Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-08
THE HYP0CRITES!

To read the comments Of some OF our
contemporaries, one not acquainted
with the facts would think President
Smith had gone to Washington and
voluntarily exposed his family affairs In
detail, for the purpose Of astonishing
people at home as well as throughout
the country In attempting 20 make
something new and unheard OF In his
frank answers TO questions propound-
ed to him as a summoned witness they
ignore entirely the fact that the protest
against Senator Shoots retention OF
his seat asserted that President Smith
was cohabilng with five wives.
Certain religious ministers who pre-
tend to be shocked at the gentlemans
open acknowledgements made the orig
lnal charge themselves, mingled with
many statements that were untrue.
When reminded by the Deseret News
that there was at the time that plural
marriages were prohibited. taCit un-
derstandlng that existing plural family
relations were not to be disturbed and
when the News stated plainly that
a number Of men were In such relations
when the contracting Of further plural
marriages was stopped and would not
cast on their wives under any consider
atoms, those religious preachers con-
tended that no such "taclt understand
ing was had, although It was matter
Of common knowledge, and the subject
was discussed here and at the seat Of
government before Utah was admitted
into the Union,
10 was because of that understanding
that the language Of the Enabling Act
was made so specific, 1t required the
prohibition Of "polygamous or plural
marriages. just that and nothing more
on that point, Therefore the Constltu.
tlonal convention followed that Ian.
guage exactly in the clause Of the In
strument touching on the subject It
was done with the tull understanding,
after prolonged debate, that the re-.
Qulrement meant nQ more and no less
than the cessation Of plural marriage
ceremonies. They were to cease, and
nothing was put into the Constitution
In reference to existing plural connec.
tIons,
We can exercise charity and patience
toward the ignorant railers who are
unacquainted with the facts. but It Is
difficult to do so with the tricky writer's
and hypocrltlcal preachers, who wIlful-
" endeayor to deceive the public, and
who make vain pretenses Of their lack
Of knowledge Of this matter To make
charges In writing and In print that
certain persons are living with ther
plural wives, and then profess astonlsh-
ment at the declarations Of President
Smith, Is the very height OF impudent
humbug and the very depth OF moral
deprayity.
or the same character is the ondeayor
to charge the Deseret News with de.
nyng these things, when II has OK.
planned them in this manner times AT.
most without number We have dis.
puted the falsehOods told by minister,
and others concerning the Church ant
new polygamous marriages, We do 81
now. So does President Smith. 1t Il
on his word and that Of his predeces
sors, Presidents Lorenzo Snow and vii
ford Woodruff, that we did and do so
But we have not denied anything tina
President Smith testified TO- at an!
time or In any way.
The efforts TO make newcomers be
lleve that the testimony at Washington
has revealed something new and start
ling and previously unknown Is anus
Ing and amazing to older nhabitant
OF this city and State and they woult