The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-22
scientists, unfortunately, assume good
deal more than they know.
LONDON TIMES COMMENT.

manifesto of President Joseph +.
Smith to the people of Great Britain,
designed TO quiet their anxiety with re-
gard 10 the activity of Mormon mis-
sionaries in England. The Tribune
printed that address in its issue of May
Sth, taken from the Deseret News of
May 9Th. Inasmuch as the News did
not print the editorial comment OF the
London Times upon what the Times
calls that manifesto we supply that
omission, copying the Times editorial
entire as follows:
a MORMON MANIFESTO.
We publish today a statement in writ
| ing which Joseph F. Smith, tho President
OF the Mormon Church. has handed TO our
Special Correspondent in Salt Lake City
for publication, The document. as our
Correspondent rightly insists, is official
10 the fullest extent FOR II was approved
| by the two other Presidents. who, to-
| First Presidency OF the sect. IL Is a
remarkable document. 1t is written with
q lud'cious moderation OF tone which is
well calculated to appeal to the sense OF
Justice of the British people and IL
hreathcs spirit OF earnestness. simpic-
ity, and truth II is pious. and yet not
I q
addressed in the first place to tho Min
listers OF the Gospel OF all denominations.
and ending with 81 bcnediction In the
name OF the Almighty Mr Smith be-
| gins by stating that his object is 70 con-
tradict the tions now being
made in England, and TO establish tho
truth. With this end, he affirms that
during the nino years in which he has
| held office as President no man in tho
! Church having one wife has been allowed
| 10 take another; that no authority Of the
! d 'l,tR,
such a marriage, meaning thereby
bisamous or poygamous marriage and
that nobody is invited TO join the church
In the expectation OF living In such mar
Invited only 10 Join us As brothers in
Jesus Christ and share tho tulness Of
revelations" The Church he alleges.
enioins obedience to tho laws and 10 all
properly constituted authority. All state
ments, TO the contrary, or ascribine to
the Church Willingness TO Countenance
or encourage any form OF immortality or
loose living whatever" are false and SIAN
derous. Mr.. Smith does not ask MS TO
accept these assurances on his unsup-
ported word He deprecatcs indeed. and
begs all Of us TO resist, appeals To pas
sion or prejudice, but he and his follow
investigation into the conduct OF their
members in every community OF the
Church. and they pledge themselves TO
assist such an investigation TO tho ut
most Of their power.
II is unfortunately not in our power
as state 10 comply with MI Smith
this moment making such inquiries into
the operations OF the Mormon mission
aries In this country as the law permits
and we arc content, with our correspond
ent. Mr.. Leslie Scott, to await the result
OF their labors But MIR Smith must
have known perfectly well when he wrote
this invitation that nobody in this coun-
try can possibly carry out tho Searching
investigation which he desires in the
place where alone II could he conclusive
namely, in the State OF Utah. To be Of
the smallest service an inquiry Of the
kind would have 10 be conducted by y
body empowered 10 summon witnesses
and examine them upon oath. and 10
compel tho production of documents. No
Government can, Of course. undertake 10
make such an inquiry outside its own
territory, and no examination undertaken
by private persons as volunteers and un-
armed with these Indispensable powers
would be able 10 get a The truth so as
fully 70 convince public opinion. More
unfortunately still. there does not appear
TO be any outside authority which can
accede to Mr.. Smiths request. The State
OF Utah has been itself sovereign Stale
since January. 1896. and the Federal Gov
ernment OF The United States has not
even power. as Mr. Leslie Scott reminds
us. TO enforce the provision Of the Utah
Constitution which forblds polygsny, al
OF the Union was made conditional on
the insertion of this provision I'm that in
strument a thorough investigation car
ried out by the Federal Government
would no doubt completely satisfy opin
ion. IL would establish the truth" as
Mr.. Smith desires. and. il il confirmed his
statements. II would effectually dispcl the
MISUNDERSTANDING" OF which he COM
plains. II is difficult 10 be certain AS to
the exact limits of State and Federal
rights under the American Constitution"
but. at present advised. We imagine
that tho inquiry for which Mr.. Smith
is so eager is outside the competence OF
the Washington authorities. II that be
so. there Is nobody who can conduct 1T.
An inquiry by the State Of Utah. or un-
der It's authority, would he moCkery.
for that State is wholly under the con
troll in its politics of the Mormon sect
It is 10 be feared that Mr. Smiths So
licitations arc vain, and his promise OF
assistance futile.
While desiring as far as possible 10
MAY be rendered in support OF Mr..
Smiths statements. we cannot shut our
eyes TO certain facts which tend TO dis
credit them. In 1906 the Committee
on Privileges and Elections of the United
States Senate was called upon TO exam
inc a protest lodged against the return
stantially on the ground that he was
Mormon Apostle. With the case itself
We need not concern ourselves except to
say that Mr. Smoot was. not a polygamist
and that the Senate refused TO dis
qualify him. But A great deal Of evil
dence was given before this Committee
some OF which seems TO be very peril
nent to Mr.. Smiths appeal Ito The Minis
ters .of the Gospel He. himself was
"A witness, and amongst the statements
which he is alleged TO have made were
that there was a State Law in Utah pro-
hibiting unlawful cohabitation. He ad-
mitted that he had habitually vio-
lated this law. lie admitted that
he had five wives, and that
all of his wives had borne him children
eleven in all--since 1890 the year III
which the then President OF the Church
had advised the faithful to refrain
from marriages forbidden by law, There
cannot We imagine, be any mis- take about
the identity OF the "Joseph +. Smith"
who was examined by the Committee and
the Joseph r. Smith who now be-
slows upon us his benedictIou. Nor do
we fancy that he car be other than the
Joseph F Smith" who on November %
1906 pleaded Guilty" in the District
Court OF Salt Lake City TO a charge Of
unla awful cohabitation and was fined 5000
We have no wish Whs tever TO appeal 80
passion prejudice bat II the person
who confessed to having five wives be-
fore the Committee Of the Senate and
who confessed Ia unlawful cohabilatIon
when brought before tho Court he the
ef