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Show MORMON PLEDGES WORTHLESS. "Our experience with Utah is that Mormon pledges are worthless," declared de-clared tho Philadelphia Inquirer in January of 1905, while tho Smoot case was still under consideration by tho Senate Committeo on Privileges and Elections. And wherever in the United States tho history of recent years, as connected connect-ed with the Mormon church, is known, that is the general opinion and tho almost al-most universal conclusion. Tho church and its leaders wero in sore trouble. Tho lending mon saw that their organization organ-ization was fast going to destruction becnuso of Nntiou.il opposition to certain cer-tain ovils which it had endeavored to fasten upon the county. Finally, there was what was supposed to be a complete com-plete surrender, and the terms of that surrender were generous toward the Mormon people, and were sealed in most solemn compact. After a probationary poriod of several 3'ears the Gentiles of Utah induced the peoplo of the Nation at large to look with favor upon the petition for Statehood. There was Qvery confideuco that the compacts then made would be religiously kept. It was far from tho thoughts of citizens here that there would ever again appear a disposition dis-position and a purpose to renew tho old sins in tho church and bring on 'anew thu old antagonisms. It was thought that the compact which had come out of so much tribulation would be adhered ad-hered to as being almost a bond executed exe-cuted to the Great Father. Having all power in tho Territorial government, the Gentiles of Utah gonerously relinquished relin-quished it in their ndvocacv of Statehood. State-hood. But for them thero would havo been no sovereignty. ' Every pledge has been broken by the church leaders, and through them by the church. All the covenants- so sa-crcdl.v sa-crcdl.v made and ho gladly received havo been trampled under foot. And, in dcod, it has been shown beyond any doubt that "Mormon pledges 'are worthless." worth-less." ' |