The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-04-16
SENATOR REED SkOOI
THE CONTESTANTS BRIEF
His Oath As an OaieiAl Of Mormon Ch"reA
Inside of Normo nisso shown 10 Print
cd PamPhIet-DseIsiOR Of Judge An
derson Denying CitiSsAshiP.

ing taken MS seat a. tuo cNeR0 oSSS'AN-
Of that body March, 1908. The case
is brought ON the question Of oustlng
him. There is in Washington what
might be called the brief Of the con
testants, being a printed pamphlet Of
some ninety three pages entitled
THE Inside Of Mormonism, publish
ed by The Utah Americans. "
The contents Of the pamphlet are
for the most part certified abstracts
of testimony taken before the United
States District Court for the third
district Of Utah, in the naturalization
cases of some Mormons, and the
opinion of the court in those cases.
Analogy is attempted to be drawn
between the unfitness Of those Nor
mons for citizenship, As declared by
the court, and the alleged unfitness
of Senator Smoot upon the same
grounds.
The introduction to the pamphlet
says:
The issue of vital Importance re-
ferred to above is the question
whether Mr.. Reed Smoot, an apostle
of the Mormon church and senator
elect from Utah, is a proper person to
be admitted to a seat in the Senate of
the United States:
''The purpose in publishing this
evidence at this time is to show that
man who is a member Of any one Of
the three quorums which constitute
the government Of the Mormon church
and are the fountain authority in
that church, and cannot, by the most
liberal construction of his covenants
and obligations, consistently qualify
as a member of either house of con
gress.
''If the decision Of Judge Ander-
son, which is herewith presented, is
valid, and if the denial Of citizeushi p
10 foreigners who are under endOw
ment house oaths is warranted by the
evidence, surely an inspired and a
prominently authoritative official
in the Mormon Kingdom, whose first
obligation is TO aid 10 maintaining
and administering that alien and
hostile government, ought not to be
allowed to parcipate as a legislator
in the affairs Of the nation which be
is sworn, if so counseled by the
obligarchy to which no belongs, to
help destroy.
This is purely a civil question
with which religion has nothing to
do, and into which, By no possible
sophistry, should it b. allowed to he
thrust. In this business We are
called to deal, not with the Mormon
people, nor with the Mormon church
as religious body, but with an oath
bound. disloy4l aud tesrotic organ
Ia lon, WHICH exists for other pur-
poses tban worship o. charity. and
which 7bsearss its political nature,
and character behind the exteri0rs Of
religion.
1T IL il essence = government
separate ard distinct from tbe United
States Of America. and not subordiu
ate TO ii nor consistent with it. It
has its own legislative, executive aud
judicial systems complete Its form
. is stable. its faith Is variable
Throughout its history, its one
dominant purpose to rule OF ruin has
been maintained, while it religious
element has been subordinate and
subseryient, and has been made TO
( conf orm, by frequent adjustments, to
that dominant purpose.
J With the religious faith and
worship Of this organization W. need
have nothing 10 do, but aith its
civic features it is our business aud
responsibility to have a great deal a.
do. Wherever in tins pamphlet the
word church occurs reference is
made to the framework, the Jrganiza
ton, tire president and his cabinet
Of fourteen prophets, -ssr- aud reveia
tors, Of whom Apostle 5mDot is one,
aud not TO the company Of uorshiper.
Or their system Of faith This de=-
> potic oIigarchy iutsrfsre- etth rights
which are guaranteed 10 every citizen
by our Constitution, If vitiafe-
society, 1t oGeud- the ethical -su-s
Of our people aud If msaaee- tie
! government itzelf
The accompanying decision of
; Judge Anderson aud lba abstract as
have given of the evidence befor,
! him show c1uclu-ivelT that the Nor
mon people are uudsr control Of a
power which denies them republican
form of government Every member
of this organized power owes BIZ
supreme allegiance 10 the organiza
ton to which he belongs He car
obey the laws Of the country aue
support the Constitution only whcr
they do not conflict With the Hill y
his quorum.
"As one Of the quorum " Mprmor
apostles Senator Smont must plac,
the will Of his quorum above tn,