Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-28
HIS FAREWELL SPEECH.
Senator Kearns Of Utah Adj
dresses the Senate.
PRACTICES OF MORMONS
ATTACKS THE COURSE OF THE
CHURCH LEADERS.
Delivers Long-Delayed Answer to
Faisehood - Preferred Defeat to
Reelection With Dishonor.

Senator kearns Of Utah addressed his as
sociates In the Senate at length today. 1t
was farewell speech and had all the in
terest OF such an address It breathed of
love for his state. of sorrow at her sins and
of hope in her rehabilitation In opening
Senator Kearns said:
Utah. the newest of the states. to me
the best beloved of the states appears to
be the only one concerning which there is
a serious conflict with the country. 1 was
not born in Utah. but I have spent all the
years of my manhood there. and love the
commonwealth and it's people. In what 1
say there is malice toward none. and hope
to make it just to all. If the present day
does not accept my statements and appre-
ciate my motives, 1 can on'y trust that
time will prove more gentle and that in the
future those who care to revert to these re-
marks Will know that they are ANNA ted
purely by hope to bring about a better
understanding between Utah and this great
nation -
Senator kearns proceeded to arraign the
authorities of the Mormon Church for vio-
1aton of pledges given to government upon
the assurance of statehood. He declared
that he attacked not the religion of the
Mormons but the tyranny of the hierarchy
over social political and business life. He
went at detail into the subject substantially
as has been done in the case against Sena-
tor Reed Smott in the Senate investigating
committee. Coming down to his own ex-
perience he said:
Falsehood and Abuse Answered.
During nearly three years have waited
this great hour of justice. in which I could
answer the malignant falsehood and abuse
which have been heaped upon man WHO
is dead and cannot answer and upon my
self, a living man willing to wait the time
for answer. Lorenzo Snow, very aged
man. was president Of the church when l
was elected to the Senate. He had reached
that advanced time of life, being over
eighty, when men abide largely in the
thoughts Of their youth. He was my friend
in that distant way which sometimes exists
without close acquaintanceship. our friend
ship Of l may term 1t SUCH having arisen
from the events attendant upon Utah'S
struggle for statehood For some reason
he did not oppose my election to the Sen
ate. Every other candidate for the place
had sought his fJvOr; 1t came to me with
out price or solicitation on my part. The
friends and mouthpieces of some Of the
present leaders have been base enough to
charge that bought the senatorship from
Lorenzo Snow, president of their own
church Here and now 1 denounce the
calumny against that old man, whose I'M
sought and unbought favor came to me In
that contest. That ever paid to him one
dollar of money. asked him to influence
legislators of his faith, Is as cruel false
hood as ever came from human lips. So
far as am concerned he held his
power with clean hands; and would
protect the memory of this dead man
against all the abuse and misrepresentation
which might be heaped upon him by those
who were his adherents during life, but
who now attack his fame in order that they
may pay the greater Difference to the pres
emf king. S'--- -'l--s-- - ]iH,.'' go = q
you must remember that in that day we
were but Ave years old state. Our po-
litical conditions were and had been greatly
unsettled. The purpose of the church to
rule in politics had not yet been made SO
manifest and determined. Lorenzo Snow
held his office for a brief time-about two
years. What he did in that office pertaining
to my election l here and now distinctly as
sumo as my burden; for no man shall with
impunity use his hatred of me to defame
dead Lorenzo Snow and dishonor his mem
DRY to his living and loving descendants.