The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-15

Clearly that in itself cannot disqualify
him. where. as Justice Story said:
The Catholic and the Protestant. the
Calvinist and the Armenian. the jew
and the infidel. may sit down at the
common table of the national councils
without any inquisition into their
faith and mode of worship
Discussing the doctrines Of the Nor
mon church and the record Of Nor
mons who have held public office since
the admission Of Utah to she union.
Mr.. Knox quoted Mr.. Shoots testi-
mOny that the law Of the land is bind
ing If Ii came in conflict with the
church. In the same testimony. Mr.
Smoot said he believed that revelations
character possessing every cOnstitu-
tional qualification as a senator of the
United States. What. then. is the
charge against him? We may as we'll
go TO the root of the matter at once.
II is only this: He is a member and
officer Of the Mormon church-nOthing
more. There is no other charge against
him. All other charges are included in
or grew out Of the fact that he is a
Mormon. and che of the advisory cOun-
we're received from God and. summing
UP this statement. Mr. Knox said: TN
this country Of ours religious belief is
not an offense A man may believe
what he chooses without fear of mo-
lestation FROM the law or deprivation of
his civil rights. On the other hand. his
religious belief viii not avail him as a
protection if he violates the law.
Smoot Might Have a Revelation"
Senator Smoot merely says that he
believes il is possible that he might
receive a revelation. That is all. AS
a matter of fact he has never received
one. and so testified. He merely as
Ts fc III e
receiving one Surely This is not a dan
ger of such magnitude and such an inn
minent character as to Justify eXpelling
him from the United States senate
especially since he asserts under oath
that in case he should have such rev
elation and it should command him
IL break q law of the United States. he
would leave the country before NiO-
latiEg tho law
Concerning Senator Shoots toIcr-
ance OF the continued polygamOus re-
lations by certain Mormon officials.
Mr.. Knox said
''The only thing alleged against
Smoot is that he lets this sleeping dog
lie. If this disdualifies him, every eiti-
zen OF Utah Mormon and Gentle. is
likewise disqualified. who likewise re-
trains from prosecuting the old Nor
mon polyga mists-and they all do.
Declaring that pOlygamy is dying out
and that polygamous marriages have
ended in Utah. Mr.. Knox said;
American Home Not Involved.
Il do not see how the sanctity OF the
American home is at stake in this is
sue II the Mormon church teaches
and encourages its practice.
surely the fact that Senator Smoot is
a monagaInist and has from his youth
up set his fact and lifted his voice
against polygamy Is conclusive evid-
eence that he is fighting by precept
and example for the sanctity Of the
American home against his church and
under circumstances requiring the
greatest moral courage IL. on the
other hand. the Mormon church is not
teaching and encouraging polygamy
the argument that the sanctity OF the
American home is involved here utter
" fails You may take either position
and IL win lead TO Senator Shoots
complies vindiCation and 10 the certain
conclusion I have indicated. that the
purity OK the American home is not in
jeopardy. You may take either horn Of
the diiespna- IL the church is teach
ing polygan1y. Smoot IL preaching and
practicity monogamy. IT the church is