Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-15
AN IRREFUTABLE ARGUMENT.


Tho argument of Senator Knox on the
right of Senator Reed Smoot to retain
his seat In the United States Senate. is
exceedingly strong and convincing. He
contends, as did Senator Hopkins, that
the Constitution does not undertake TO
prescribe any moral or mental qualih-
cations without which a Senator Is dis
qualified, but that 1t makes the Senate
the Judge Of such qualifications as 1t
does prescribe. These qualifications re-
fer to age, citizenship and residence. AS
TO matters OF moral or mental fitness,
the states arc the judges. The Senate.
however, has the right to reverse their
Judgment by two-third's vote, provid-
ed an offense or offensive status ex-
tends into the period OF senatorial serv-
ice. This position, we think. is sus-
tanned by the letter and spirit OF the
Constitution, and by all the precedents
established.
The Senator, further. stated that the
essence OF the charges against Senator
smoot is that he is a Mormon and an
official of the Church There h." the
Senator said. no other charge brought
against him" This IL the plain truth
We have repeatedly pointed out that
the crusade Is Mormon" though
the leaders OF 1t have tried to conceal
the Wolf-claws under a sheepskin.
1t is doubtful whether American his
tory has on record a more fragrant case
OF hypocrisy In public life than this
Utah. His inveterate enemy, himself
defeated in his political ambitions,
sWore to cause the exclusion of Senator
Smoot from the Senate, II money could
do Il. The record was searched to find
cause against him. But there was
none. Then his religion was thought Of.
"Mormonism" Is unpopular in the
world. and II was supposed that this
appropriately might do service. MI.
Smoot IL a Mormon" So Mormon
ism" was assailed, and It was hoped
that the senate would be Influenced by
popular camor. And this campaign OF
personal spite and revenge by persons
who do not oven enjoy the confidence of
the community, has been carried on
Under the pretcXt OF sollctude Tor the
purity of the American home' Daniel
at the court of the Persian king. was
The object of the hatred OF jealous
uouriiers. who decided on his removal.
Bui they found nothing FOR which they
could accuse him, except his religion.
But the king was tolerant. So they
caused decree to be made. The VIOLA
ton OF which could be construed as
iisobcdionoc TO the king. ON that de-
cree the Hebrew Was condemned. but
tho plot was Anally discovered and the
Ilottors iell into their own trap. some
thing similar may yet happen Does not
history repeat itself?
we have always maintained that the
agitation against senator smoot was
an assault upon the Constitution Of the
country. We lind this view sustained
In the following notable word OF warm
hig boy Senator Knox
II know no tenet IN the new propa-
ganda " constitutional construction
that begins to contain the danger 10 our
country involved IN the contention thai
h senator of the United states may be
deprived OF his seat whenever the ma
InlllH OF lnt senate tuNClnufa lhhl Nuelt
are doctrines taught, or have been
taught IN the past by some church or
sanitation "a which he belongs. which
llat majority believes TO be, on have
been, dangerous. II is an easy step
after tho first one Is taken, because Of
mans religion, 10 take the next ana
logical one OF exclusion because u a
mans politics, and then because Of hts
notions upon economies and then be-
cause OF his attitude toward certain leg
lslation"
This is forcihle presentation %
me danger of anti-"Mormonism. It ID