Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-09
STILL MISUNDERSTANDING


Ordinarily. when question of dispute
is referred to the proper tribunal for
settlement, and the decision IL given,
the dispute is ended. Whatever the
verdict Is, the parties accept 1t, II they
are reasonable beings But for the oh
servance Of this rule OF civilized con-
duct. there would be no other end 10
any controversy than the arbltrament
Of brute force. It Is TO avoid savage
warfare and endless feuds that the
decisions OF courts and other tribunals
always are accepted as the end Of con-
troversy on any given question.
Not 80, however, in the disputes
raised by anti-"Mormon" fanatics. No
matter what the law or the courts, or
any tribunal of the people may say con~
corning the merits of the contention,
the anti "Mormons" are still urging
their old arguments, telling their old
tales, making their old appeals to the
prejudices of the people, and thunder
ing against the high heavens In their
mad rage. Old galmoneus himself, who,
40 the story goes, defied the gods and
persisted in the attempt, did not present
a more sorrowful spectacle than do
these nti-"Mormons' IN their unequal
contest with truth and justice.
We are prompted to these reflections
by an attack upon Senator Hopkins OF
Illinois, by Methodist publication. be-
cause the Senator voted for the reten-
tion of Senator Smoot in the United
States Senate. The publication referred
to, with characteristic disregard of
truth, declares that the Illinois Sena-
tors. by their votes, gave great en-
couragement to the leaders o" Mormon
ISM and awarded the practical support
of the Republican party TO 'polygamous
violators of law"
This is a misstatement or the case
and 1t Is difficult to see what the re-
,ligious publication that piously makes
II, can hope to gain by II. except keep
ing its readers in the dark concerning
the real issue. II Is not true that the
Senate by it's vote awarded any politi-
cal support to 'violators OF law" Ger
tain false charges were made against
Senator Snoot The Senate simply
said that they were false And that Is
the case in toto. Senator Knox ex-
pressly declared I'm this country OF
ours religious belief is not an offense
and not a defense A man may believe
what he chooses without fear OF moles-
tation from the law or deprivation OF
his civil rights On the other hand,
his religious belief will not avail him as
a protection II he violates the law"
The vote OF the Senate was an endorse
mont of this truly American doctrine
This was clearly emphasized by the
press al the time of the decision. This
is from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
paper no one can accuse of sympathy
for the Church:
'.Mormonism and polygamy are no
longer synonymous, and mere member
ship. or even prominence, In the sect
is not now prima facie evidence or
criminal practice or reasonable con-
splracy sufficient to show that given
person Is unworthy OF citizenship or
public office. Reed Smoot was admit
tedly not guilty of polygamy and wan
not proved guilty of anything else
This latter statement being absolutely
true, how could Senator Hopkins, being
convinced of the truth, vote otherwise
than he did?
The Springfield Republican com
mented as follows:
's-Senator Smoot was the point at
issue, not the Mormon church; II was
Senator Smoot who had taken the oath
In the Senate chamber. not the board
OF apostles; 1t was Senator Shoots per-
sonal qualifications which the Senate
had to consider. not the constitution
and character of the Mormon hierarchy.
Under these conditions II must be con-
ceded that the case has been disposed
of wisely"
This paper concludes It's review as
follows:
For the Senate to have expelled him
would have constituted, finally. most
questionable invasion OF the rights of
a state In the federal union to choose
freely it's own representatives, anc
state rights in this respect are Of real
Importance.
The religious Chicago paper that now
viciously attacks Senator Hopkins
WOULD SHOW Spille k!fph NNlSf W az
cepting the Senate decision as final.
There was absolutely no merit in the
case against the Utah senator a
great many of the petitions were pro-
cured by wilrul falsehoods told in tbs
pulpit and the press. Some OF the adj
vooates or expulsion or exclusion, knew
they had no case, and they openly and
shamelessy urged the setting aside Of
law and the application Of THE unwri,-
ten law" thus revealing the true nature
Of antl-"Mormonism." The Senators
who at that time stood between the
Constitution OF the United States and
the folly OF the crowds that had beer
worked up 10 the point OF hysterla. de-
serve wen Of the nation, And history
will yet accord them a prominent place
among patriots,
Tho Christian press OF Illinois cannot
afford 10 carry faggots with which Il
keep up the fires OF persecution and
hatred. The tragedy OF Carthage
should be a warning OF the danger OF
conJuring up the spirit Of hatred.
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