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Show Tke B. Y.University Mod Editor Tribune: It was reported that the big demonstration hero tho afternoon after-noon of the 20th insl., in honor of Senator Sen-ator Smoot, and in which 3'onr paper, some of those connected with it and Senator Burrows and others were placed upon tho funeral piro aud burued iu of-fiE3 of-fiE3 was participator!, in by tho students stu-dents of tho B. Y. university and citizens citi-zens of this cit3'. I wish to defend tho citizens of this place from this implication impli-cation and place them in the right light beforo the world, for they had no part iu this regrottable affair. The wliob' aud entire proceedings were the work of tho professors and students of Itif B. Y. U., and no citizen, so for as E am ablo to learn, had any part or parcel in it. I have talked with at least n dozen citizens about tho episode and they all denounce it as a shameful affair. af-fair. One man said: "In my opinion, tho B. Y. U. has disgraced itself. It is supposed to te.'ich and follow tho precepts of the meek and lowlj'. instead of acting like a pack of wolves." Another An-other man said lie never knew before that the B. Y. U. was a political institution, insti-tution, whilo another said that the conception con-ception of tho low affair was about the size of tho. brains of somo of the professors engaged there, who wero ovidontly intended for the middle ages instead of the twentieth ecntiuy. Another man said that The Tribuno could not get a stronger proof of its assertion that the vindication of Reed Smoot is as a churchman and not as a Senator. I can only quote but Jitllo from personal knowledge, but .believe that the people of Provo aro almost unanimous in their opinion that it was far below the dignity of the B. Y. U.; that as an institution of learning it manifested a spirit of uncommon narrowness nar-rowness and bigoliy and dropped down fa notch in tho estimation of all broad-minded broad-minded people. If the Republican party par-ty of Provo had indulged its enthusiasm enthusi-asm ui such a way it might be excused; but for a religious institution for tho promulgation of the highest Christian virtues' to romo down from its high piano of morality and bawl ami bellow its fifteenth cciitur' bigotry- through tho streets, it is stirel' unpardonable and unjustifiable. .1 have nover experienced ex-perienced the brutal feeling that is ! present at a lynching bee. but -now ! have a faint idea of whatit must be. 1 If it was not des'pieahlc to see pro- fossors and theological teachers drop to tho level of hangmen and execution- J ers and lead on the bawling mob. then j what was it? One person said ho sun- ' posed that Brother K , who stands 1 close to the head of tho list, had got a revolation ordering tho demonstration, but as to the truth of this we aro not ablo to saj'. But wo do want to repeat that the citizens of Provo had no part in the nast3" affair, repudiate it, and are heartily heart-ily ashamed of it. Thoy fool that it js a disgrace lo the to.wn and that the city has suffered in reputation bv it ' CITIZEN. Provo, Feb. 23, .1907. |
