Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-19
A DOUBTFUL QUESTION.

A number Of editors and legislators
are puzzling their brains over the
problem Of how TO uuseat senator Reed
smqot, Of Utah, for not proceeding
against his associate "Mormons' who
have, or are charged with having,
committed offences against the law.
The casuistry and occasional sophlstry
OF those who desire that the Senator
shall be expelled, Is sometimes pitiful
and often laughable, A great deal Of
space has been wasted on the discussion
OF this question, One Of the best and
falrest reasonlngs upon II We have seen,
Is the following editorial which appears
In the current number Of Harpers
Weekly
"The advocates OF the expulsion of
Mr., Reed Smoot Of Utah from his seat
in the United states Senate seem NOT
unlikely to tfrect their purpose They
have changed their gfplpd, however
since the case has been the subject Of
Investigation by the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections. They have
.rtnoupced the hope OF proving that the
accused Scpator himself Is guilty Of
polygamy lie has but one wife, His
opponents have fallen back upon The
charge that ~ a high official OF the
Mormon Church MI smoot must be
held TO have conniycd at the violation
Of the law by fellow members of the
hierarchy, Whether or not plural
marriages have actually taken place In
Utah SINE 1890, conclusive evidence
has been procured TO show that Pres-
dents and so-called Apostles have been
guilty Of polygamous practices; that is
10 say, they have continued TO have
children by their plural wives married
before The date named. II Mr., Smoot
was not willing to connlye at such in
fractions Of the law, Why II IL asked
did he not dcnounce them publicly, or
signify rtprobaubh by resigning the
mon Church, is he not chargcable
With tqcil approval Of unlawful prac-
tees? lin other words, a majority OF
the Committee on Privileges and Elec.
tons Will ask the United Stairs Senate
10 declare that no man holding . post
Of honor and power In THE Mormon
hierarchy Is eligible TO a seat IN either
House of the Fedcral Legislature.
This, although be Is admitted TO be
personally innocent OF any violation Of
u state or Federal law. Is the estab-
llshnent Of such a precedent by The
Senate reconcilable with the third e.
ton OF Article VI Of the Federal Con-
stltutlon. which provides that no rfllg-
iOus test shah ever be required as a
qualiiica ton ~ any olice or public
trust under the United States' How
can Mormon or q Moslem, though he
may scyupulously refrain from per-
fonally breaking the law Of the United
States, or Of the State IN which he may
happen TO reside, be expected 10 De-
nounce corellgIonlsts for practices
which are sanctioned by the religion
which he believes TO be inspired by
God7 There IL no doubt that pc.
lygamy Is sanctioned by the Koran, as
wen as by the Moslem gospel Where
religious duty and duty 10 the civil
power conflict, as might conceivably
be the case In the minds OF Roman
Catholics could more be required con.
stltutionally OF Catholic citizen thun
personal obedience TO the law? This
Is a question the seriousness OF which
VIII be recognized by statesmen who
have an eye to future contingencies.