The Teton peak-chronicle., 1904-12-29
UnfavOrabIe Expressions.

Rochester Democrat and Chron-
icle: The glaring and infamous
fact brought out in connection
with the Smoot case-aside from
the revolving state of affairs dis
closed-is that a solemn compact
between Utah and the Government
of the United States has been flag
rantly violated.
Ore condition of Utah's admis-
sion into the Union was the prohi-
bition of polygamy by the State
and by the Mormon church. Yet
polygamy is not only practiced
but is shamelessly and insolently
defended. Faithful Mormons con-
tend that plural marriages and pol
ygamous cohabitation are COM
nanded by the law of God, and
they openly declare that they ack-
nowledge the authority of no other
law. Hence they defy church and
State laws, stamp themselves as
repudiators of the pledge which
they made in order to secure State
hood, and convict themselves of
deliberate lying and swindling.
This, from the standpoint of
honest dealing alone, is intolerable<
The New York Times pronou1Nes
it "an impossible condition" Yet
it is an actual condition, and it
raises the question of what is to be
done about it. Is there any way
of compelling Utah either to live
up to he. contract or to return the
goods which were fraudulently
obtained? This is difficult prob
lem. 1t is not easy to unmake a
sovereign" State which has once
been made Such thing has never
been accomplished nor attempted.
Yet it would be perfectly just
penalty for Utah's crime.
Congress could, by virtue of its
constitutional power as Judge Of
the elections, qualifications, and
returns of its own members, y re-
fuse to seat any member from Utaf
and thus nullify one of the chic
advantages of Statehood.
But that would be heroic rem
edy, and would hamper the decen
and law abiding citizens of Utal
in their efforts to gain the ascen
dency. Altogether, the perplexi
ties of the case have thus far prov
ed battling. But the recent revela
tions have been so loathsome, ant
, the offenders are SO bold, persis
5 tent, unblushing and defiant, tha
public opinion loudly demand
that something be done.
Saying nothing of moral consid
!, erations, the situation is -highl.
f absurd. Utah got into the Unio1
on false pretenses. Her leading
men not only admit the fact, bu
5 glory in it and axis ''What are yo
$ going to do about it?' Possibl
an answer may be devised, er
A long, which will turn their swagge
into discontinue and emphaslz
S the hardship of the transgressor'
way. Something of that sort
: urgently needed.
Pittsburg Dispatch: The clos
e ing of the presentation of the cas-
+ against the admission of Senate
n Smoot is accompanied by summa
t rv of what the protestants believ
o thev have proved. They specit
! callv concede that Smoot hlmse
Il is not a polygamist, which was tn
: basis for the exclusion Of Repre-
/, sentative Roberts from the Hous
: of REPRESENTATIVES. What they d
: charge is that Smoot IS one OF tn
d twelve apostles, the ruling powe
: in the Mormon church, sven
:. whom still openly practice polygs
II nv. in defiance of the laws an
Constitution of the State, whic
t. contains provisions against polys
Y a,nv inserted as a condition OF til
,r admission of Utah to Statehood
;. Ii is also charged that Smoot vote
II for the election of known polygs
W mist to be an apostle; that leadin
* Mormons are required TO take a
3- oath swearing to 'ayenge the aeat
N Of Joseph Smith on this nation
" that Smoot took this oath, and N.
i plural marriages are still fer.ofne