The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-15

and was made penal offense. IL was for
many years foul blot on our civilization,
and no person practicing it in violation Of
law should be admitted to a seat in the
United States Senate.
But Mr.. Smoot denies that he is polyga-
mist and challenges the most searching in
vestigation the subject. This being
for the Senate TO settle it definitely. OF
course, the only question is whether Mr..
Smoot Is a practical poygamist; that is.
whether he actually has more than the one
wife who accompanies him to Washing
ton. What he may believe or what the
ton. Under the constitutional provision
guaranteeing freedom of religious belief no
person can be punished for his academic
opinions regarding polygamy or anything
else. The law can deal only with acts. AS
Mr.. Smoot expresses his readiness to meet
and refute the charge he should be given
an early opportunity to- do so.
The other charge is equally as serious.
Mr.. Smoot is what is called an apostle
of the Mormon Church; that is, he has
passed through certain forms and taken
certain degrees which give him a different
standing from an ordinary member 1t is
asserted by those who claim to know that
he could not have reached the rank of
apostle, which is called "going through the
temple without taking oaths and assum-
ing sh0uds and oovanants,, u,bicb ara nara
mount to his loyalty as a citizen of the
United States. There are numerous affi-
davits on file bearing on this point in the
Smoot case, some OF them made by former
members Of the Mormon Church. One of
these, which may be taken as a sample
of others, says:
That on going through the temple and on
taking my endowments I was placed under
bond and covenant" with all my property
and all that could do and all that / am,
to be subjected to the call of the Church
Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
That the teachings of the church afore-
said are to overthrow all governments
which do not obey the priesthood; that l
was pound by the most severe bonds and
covenants" or oaths imaginable that L
would keep the obligations / have taken.
That previous to my uniting with the
and obeyed the laws of the government
under whose protection / had ever lived.
The Mormons taught me that all govern
ments were corrupt and had to be over
thrown; that sympathy for them meant
enmity toward Gods kingdom-the Mormon
Church. Under this teaching / lost my pa
triotism; / was no longer a loyal citizen.
Senator Hoar said few days ago that
this question Of subordinating loyalty to the
government to loyalty to the Mormon
Church was serious one and should be
thoroughly investigated. The Journal is
of the same opinion. Mr. Smoot has denied
positively that he is a polygamist. but as
far as The Journal knows, he has not made
| any statement~o the other point. The free
exercise of religion and religious belief is
a very sacred right. but it cannot be per-
mitted to include taking oaths or assuming
| obligations inconsistent with loyalty to the
government. There may be nothing in this
charge. but it should be investigated. The
case should be tried on its merits in a spirit
Of judicial fairness, and not of religious
persecution.