The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-24
DISLOYAL MORMONISM

The Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections has resumed tho taking of tes-
timony in tho case OF Reed Smoot. against
the seating of whom as Senator from
Utah more protests have been made than
against any other Senator-elect In all the
history of the Nation. At the hearing by
the committee February s, according to
the report of tho Associated Press, tesu-
mony to the following effect was given:
"Polygamy among members of the Nor
mon church lis condoned, and believed in
by many members, and stu exists To
large extent. Every person who goes
through the endowment house Is obliged
to take On oath TO avenge the blood OF
the Mormon prophets who were killed by
Gentiles, The government of the State of
Utah is controlled by Mormons. and has
been since Utah was admitted to the
Union Reed Smoot was the candidate of
the Mormon church for election TO tho
United States Senate, was indorScd by the
church. and members OF the church were
expected TO work for his election. The
Mormon church which Is engaged In
business, does not permit any member TO
compete with 1t In the industries which II
carries on, and accommodates members
who refuse to withdraw from business In
which the church is interested
The rulers of the Mormon church would
have II appear that the church is loyal TO
the Nation or at least that 1t has aban-
doned the disloyal attitude which charac-
terized it's early history, The broken
pledges given by the apostles among
them Joseph +. Smith, the present presl-
dent of the church shows that their pro-
fessed loyalty Is only temporary, and that
respect is paid to the laws Of the Nation
only so far as they-thc Mormon leaders
dare not disobcy for fear of the conSe-
quences.
dowment house and elsewhere 10 believe
that the church OF the Latter-day Saints
(the Mormon church) is supreme over the
Nation and that the death of their
prophet Joseph Smith Is TO be avenged
upon the Nation has been repeatedly de-
cinrcd by persons who have taken the en-
dowment house oaths. Reed Smoot has
taken those Oaths and Is presumably
bound by them.
Hatred OF the Nation by Mormon ON
cIals Inspired the massacre OF 10 men
women, and children at Mountain Mead
ow. September 10, 1851 according 70 me ne
attorney William w, Bishop. after Lees
attorney. william w. Bishop, after Lee
death Those who committed that awful
crime revolted from IL I'm their hearts, but
we're made to believe that loyalty 10 thelT
church and their God required II
Lee in his confession said dld not
act alone; / had many 10 assist me at the
Mountain Meadows. / believe that most
~ those who were connected with the
massacre and took part I'm the lamentaDle
trnnsnction that has blackened the char
actcr of oil who were alderS or apeltors
in tho same were acting under the I'M
nTession that they were performing re-
I iIpious duty. I know all were acting un-
der the orders and by the command OF
! thsIr church leaders; ard iirmly bclleNc
| that the most OF those who took part IN
| thS nroceedIngs considered II religious
dnty 10 unuuestioningly obey the orders
u,hich they had received. II is Il
| ns,,, thing TO me II the massacre was not
| dccided on by the head men OF the
church and IL is a new thing Tor MOT ,
| mons TO condemn those VINO coHiiIl',yu ,,1
| tbc deed Concerning the motive foI the
| ,,.rdcr ~ the emigFantS Lee said; "Ihen
| Tho Mormons were at war with the United
States and the orders to the MorTnons
Sod been all the time to XIII and waste
nS.ay our enemies. but lose none OF our
| ncoDlo. These emigrantS werc rom tne
| ssnctIon Of country most hoStlle TO our
| I'oonie md I believed then as | do now
| tboi It wos the will of every true NOR
| nnon In Utah at that time, that the enc
Ills nf the church should be klllcd aS
| Sa or MS possible, and that as TINS LOT OF
| p,Uppnecd 10 have helped Kill the prophets
IN fbc carthage jail the killing OF an oi
| H., would be keeping our Oaths ahu
a''ongInc The blood OF tho prophets
| 7 on drclarod that he received ms oIu'rS
fo,. tho massacre OF the cmlgrantS lIou'
| Io, r, JaIght whose word and com
| ea ,,.oro the law In Cedar City at that
,in,o and 10 disobcy his orders was cor
| - dsntb Be they right or wrong II"
| soint was permitted 20 question thsin;;
| 1Shnh duty was obedience or deatn'
IlJJd,bt said he had consulted win Col,
| ndIsn' I'd that his orders were the Will
| I"iniIi In authority and that Lee was eN-
,nctcd 10 carry out the orders given MN
| - LncyY / had To obey or dlc saiu -
| s,I md no wish to disobe%, Tor tneu
| thought that my superlorf IN INC cn., .L,
ucre the mouthpeccs OF heaven ana 'nS'