Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-03-05
THE TRIUMPH FoR rnE RIGHT.

Despite the array Of ministerial pres
ence and aniaeonism at the scat Of
government notwithstanding the false
oath OF The Leilleh, IN face of the
fact that Hon. Reed smoot is q proml-
nent Mormon Tint gentleman was
sworn IN to take his seat in the Senate
o. the United states at the opening Of
the special session This win be grati-
flying news to all lovers Of right and the
mftiiuiions Of cur common country
Senator gmoot was chosen for the
high Office that he now holds by Repub-
llcan members Of the Utah Legislature
n their respective districts, Ills ere
dontials were perfect No faint Of i'm
proper proceedings attached TO any step
tow arcs his election, and nothing could
BE- truihfully alleged against his per-
ktnal character His opponents relied
upon the prejudice agnluat the religion
Of which the Senator Is q strong sup
orter ana me furore ihey expected to
grouse because Of e. first 70 prevent
his election by soaring the legislators
who, representing their constituents, ia
vored his selection; next 70 brew
storm In the religious world strong
enough to sway the United States Sem
ate against HIM and third to prevent
his taking his seat until they could pour
in enough anti Mormon bitterness to
sour the committee that would have 10
Investigate the charges against him.
The scheme up to this crucial point
has utterly failed, The Senate has acted
on constitutional and presidential
grounds. Its action IS right The sena-
tor-eiect having credentials without
flaw from sovereign state Of the
Union was entitled 70 take his
seat with other gentlemen having
similar certificates II Is true the sem
ate Is made the sole Judge Of the cleo
lion and qualification OF lts members
and that It may appear to be clothed
With arbitrary and untrammeled au-
thority in this respect. But there are
rules and principles by which al judy
es courts and tribunals are governed,
and these do not admit Of the exercise
OF power melted merely by prejudice or
unconstitutional objections Reason
precedent usage and consistency have
something to do with the matter and
have strong influence in an august
body like the Senate Of the United
States.
The next movement Of the congplra-
sors win be, TO obtain a hearing before
committee. when they viii present the
old musty dllapidated and irrelevant
stories, quotations, fables and sophls-
tries thst have done pulpit duty aud
figured in ntl-"Mormon" fiction for so
many years, coupled with allegations
and insinuations about the present
which they will have to support with
much more potent evidence than that
which they have yet been able to pro-
duce, to have any convincing effect on
men Of the caliber OF those who will
Investigate the natter And both sides
OF the question win be heard which VIII
be a very different thing to getting up
q one-sded story FOR a popular lecture
or to regale a coterie Of religious la
dies.
The Lellich story will not help the
anti-"Mormon" cause. Neither VIII
u, presence Of such defaners as Wish
ard, Schroeder and Nutting. now IN
Washington on the same mission as
I.,ilich's though perhaps not with the
seine lurd tale. But think OF such
combination as they make for any pur-
pasel Two reverend sectarian lights
linked IN with "The Devils Lantcrnw
on what a trinity In unity" Presby-
terlanism, Atheism and Methodism
ioiped "a one. 20 abuse and berate
"Mormonlsm' ana the "Alormonsw
The lpcongrulty Of the jointure IS COM
plete, except the well-known unyera-
city Of each part. This has been so
often exposed that here It needs No
further disclosure They VIII have fun
orl ortunity to exhibit themselves. II
they succeed In obtaining an nyestiga-
ton, and wherein they fail, the light
which viii be shed upon them VIII COM
Ilcto the show,
The entire West win hail with pleas
u.e the triumph OF Amerlcanlsm over
religious intolerance. Involved n
the preliminary controversy over sena-
tor Shoots eligibility. The enthusiasm
al the announcement Of his success so
far exhibited in the Legislature OF
Utah. shared In by men Of an faiths and
parties. viii echo throughout this aud
the adjoining states. ana idaho es-
pccialiy VIII add TO the loud acclaim.
This Is not mere Mormon contro-
versy. 1t Is question that affects
all citizens OF every creed and status
II is oflunivefsal moment 10 this repub-
llc. n a duly elected Senator can be
kept from taking his seat by the force
Of sectarian clamor, or arbitrary action
based on unconstitutional objections.
the way viii BE- opened Tor the denial Of
rights and privileges now deemed sac
red ana invioloblc, and a step viii be
taken toward the wreck Of our national
Institutions.
II is because the attempts made 70
.fect lhis wrong have failed, that truly
patrlotic people rejoice, and the glad
ness expressed comes from many other
than Mormon sources. A victory