every old resi-
dent Of Utah. When the Peoples Party
was dissolved. II was effected by pub
lic political meetings In different parts
Of the Territory. First meeting Of
the party leaders was held in the Social
Hall IN this city. when the matter was
fully discussed and the dissolution de-
termined. 1t was not Church meet
ing. Neither were the meetings Of the
party subsequently. in this city aud
elsewhere anything but political gath
rings The movement had been urged