Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-20
LET UP ON sMooT."

| me Auanld beOIbhii NoIsLlutlvh VI
Feb T. has the following editorial UNI
der the foregoing title;
"The people Of Utah. through their
! legislative representatives have duly
and constitutlonally elected Reed
| smoot senator Of the United States.
| This was done In the face Of an out
| burst OF dlsapproyal from strong and
| widespread induenoes-the same in
| huences that prevailed against Con-
| gtessman.elect Roberts. OF the same
state, after he applied for his seat.
| But while both Objectionable men are
| members OF the Mormon Church, II
| cannot. It is said be proved that Sen
! atOr-clect Sm0Ot Is or ever was a
p0lyRamist II this be true, the whole
! attack upon him falls to the ground.
The fact that be Is high dignitary
of the Church OF the Latter-day Saints
does no; weigh In the slightest de-
gree against his eligibility, on moral
grounds, to the honor TO which he has
been called by his felow-citizens.
"As the Boston Herald Observes
Mr. SmOot has peculiar opinions
on the subject Of religion, but they are
nObodys business but his own. The
only plausible objection to him that we
have seen on this point Is that he ac-
ku0wledges a paramount allegiance TO
the Mormon Church over the American
government The Hartford Courant re-
minds that this used to be said OF mem
bers of the Roman Catholic church In
kn0N-nothlng days. We see no more
reason 20 believe that II Is true Of
H., a. 81 No
then. and II has long been abandoned
as q charge against the latter
~ is deeply 10 be regretted that any
considerable number Of Americans
should be so blind to the genius OF
American institutions and the spirit OF
Americanlsm that they would single
out a member Of u sect against which
they are violently preiudiced and at
tempt TO prescribe him as a free
American citizen, and through him
the people Of his sect
III the American republic, tradition
ally, stands for anything, II Is freedom
TO worship God, or 10 refuse to wOr-
ship as the citizen may elect in his
conscience So long as Mr. smoot
violates no law and keeps within the
moral pale, his senatorial credentials
are as good, from that standpoint. as
those OF any member Of that body.
1T IL to be presumed that the peo-
pie Of the state Of Utah are competent
10 select their congressional represen-
tatives, since they were deemed by
Congress III for statehood There Is a
disposition In certain quarters 10
again carry anti -Momonism TO the
point OF persecution. II members OF
that sect, through their tenets or 9TH
erwise. violate the common law. the
remedy VIII be found In legal pros
ecutlon From all accounts, Apostle
smoot Is an exemplary and law.abld-
ing citizen"
The same paper published the sub
Joined letter on Feb 7th, under the
heading of Justice to smoot:"
Editor Constitution: Your editorial
OF yesterday entitled. Let up ON Smoot.
deserves more than passing notice. In
this time, when there Is so mucn truck
ing to policy and power, such a strong
penchant among people TO drift with
me stream ana never to run against
lhc current II requires degree OF
moral courage TO so against the cur
rent OF popular prejudice In the edl-
tOrial referred to you have boldly
struck out against the stream OF pOpu.
lar prejudice and have dared 10 assert
some truths which are far-reaching in
their scope and of especially deep i'm
port To the man who Is so od-fashioned
IN his belief as 10 think that to be en-
Titled to exercise liberty of thought
himself he must be willing for others to
exercise liberty OF thought.
IT is hardly possible to find one
whose religious Views are more az vau-
ance 20 those OF Apostle Smoot than are
mine Yet because he and / do not
agree, IN such matters. should l say.
therefore, he Is not entitled to a seat
In the United States Senate any more
than be should say that those OF my
views are not?
Let no injustice be inflicted upon Mr..
Smoot The hand that strikes such a
blow usually lives 10 be stricken In
kind As you say It is un-Amerlcan
and contrary TO the genius and tradi-
tlons OF this country TO prescribe Mr..
Smo0t as free American citizen and
through him the people Of bis sect be-
cause OF prejudice against his reli-
ut would seem that, nasmuch as
this country has IN the past been a ha-
ven and refuge for so many driven into
| u by reason of religious persecution.
that liberation IN religious matters
would have o strong hold here. But In
view OF the ranting ebullitions Of the
pharIsaical, who raised the cry against
Mr. Roberts and now who raise Il
against Mr. Smoot we see at least that
There are those among as who believe
In liberty OF thought for themselves but
not IN liberty Of thought for others
being potential tyrants and despots.
who, II given the power. would crush
the life out Of every one who dared 10
exercise the right TO think and believe
according 20 the dictates OF their own
minds and c0nsclences.
such editorials as you have written
on the subject VIII hush the bawling
mouths Of many OF the weaklings who
are berating Apostle Smoot simply be-
cause the crowd have raised the cry
and ! believe the mentally stronger OF
this element viii be made less bold.
'tWHEELER WILLIAMS