The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-02
SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN

! (Mass,) Republican in its conclusions
while at the same time commendinp
the Republican g usual accuracy in
stating the facts and its disposition To
fairness in reaching its deductions.
In another column is the expected
comment OF that noted journal upon
inc Smoot case. under the title, ''The
victory of Senator Smoot. -
in view of tho peculiar statements
made by members Of the Senate Com
mlttee on Privileges and Elections in
their defense of Apostle Reed Smoot.
1t is not surprising that the Spring
held Republican should go somewhat
astray concerning the facts revealed
IN the investigation. Naturally, one
does not expect from Senators of
the standing of Knox, Foraker, Hopkins
una Beveridge, either ignorance or
talsehood in dealing with matter to
which they have given three years of
study as members of Senate commit
tee; and naturally, therefore, the state.
ments made by them, particularly when
supported by majority vote of the Sen
ate, viii pass current even in news
paper Offices, where the closest scrutiny
and the most labored study NAV be
gwen to the merits of National con.
trovcrsy, In such way, the Springfield
Republican has been misled in some
slight degree. The Senatorial propon-
ents Of Apostle Smoot brought forward
In their speeches necessarily n denial
that Smoot was polygamist, and they
insisted that as he was not Affirmative
~ proved guilty of this offeuse he must
be innocent, and therefore the whole
case against him fell to the ground.
The nineteen protestants against
Reed Smoot S right to hold seat in
the Senate, who formulated their bull
lct-proof indictment and filed the same
against him, thereby aGording the
ground upon which millions of people
petltioned for bis removal, made no
charge of polygamy against the apos-
tie. 1t was their claim that, under the
government of the Mormon church
the system established and the system
prevailing-no one of its hierarchs
could be Senator, paying his supreme
devotion to the Nation; but must be
ton account Of the character Of the
church government) first a priest and
ruler and citizen in the temporal king
dom of God, and subordinately-if at
ala citizen and official under and in
an earthly government Thus the in. |
trlnsic character of the Mormon church |
rule over adherents TO the church, and !
binding upon its hierarchy, becomes
'he vital point at issue; and, as demon |
'trated by the protestaDts in their great |
lrraignment upon which the investiga-
.lon was based, is a legitimate matter
or examination by the Senate.
The character of the Mormon church
government, as declared by the protest
lnts, has not been in any sense dis.
proved. The cavalier dismissal by the
proponents Of Apostle Smoot of the
Whole charge, simply because he was
lot proved guilty of practicine po-
ygamy, was a direct evasion of the
ctual issue involved and is also the
Of a falscbood; for, incl.
ent to the showing that the Mormon
hurch IS not only alien, but direct
y antagonistic to, and claims superi-
rity over, the Government of this Re
ublIc-is the official teaching and
ractice of polygamy, which Reed
moot sustains and criminal respon-
lbility for which he must share,
Again, 1t clearly appears that the
rganization Of the Mormon church.
ne question as TO whether the govern
lent of that cult assumes to be higher
arthly authority than the Government
this Republic or not-constitutes
le subject matter of the entire con-
-oversy.
upon most of these points the Repub~ J
can is fully enlightened, and it's re-
arks concerning the Mormon church
emonstrate that it has been seriously {
impressed by the horrifying revelations !
ade concerning the polygamous prac. g
ces in which the chiefs of the cult en-. t
age. g
But the Republican falls into possible =
Tor when it declares in blunt words
lat Reed Smoot Is not a polygamist;
nd 1T makes positive and unaccoupt. j
Die msstatement when he saws he I
'es not defend polygamy. Is it not b
defence Of polygamy for Apostle f
moot TO support the chief polygamists q
the church as the ruling officers of {
e church, to offend against whose pre-. h
pit and example is to offend against n
odf That is precisely Reed Smoot, g \
titude in his teaching and acts in "
g Mormon church. Is it not defend a
e polygamy for Reed Smoot. as an Z,
hcer of the church. TO issue evor,, A. c,