Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-03
IN oBRAsse THEY TRUST.

orators is thaf the party manipuldtors
again have decided TO depend on false
hoods for their continuation In power.
And as they have quite an assortment
they naturally hope to fool some OF the
people part of the time. at least.
one OF their often repeated but none
the less false assertions IS. that the
so-called American" party was formed
In order to obviate Church interference
in politics. This is one of the brazen
perversions Of truth that Is relied upon
to have its effects with voters who do
not think.
The Mormon" Church does not in
terfere in politics. Its policy has been
stated again aud again. and not long
ago in the Address TO the World" as
follows:
1--WE declare that from principle and
policy we favor;
THE absolute separation OF Church
and state.
mo domination OF the State by the
Church.
mo Church interference with the
functions of the state;
No state interference with the func-
lions of the church, or with the free
exercise of religion;
"The absolute freedom of the indi-
vidual from the domination of eccle-
siastical authority III political affairs;
THE equality of all churches be-
fore the law"
This is the official declaration of the
Church. adopted In Conference, and
binding upon all its members, and the
Church expects to be judged by its own
profession, and not by the false asser-
lions. and allegations of its bigotted
enemies. TO whom truth seems to be-
stranger than fiction" indeed
The Church OF Jesus Christ of Lat
ter-day Saints never was in politics,
In any other sense than that its mem
bers as American citizens exercised
the rights and prerogatives Of their
citizenship. Even in the days of the
Peoples party the affairs of church
and state were kept separate as much
as possible under the circumstances
that gave birth to that party. When
the members of the Church have been
driven, by prosecutors. TO the necessity
of defending their rights as citizens,
and even their homes and lives. they
lave done so with legal means, and
not with sneaking undetermined meth
DDS. like their adversaries. This has
been their strength. The fact occa-
stoned the truly iendish saying, which
rabid antI-"Mormons' never have hesi-
tated to endorse: Though the law can
not touch them, powder and bali can"
The utter imbecility of the charge
that the Church interferes in politics
is manifest in the repetition of the
falsehood that Senator Smoot repre-
sents the Church In the Senate OF the
United States, and that as an Apostle
he dominates the politics of Utah. This
twaddle does not even have the merit
of novelty, to say nothing of original
ity 1t is an old. worn-out tale that
has been properly labeled by the most
competent authority.
1t will be remembered that that
charge was depended on. chiefly. for
the success OF the conspiracy against
Senator Smoot. His traducers alleged
that he was the representative OF the
Church. and not Of the state, and that
the Church dictates the politics OF its
officers and members. The charges
as everybody knows, were more thor
oughly Investigated than the character
of the aocusers warranted. The report
of the minority Of the committee Of m-
vestigation was.
while It is no doubt true that the
habit which the Church and the men-
bers of the Church had followed for so
many years prior TO the breaking up
of old parties of voters receiving coun-
sci from officials of the Church In re-
gard to the selection OF cUndidates for
Office was not at once completely brOk-
en- on, yet the evidence further estab-
fishes that the Improvement in this
regard has been very rapid and that,
of late years, the Mormon voters OF the
state adhere more closely 10 party lines
than the non-MormOns do. We think
the evidence establishes the fact that
since Reed Smoot became an apostle OF
the Mormon Church on the 9Th day OF
April, 1900, the Mormon church has NOT
controlled or attempted to control cleo
lions - Utah
As 10 the question whether senator
smoot, as Senator represents the
Church or the State, tho committee
says:
The evidence In tho case clearly es-
tablishos that MI Sm0ot lor some time
before lac became "a candidate for the
Senhte ana even heIolc ne became u.
Apostle, WAS one OF the leaders of the
Republican party Ia The state OF Utah,
that lac had been frequently spoken OF
either as a candidate FOR the governor
ship of the state or the Senate OF the
United States. that when he became
a candidate Tor the Senate he was, u,
the words OF some Of tho Witnesses, the
logical candidate Tor that office, ana
that he was elected by Me votes OF thf
Republicans in the legislature, Nor.
mons and nom Mormonh, ana was op.
posed by the Democrats Mormons and
non-Mormons.'
And this report was accepted by Tho
United States Senate IA true, In oppo.
sition TO another report which anti,
'Mormona' tried 10 induce that body
10 adopt In view OF this fact, doe,
not the efforts OF one-horse American
orators appear rather comlcal? d
traglcal, perhaps? Is It not an extra
ordinary performance 10 try TO gait
votes for a party on proposition whloi
the United states Senate by it's yot
In the smoot case, declared to be falls
and contrary TO the evidence produced
Does the entire political history Of III
country show a more brazen nttanp