The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-13
a pRoFurLEss CONTROVERSY.

u ARTISANS on BOTH SIDES OF the
4 smoot case here at home are, IN
fortunately, disposed 20 embitter the
controversy by assuming that the mo-
tIves back Of the prosecution or the
defense. as may be. are Of the lowest
possible kind. Senator Shoots friends
assert with much emphasis that the
prosecution is actuated by religious
rancOr and a desire to even ND Old
political scores against the Mormon
church. Those who are antagonistic
30 Senator Smoot take it for granted
that the church leaders are determined
TO defy the constitutional authorities
pf the United States, and to maintain
their control of all political, civil and
business affairs wherever possible.
They read IN the testimony of Presi-
dent Smih a plain declaration of def
Pnce against the laws and what
are you going TO do about it?7 tone
which they construe as an outline of
the policy of the whole church.
Both sides seem to have lost sight
OF the fact that the senate committee
is Investigating with a view to deter
mining the very points at issue. 1t is
inlmuterial now who caused the inves-
tigation-the church authorities who
countenanced Mr.. Shoots candidacy
or the protestants who presented the
case for their side to the senate. The
Investigation exists and the real cause
of the trouble might be debated for
Il decade without profit to anybody.
The senate committees report, it is
hoped. will determine for all time
whether the protestants or Senator
Shoots advisers have the right Of the
argument. and we here in Utah may
well afrord to possess our souls in pa
thence until its finding is returned. It
boots little whether one side or the
other is responsible for the result. and
the best we can make Of it is to con-
cede that honesty of opinion is not IN
consistent with unpleasant results.
For instance, President Smiths tes-
timOny. astonishing as it may have
been TO outsiders, could have been pre-
dicted here with entire accuracy. He
simply told the truth and disappointed
those who hoped for evasion. on the
other hand, it is only fair to suppose
that the protestants are sincere in be-
lieving their cause is just, since they
are spending their time, their money
and their energy in its behalf. Be
cause man fights your belief it does
not follow that he ought to be in
jail.
The men on both sides Of this con-
troversy for the most part are known
as good citizens and honest men. Sem
ator Smoot himself IS conceded to be
altogether without blemish in his re-
lations with his fellow men. The most
earnest Of his opponents will not ques-
ton his integrity: to the contrary, they
concede his admirable qualities. If
he had remained in private life they
would have upheld him as an example
Of manliness, and even instheir contest
they have not criticised him in a per-
sonal way except in one instance, and
that criticism has been eliminated as
based on n false assumption. Why.
then. should it not be assumed that
the senator's opponents are sincere, ac-
STATED by good motives and convinced
that their course is for the best inter
eats of the state and people?
The gist Of the whole matter is that
an irreconciIable conflict has come TO
an issue where there is some hope Of
permanent solution. Instead Of quar-
selling and attempting TO fix the blame
for "a situation which exists and can
not be avoided, we ought to welcome
the prospect Of the peace that should
follow the settlement OF this case, and
BE- thankful that with its solution the
state win be in position TO go ahead
With its development amicably.