The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-23

| IN pupllc. IhlS righteous man, sitting
in the holy of holes and in the
superior councils of the Mormon
church, was so ashamed of his personal
life that. as soon as somebody wanted
him TO tell about his career as an in-
spired teacher of a religious people,
he jumped the Job Of most exalted
eyemplar and hied himself to a foreign
cline in order to escape the ungodly in
quisitors, who fain would have heard
how he had lived his religion. Fancy
a servant of the Lord. prophet, seer,
and revelator of the Almighty, a man
bearing the gospels glad tidiugs of
great JOY to all the world. having such
circumstances connected with his daily
life that he feared to be "held up to
public ignominy,' Just as (note the
vicious slap. "some of my brethren
were. -
The Mormon high priests-notabIy
2 certain much-married and otherwise
distinguished gentleman, named Rob
erts-contend that polygamy is a part
of the Mormon religion; that polyg,
amous living is the outgrowth Of n
religious belief entertained by Nor
mons: that the practice of either is
a church affair because of these con
ditions, But here is the blundoring
John w, (''there with the goods, - as
usuaD who has let the feline out Of
the poIygamous vanity box by say
ing that his polygamy was not church
affair at all, He says that while he
recognized the right Of the president Of
the Mormon church 10 direct him in
church affairs, he ''did net think his
authority extended to CIVIL AF-
FAIRS TO the extent that he should
expose his family relations The
News quotes Mr.. Taylor with evident
approval. And the News repeats Mr..
Roberts, in an antipodal expression,
with apparent equal favor. But which
presentation Will the News have the
public accept-that of Roberts, that
polygamy is part OF the Mormon re-
ligion, and subject for prophetic de
fense! Or would it prefer that the peo.
pie accept the Taylor vcrsion-that
polygamy is civil affair-and none of
the prophet s blanked business? In
the one editorial article the church
organ confers the blessing Of sanctity
upon both attitudes, And perhaps the
citizenship of this community is ex-
pccted TO understand that it is TO be
kept guessing for yet while, when the
News explains that ono proclamation
is at first understood. - But we I'm.
plore the News TO out with it as soon
as possible; for this dazzling light upon
the polygamous antics is quite too
glorious to be long hidden under
busbel
Joseph T. Smith has declared that
the man who says the prophets may
direct him spiritually, but not tenn
porally, "is a liar in the face Of
Cod John W. TAYLOR objected TO
submission to the prophet in "civil af
fairs, and he was promptly "re-
signed" The News so states in its
same editorial article, But let us
the church organ. Does il
admit that there is hierarchical die
tation in civil affairs, and that failure
to submit to that domination is
apostasy, and is punishable by cx-
communications Or will it deny that
there is any such interference, aud
say that there was no reason for the
removal of Taylor, except as political
thus expose the whole
political machiuation of the Mormon
church leaders,
The more the church organ dabbles
with this thing, the deeper it sinks into
the mire. There is ample reason for
that condition. too, when one comes TO
think that the whole black mess was
born in fraud and nurtured IN by
pocrisy and deceit.
"No proclamation is at first under
stood, indeed If the President of
the United States. and the Governors Of
The individual States. were to Jointly
issue a proc lamatiou TO the effect that
there would be no longer any restraint
against poJygamy, would the News
and the Shiny polygamist understand it
'at 6rst7'' They would. Yea, verify,
and with an exceeding clear "interpre.
,ation. -