Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-11


either as he chose being willing, OF
course. TO abide the consequences, In
the former case, he stated that II the
command OF God came 10 him direct,
which was In conflict with the laws OF
his country he would move away to
some place where he could obey the
divine law what Of that? Is there
anything IN il irrational, reasonable
or irrelgious2
what dld the Pilgrim Fathers do when
they found themselves in the position
proposed by those members Of the COM
mlttee that propounded the query2
Have not many OF the worlds great
religious reformers found themselves
in the position suggested, and moved
to more liberal places and commune
ties? The very question thus harped
upon was suggestive OF tho proposition
that the Mormon" Church was likely
to promulge some law alleged to be
divine, but IN conflict with the laws
Of the United States The fact Is that
there has been no such mandate, nor Is
there likely to be IN the future. IL was
n catch query and the witness met Il
fairly percelylng the snare set for his
feet and declining TO step into IT, Those
who will find fault with his replies
ought to be placed in a similar position
as to catechisation that he occupied
before his questioners.
Another point insisted upon very
strongly was that the Senator declined
to reveal what occurred I'm the endow-
ment proceedings and therefore should
be required to do so. This was one
Of the contentious during the entire
examination, and the attorney for the
protestants seemed 10 be puzzled over
what he thought was a lack Of reason
for the secrecy which is observed con-
corning the ceremony, lie could not
understand why that secrecy should be
maintained II there was no fear OF
persecution for revealing the whole
matter. Perhaps the attorney was only
cndeayoring to perplex the witness, but
II would be interesting TO know wheth-
err he holds to the view that a sacred
obligation or promise need not be kept
unless there is fear OF some harm or
persecution following the disclosure.
That would not exhibit very nice
sense of honor or regard for u mans
word, given elther TO God or man.
During the greater part OF the pro-
ooedlngs witnesses were permitted TO
state, which they did very positively
that there is no obligation in the endow-
ment ceremony which interferes with
the duty OF a citizen towards the gov
ernment and no vow of vengeance upon
the nation for the shedding Of the
blood Of the prophets. but were not re-
ouired to give affirmative evidence as
TO the nature and details Of the cere-
mony But in the latter part OF
the inquiry a change OF policy took
place, and witnesses In behalf Of
the defense were told that IL they
testified that something alleged did not
take place, they would be required to
reveal that which did occur. The wrong
of this was clearly pointed out by coun-
sci for Senator smoot, but that made
no apparent impression either upon the
attorney FOR the protestants or the
chairman of the committee.
one thing that must strike the mind
OF an persons who have followed the
proceedings from the beginning, Is the
immense amount Of repetition IN the
questions asked Of the different Wit
nosses and IN many instances Of each
witness, most Of them entirely unneces-
sary but asked undoubtedly for the
purpose Of endeayoring to find some
contradictions in the evidence Of diff
fcrent individuals on the same matter,
and often to provoke opposite replies
In an individuals own testimony
Another thing very plainly apparent
is the fact that during the examination
Of witnesses for the protestants, the ut
most latitude and any amount of time
were given to them, but when the side
VI wv lN0iNuuNiN WAC Drought lOIWhIu,
HE witnesses were clipped and curtailed
and told not to preach, but to hurry up,
as the desire was that the case should
be closed without delay. Senator
Smo0t, however, as the lengthy ac-
count we have published will show, was
permitted to occupy much time and
perhaps more than was desirable when
the cross-cXamlnaton took place.
We commend his evidence to the can
dld judgment OF our readers, and be-
lioye that they win agree with us that
he came through the ordeal with honor,
and that there is nothing In that which
was disclosed which affords any rea-
son why he should be removed from
the seat In the Senate OF the United
states to which he was fairly, honest
| ~ and cordially elected by the large
majority Of the Legislature Of the state
Of Utah.