Show PERSECUTION OP OF REED BEED SMOOT Spirit ManIfested Does No cr dit to the N Nation tion Kansas City City Journal The Tho testimony brought out In the In of the case of f Senator Reed Smoot on Wednesday was Interesting and instructive i as throwIng light on the his tor tory of the Mormon church and the pre and ot of Its morn mem bors but Just what relevancy a large part or of It had to the case ot of Senator Smoot is not apparent It was shown by President Joseph Smith that the Mor mom r believe that Joseph Smith jr the i founder or of their church was visited by an anGel In black who made known to him a commanding poly gam gamy Polygamy was subsequently tlc d until PresIdent Woodruff was with a revelation permitting Its I abolition President Smith also has hns re a few revelations when In a state of Inspiration but has hind had the miS fortune never to have encountered the angel In black He and hIs fellOw St still thInk polygamy right at al though not necessary Now ow nOne or Of these faCts has hns been or be b d denied we suppose for none of thorn Is at Issue TIle The matter to be de b by the investigation Is not I whether the Mormons have a number or of peculiar religious bellers or whether they regard th the practice ot of polygamy us as con consistent with religion and ala als good m men r The qUestion Is not even whether Mr Smoot shares the objectionable be of The solo matter mattor that ought to be determined by the In Is whether or not Smoot has violated or Is now vIolating the lawS Jaws or of his state or his countr country or has haa corn com I milted or 18 1 committing an any in Indecent ec nt or Immoral acts which unfit him to be i a United States senator What hat Mr Smoot or anybody ois Is believes in regard to re ligion Is not In the Instance or I at least ought not to be l a matter of I inquiry Th The reason foi COr this Is obvious To take his mere beliefs and opinions Into ac count or e even n to draw them forth and exhibit them be before ro the co country and thus bring ridicule upon him Is to persecute the tah senator jog his uPon the tho pretense of r pr te Ung p public morals moral and thir by violate that freedom ot of re worship which la Is guaranteed b by both the spirIt and letter Of the laws and constitution ot of the United States 5 I anti and ot of the tIu several states So long ions La as he obeys the laws and commIts no overt act which outrages the moral ties of the nation Mr Ir Smoot Is entitled I to the protection or of Its what ever eyer offices or other I he may acquire und r them Tile THe cal and persecuting spirit whIch has I be beta n manifested ted In the Sr case does not credit to Do a nation which guarantees religious freedom to expressly people all Its I |