The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-05-13
MORMON SMITH A TRAITOR.
FRANK CANNON SAYS so
Former United States senator and Son Of
Mormon Church Deneuaees Practices
fL-adsrs-President smith CRATER
Cannon Explains.

Former United States Senator
Frank j. Cannon, who has been ex-
communicated from the Mormon
church for criticizing President
Joseph P. Smith, was requested to
make statement Of his position for
the New York Herald. de prepared
the following:
''Ihe immediate controversy be-
tween the Mormon church and myself
arises over my editorial articles in the
Ogden Journal and the Salt Lake
Tribune, In which the demand is
made that the Mormon church com
ply with the compact upon which
statehood was granted to Utah, and
that the church permit the people to
comply.
The charge against me was that
of un-C hristianlike conduct and
apostasY in having printed two
editorial articles directed against the
head of the church, Joseph r. Smith.
and for designating him as false
prophet.
CHURCH AND COMPACT.
First let us get our nomen-
elature right, for it is peculiar in
this instance.
The church lie that ruling body
Of 90 men, with President Joseph F.
Smith at the head, the other - being
his two connseilors, - apostles,
presiding bishopric Of three, seven
presidents Of seventies and one
presiding patriarch.
The Mormon people constitute
the mass, graded down from the 90,
some Of them having titular distinc-
tion, and many Of them. or nearly
all, holding come ordination to
priesthood, but none Of them having
any rights whatever, aud only such
privileges as may be conceded by
these 90.
1T is folly to iugele with words
concerning these distinctions. An
infinitude of controversy might be
had. But the final pesult Of intel
Iligent argument would be the demon
stration Of the fact that the &c are
the church. And If q man sufficient.
, ly antagonizes the &c he can get
neither justice from them nor q
public hearing nor the presence OF
his own counsel nor the testimony Of
even one witness in his own defense,
+ nor a stenographer. so that be may
have a record Of his own trial.
ANY ohe of the Mormon people
, may be thus secretly tried, con
] demned and accommodated befors
2 the world, on q charge CT un
E Christianlike conduct and apostasy
e while pleading in vain for an op
portunity to present the truth.
b 1.-The compact was an evolution
not a declaration. Utah had been il
r an antagonistic attitude toward To,
e nation for many years; she has
3 suffered as much as she had offended
2 The griefs of the Mormops melted tn
2 hearts of the Gentiles Of Utah AM
$ abroad, in whose power the Mormon
i people and the Mormon church wer
/ at that time.
a "6rover Cleveland and BENJAMIN
5 Harrison, upon petitions whic
sounded like the cry Of the ages
granted amnesty upon the honest eN
), pectation that offenses would not b
: renewed. The Gentiles Of Utah acte
> like helpful brothers aud made To
: church's sincerity apparent.
In lsa0 President MILFORD Wood
!, ruff received a revelation, which wa
: thereafter construed in the pulpi,
and was also construed upon oath b
Joseph f. Smith. to mean an absolut
cessation of plural marriage aud
!. cessation of cohabitation where plurs
marriages had previously existed.
1T was asseverated most solemnl
!. by the church leaders themselves q
Washington and in their converse
lions with visiting statesmen tina
: they would live within the Law an
their people would live within tn
law. They said thai the Mormo
church would no longer attempt t
dominate the state In political affairs
either openly or secretly; that To
. Mormon church would leave II
= people entirely free in secular affairs
: again interminable debate Nigh
) ensue; but | point to the fact ths
! the nation admitted Utah as a stat
4 as being sufficient proof that ever
!. poitn at antagonism had been yielde
by the Mormons, or the nation woul
n not have assented TO utah's state
r. hood. Every man aud woman VIII
reads this article knows this TO B
"a true.
|. VIOLATION OF PLEDGES.
Il have charged violation Of til