The Cairo bulletin., 1907-02-20
SM0OT UPAOLDS
SELF IN SENATE
MORMON SENATOR SAYS PLURAL
MARRIAGE NO LONGER Ex.
lSTS IN UTAH.
CHURCH is PATRIOTIC
He Declares, and Oath is Religion
and Fosters Love For the Country
Says His Vows DO Not
Hamper Duty.

Washington, Feb. 19.-Speaking in
his own defense, Senator Reed Smoot
addressed the senate today on the
general subject of Mormuhism. He
condemned polygamy in the strongest
terms and declared emphatically that
he had taken no oath Inconsistent
with that he has taken as senator
Mr.. Smoot spoke as follows:
Mr. President: In what shall say
to the senate | do not intend to ana.
lyze the voluminous testimony taken
before the committee or to make an
argument thereon. The greater part
of this testimony has been before the
senate for more than two years and
all Of it for nearly one year. 1t has
been fully argued by the distinguished
senators who have already spoken
upon this question, my own testi.
mony, covering mote than l25 pages
of the record, is before you, and | do
not feel that | should trespass upon
your time by indulging in any eX-
tended discussion. Indeed, should
have been content to submit the case
upon the record and speeches made
by others, without saying anything
myself, except that there are certain
matters which can be known only to
myself and | think that the senate
is entitled to frank statement from
me as to my personal attitude respect.
ing these matters. The senate IS en-
titled to know my personal attitude
upon the subject of polygamy and
upon the subject % loyalty TO this
government. Upon these two matters
shall express myself briefly, but
with entire candor
First, / desire to state, as have
repeatedly heretofore stated, to the
senate and to the country. that am
mist. ! never had but one wife and
she is my present wife.
Few Mormon Poiygamists.
There has been more or less
prevalent opinion that the doctrine of
polygamy was obligatory upon the
members of the Mormon church.
whereas. in truth and fact. no such
obligatory doctrine has ever existed
The revelation concerning polygamy
as originally made and as always IN.
treprcted. is permissible and not man.
datory. As a matter of fact. only
small percentage of the adherents Of
that faith have ever been polygamists.
The vast majority of he adult mem
bers of the church from its founda.
ton TO the present time have been
mOnogamists.
The Mormon people, however, re.
garded this doctrine-alt although per
in character--as part of their
religious faith and when the law was
passed denouncing its practice. the
execution Of the law was resisted on
the ground that it was unconstitu-
tiopal, a. being an Interference with
their religious liberty. Appeals were
taken TO The highest courts OF the
land, every phase OF the subject was
tested in the courts and the law was
upheld. Then the church adopted the
manifesto against polygamy. which
ratified by the general conference Of
he people, and thercupon the prac-
ticc of polygamy for the future was
abandoned.
Should Jail New PoIygsrists.
IL 4. ,lg Il
hat there have been new cases of
marriage since the mani
festo and this presents altogether q
different question. ! have no hesita-
ion in declaring to the senate and
10 the American people. that in my
opinion any man who married a
wife since the manifesto
should be prosecuted. and If convicted
should suffer the penalties of the
aw: and | care not who the man
might be, Or what position he might
hold in the church. he should receive
he punishment pronounced by The
aw against the crime.
"The testimony taken before the
-pUlIUllNtt ltulo ~ HuoN AuhN AltElt
lsve been some polygamOus mar
-iages since the manifesto. believe
sincerely. Mr.. President. that such
,ases have been rare. They have not
'ccciycd the sanction. or the en-
'ouragcment Of the church.
For nearly half a century the
ightfulnoss Of polygamy was taught
md its practice was encouraged in I
itah. 1t is no longer taught and its
'ractice DO longer encouraged But I 1
ubmit that it would be remarkable /
hing il. in the course of 1G years.
here should not have been occasional 1
Instances OF new polygamy.
Not Hostile to the U. s.
There does not exis, in the endov-
nent ceremonies Of the Mormon |
hurch the remotest suggestion Of /
hostility or antagonism to the United |
states Of to any other nation. They T.