The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-17
THE TRUE POSITION.

We print on this page this morning
first-rate editorial from the Christian
Herald on the general relations Of the
Smoot case to the Senate and to the
country.
We agree with the Herald that the
report of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections is distinct triumph for
the Women's Committee 1t is also an
equal triumph for patriotic dlscernment
and the Sitting out of Irrelevant mat
ter from the main case. -iE
The quibbling efforts of Senator
Smoot and his friends 10 befog the real
Issue is taken note Of by the Herald
and the claim that those advocates
make that the petitions are an attempt
to influence the Senate to a decision
based upon the popular prejudice, is
earnestly and easily refuted. The truth
is that the popular voice upon this
question is the true voice. The people
Of the country at large realize fully the
menace of the ecclesiasticlsm which
now prevails in Utah TO the intrusion
upon civil government. the destruction
OF the liberties OF Its people and the de-
f1ance of the institutions Of this coun-
try.
Neither is it true that the case
against Senator Smoot rests In the least
degree upon his being a Mormon. Nor
is there any attack upon anybody's re-
liG~iOn Mo Y,,
that all that Is required Of Smoot and
the rest of the Mormon hierarchy Is
that they shall cease their efforts 10 de-
bauch free institutions in this State
and where their influence controls: that
they shall entirely abrogate their civic
functions, give up their civil and tenn
poral government. and let the people
alone altogether In all matters pertain
ing to politics, business, and civic gov
ernment, confining their efforts as the
leaders In other churches do. to their
religious doctrines and tho care of the
souls of the members of their church.
The case against Senator Smoot is
that he is member of this alien and
hostile civil government which has been
erected here In the midst of the domain
or the United States; that he is a high
officer in that civil government. and has
taken oaths In 1t and has incurred obli
cations Of so-called duty which require
him to maintain that allen government
and defy and resist the Government of
the United States. as we'll as to over
ride all civil government that may be
erected within this State. He Is a de-
fender and sustainer of polygamy In
that he consents to others entering In
to the polygamous relation without his
taking any steps to prevent or expose
their transgressions. Not only does he
fail TO do his duty In this regard. but
he absolutely and positively sustains
them in their vicious course by holding
them up to the world and voting for
them in the Mormon conferences as
men OF God. whose example 1t is good
to follow and whose Instructions are
binding upon the people, 1t is quite i'm
possible to segregate Shoots Apostle
ship from his Senatorship. 1t Is equally
Impossible to separate him in any capa-
city from the polygamous cult OF the
church which he supports and defends.
and also from his official position in
that civil and allen government which
recognizes no lawful authority save It's
own.
The Christian Herald Is absolutely
right; the people OF the country under
stand this question thoroughly; and
Senator Smoot has no right on any
consideration which involves popular
government or any connection with
the u. S. Senate, or any civil position:
because whatever position he may hold
'-if he claiDs title under anv civil gov