The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-27

dared not print it, while Tho Tribune
did. And he was driven to the cXpc-
dicnt on his return homo Of saying
hat he had given certain portions of
his testimony in order 10 escape the
traps OF his enemies.
10 say. therefore. that the London
Times discrcdits President Smith as q
witness merely because he = polyg
amist, IS such 4 pitiruI begging ot tho
question that one is necessarily amazed
to see il,
The News asks. "Why not let time
complete the reform work. meaning
the elimination OF these old polyga-
nous relations The reply is that time
docs not eradicate. The Tribune has
printed ihc namcs of 30 new polyga-
mists. IL is admitted that while there
may lac possibly two or three mistakes
in this list. the list is substantially
correct We understand that this is
conceded even by the authorities of the
church. They have, in facts proceeded
in a few of the eases and found them
TO he as The Tribune stated This,
therefore, is Che complete answer to
the News : question, why not let time
effect the cure If time were Indeed
to effect the cure, then there might
be some force in the query; but with
new polygamous relations entered into
by the hundreds. there is no prospect
of time bcttering conditions.
The News says that the most ardent
rcformers demanded the immediate
cessation of unlawful cobabitation, the
putting away of the plural wives, as
all the presidents of the church since
the Manifesto have sworn was its true
meaning, and says that it understands
that some men took this course.
ii is useless to undertake TO
switch the matter off in that
way. lt was not matter of per
sonal Judgment; it was not case Of
few doing one thing or another. As
we have proved above. it was show
ing made by the church Itself for its
own purposes. and it got the benefit
of the showing it made in the amnesty
for polygamIsts, in the restoration Of
the cschcatcd property. in the obtaining
Of Statehood. Why undertake, there
fore dishonesty to shuttle the main
question out of sight under the guise
of it being personal matter with
few mon. or to undertake TO say that
the bearing of President Smith to-
wards this great question is merely
matter Of his private affairs? As we
stated above. the matter is not to be
considered as personal question at
all, but one which, through his per
sonality, raises the whole question al
issue
The News 8 claim is that "Prcsi-
dent Smith, with equally conscientious
regard for his duty. decided to live
with his waves and submit TO whatever
penalty the law against unlawful 60.
habitation demanded" That is. he put
himself in the position OF wilIful
lawbreakcr, ostensibly amcnable TO the
penalties of the statute This is what
he himself testified 10 in the Smoot
case; but, if il was President Smith 81
duty 10 live in polygamy
that is a clear elevation Of the polyga
nous revelation above the law Of the
land. above the Manifesto, above all
other considerations, both human and
divine Conformity to the revelation
cnjoining polyGamy, after the polyga-
nous relations have been established,
is therefore, according 10. tho News S
view. the one great duty or a man. It'll
was the prime duty of Joseph +. Smith.
He is 10 be excused for all OF his
pledge breaking, for all of his violation
of his own Interpretation of the Mani
faslo, for his bringing into The world
unlawfully according TO his own con
fession, and against the law Of God ac
cordiug to his own testimony, eleven
children as he said at that time, and
twelve as now known. THIS brings us
to the point where President Smith re-
uounced allegiance 10 God IN his tcsti
mony as shown in volume T., page l6l,
Of the Smoot hearing. The questions
and answers proceeded as follows:
Mr.. Tayler,-Thcn the Almighty does
not speak by revelations directly TO
them?
Mr. Smith,-Ycs. sir: but mon obey it
or not as they please. They are at lib
erty TO obey or not Just as they please.
Mr.. Tavler-t,%aCtly.
Mr.. Smith.-And they disobey ii they
wish with perfect impunity.
Mr.. Taylcr.-In your conception of God.
then, He is not omnipotent and om-
niscient?
MIR. Smith.-Oh. yes; think He is.
Mr.. Tayler.-But do you mean Ia say
you, at your pleasure. obey or disobcy
the commands of Almighty God?
Mr.. Smlth-Yes. sir.
Mr. ler.-Cor1muuicated to you?
Mr.. Smith, obey or disobey at my
will.
Mr. Taylor.-Just as you please?
Hr Smith.-,JuSt as | please.
MIR. Taylcr.-And that is the kind OF a
God you believe in?
Mr. Smth.-That is exactly the kind OF
a God l believe T,
With this kind of showing, with
what face can The News say that the
| oudon Times Iisrrrdifnd President