Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-10

| " tnefe was Such leaning III Tue
| direction indicated, what OF NJ
| Does the Times mean to say that
senator Perkins was under obligation
10 view the question Of the constltu-
tional rights OF Senator 70 seat in
tho Senate, as something 10 be ig-
nored. because a number OF prominent
| ladies, az the Instance OF some religious
preachers, petitloned for bis expulsion?
| which does the Times regard as the
greater authority. the request OF no
matter how many thousand women, or
the obligations and rules OF the SUI
preme law Of the land? That Is tho
only real point at issue between the
editor and the senator
BOT the Times, IN order TO give some
excuse for beratlng Senator Perkins In
standing by his duty under the Con-
sttuton. IN preference 10 submission
to the pleading OF the petitioners. as
sumes that the claimant from Utah
has been guilty OF taking what Il de-
scribes as the well known Mormon
oath of disloyaty 10 the United
States" and goes on to assert that II
is reasonable 10 be presumed that he
has been in the past, II not in the Inn
mediate present a violator in spirit at
least. II not in letter Of the require
ments OF the Edmunds law"
That So very poor and shifty at
tempt at Justification and really
amounts to so much nonsense The
Edmunds law defines certain otfenses
and provides penalties for those who
are guilty Of them IN a Territory. They
are called "poygamy' and unlawful
cohabitation.' II person has never
practised either Of those ufenses, how
can he be yiolator Of that law? The
testimony in favor Of Senator Smoot
on these points is conclusive aud un-
contradicteN He has been cleared
from every suspicion IN those regards,
and therefore the insinuations OF the
Times are puerile and unjustiiiabe
What Is the spirit of the Edmunds
law IL It is not expressed in the let
ter? But the editor goes on to say:
The Times is very positive on this
point. that the professors Of the Nor
mon religion must clear their skirts Of
the Well-established charge lying
against them of dsloyalty to the gov
eminent OF the United States. and of
violation of the marriage laws OF the
country, The whole system Of Nor
monism must clear itself of these
grave faults before the people of the
United States viii become reconcileI
to a liberation of it's presence la this
country. This charge OF dislOyultN
and of violation of the laws governing
the marriage relation lies against
Mormons as a body, universal aud in
dividual"
The Times Is very positive" no
doubt, but It would make very much
better case IT, instead of making posi-
tive" accusations, II would give some
proof Of what II calls well cstab-
lished charge" We dispute the posi-
tive statement Of the Times, and also
it's notion that the professors Of the
Mormon Church must clear their
skirts OF a charge that has not been
slbstantlated by proof. II rests with
The professionals against Senator Smoot,
who are more properly designated as
prosecutors of ths Mormon
Church, to give proof Of their Wild and
baseless assertions.
This charge OF hisloyalty.' which
tho Times simply echoes like a parrot,
mas not been established by a particle
OF proof 1t IL easy to got up cry
against an unpopular religion. and to
accuse It's devotces Of anything that
It's opponents choose To- invent WHY
must the "Mormons clear their skirts"
OF the false accusings OF their foes. in
stead of the accusers being required TO
substantiate what they alege?
IL the Times has followed carefully
the testimony before the committee
that has the case in hand It must have
discovered the fact that there has been
no evidence of any oath" taken by
the "Mormons" of any kind whatever
ANA further, that they have not been
proven TO have entered into any obi.
cation. promise, or agreement of dis
loyalty" 10 the government of the
United States. There Is no such GOV.
enant or obligation expressed or Inn
piled In the system commonly called
"Mormonisn." or taken by any OF its
adherents. Nor can It be shown that
they have failed at any time when re.
quired, to respond to their country's
call in peace or war. on the con-
trary, they have demonstrated by their
acts their love of country and their de.
votion to its flag. The Times closes
It's illogical and unsubstantlated as
sault upon Senator Perkins with the
following paragraph;
AS to Senator Smoot. his is "A case
wherein, under the peculiar clrcurn.
stances, his innocence is not neces.
sarily to be presumed, but rather to
be proved before he Is entitled to a
permanent seat In the United States
senate
Does the Los Angeles Times mean to
advocate that kind Of doctrine sit
really In earnest IN setting forth such
a proposition? Or is It so biased. preiu-
diced ana lndamed against the Church
to which Senator Smoot belongs, that
It takes for granted every idle tale In
vented and set aHoat by secterlan d.
vines and seceders from the Mormon"
faith, which bellies the course and con.
duct OF the people who laid the founda-
lions Of the state OF Utah and helped
TO start the great State OF California p?
Also that It viii advocate the reversal
of thoroughly established and uni.
versally received rule OF law and prin-
ciple Of Justice and maintain that an