The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-25
NEW YORK, SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 25, 1874


argument orreason, and even teach them that II 4
SIN to reason, think, or investigate as y u woud
disturb the even tenor OF their pious breathngs ana
devout groans and responses. Smith, you must ne
extremely ignorant oi human nature, as wei as Oh
the history OF the past, to presume that reason ana
truth would have much effect with the multitude.
Why, sir. look how eflectually we wsrded of tine
run at Ephesus, when Paul attempted to address
them IN the theatre. Strange that with all these
examples before you, you should venture 10 ralse
the hue and cry which has been SO oft defeated,
and this with no better weapons on ysur sid. than
reason and truth. Indeed, yon may thank my
christian spirit Of forbearance that YOU have IS
capped so far without grid-lron but take care tor
the future, may not always be 20 mild
Smith-Butwh is your majesty SO highly exci,ed
against me and my plans OF operation, seeing that
you consider hat you have the multitude perfectly
safe aud why so enragtd and so fearful OF HE
consequences of my course, and the elect oi NY
weapons, while at the same tme you r,oless 70
despise them as weak and poweress. Alas, u ID
too true that you have the multitude safe 10 al APP
pearance at present, and that truth can seldom
reach them; why not then be- content and leave
me 10 pursue my calling IN peace! can hafny
hope to win 10 the cause Of truth any but he few
who think, aud these have ever been Troublesome
to your Gauge
Dspa-Trur. but then you. are, N spite Of all
my efforts, and that Il my fellows, daily mining
our ran ks by adding 10 the number Il those who
think, aud such thinking is kept up that we are
often exposed in some If our most prominent plans,
and are placed in an awkward predlcameni, and
may btfall the pious cause II you are suffered TO
continue your rebelllous course.
smith But, Mr. nevll, why, with all these olh-
er advantages on your side, do you resort TO such
mean, weak, and silly fabricatons as the Spaulding
story You profess 10 be gentleman, christian,
and clergyman, and you ought tor your own sake,
and tor the sake OF your cause, 10 Keep up outward
appe arances Of honor and fairness And now, Mt.
Devil, tell the truth for once; you know perfectly
well that your cpaulding Story, in which you rep
resent me as an imposter, IN connection with Sid
ney Rigdon, and that we We're engaged 10 palmlng
Solomon Spauldine's romance upon the world as
the Book Of Mormon, is lie base fabrication,
withou, shadow of truth, and you know that
found the Original Re cords OF the NePhites, and
translated and published the Book OF Mormon from
them, without ever having heard OF the existence
of Spauldlng, or his romance, or OF Sidney hlgdon
either. Now, Mr.. Devil, this was mean, dis,
graceful, and underhanded trick IN you, and one OF
which even you have reason 10 be ashamed.
Uerii-Well, Mr.. Smith, to be candid, ac-
knowledge that what you say is true, ana that u
was not the most honorable course IN the world
But il was you who commenced the war, by pub
ilshng that terrible book which we readily recog-
nized complete expose Of all our false and cor
rupt christianity, not even keeping back the TACT
that we had continued during The dark ages, to rob
the Scriptures OF their planness, and We feel the
utmost alarm and excitement, and without much
reflection, in the height Of passion, We called a
nasty council Of Clergy and Editors, and Other ras
Gals. in Paiaesvile, Ono, and thinking that almost
any means was lawful IN wal, we invented the
Spaudng Story and fahered i upon the poor prn-
ter Howe, OF gainesville, although Doctor HUI
bert (lhanks to my andy was lis real author, But
mark, Mr.. Smith, mark one thing, we had not
face SO hard, nor conscience SO abandoned, as to
publish this Spauldng Story at the first as positive
fact we only published it as a conjecture, a mere
probability and this, you know, we had right to
do; without once thinking q the amour! Of svi II
some Of my unfortunate clergymen who, more
reckless, hardened and unprincpled than myself,
have ventured to add to each edition OF this story
till at last without my aid consent, they have sc
il down for positive fact, that Solomon Spauld-
ing, Sidney Rigdon, and yourself, have made up
the Book OF Mormon out Of a romance. Now,
Mr., Smith, am glad OF this interview with you,
character, | acknowledge with shame that was
guilty OF mean act in helping to hatch up and
publish the Spaulding story as probability, and
that associated with Tascals TAR beneath my Dig
nty either as sovereign prince, or religious mini
ster, or even as old, honorable and experienced
Devil, and for this, beg your pardon But, really,
must deny the charge Ot having assisted IN max
ing the additions which have appeared in the later
editions of that story, in which my fermer proba-
biIiiies and mean cODjectures are set down Tor
positive facts. No, Mr.. Smith, had no hand IN a
trick SO low and mean; despisc it-as the work
of priests and editors alone, without my aid OF sug
geston, and do not believe that even the meanest
young devils in our dominion would have stopped
10 sui h an act.
Smita-Well, must give your majesty some
credit for at least, il what you say isirue, but
how can you Justify your conduct in dlshonorDg
yourself far, stoop to the level Of the hire
ling clergy, and their followers, IN still making use
Of this humbug story (Which you affect to despse),
in order TO still blind the eyes Of the people In re-
| gard to the origin OF the Book Of Mormon.
DepH-O! Mr. Smith, it does take so readily
among the plous Of all sects that It seems pity u
spoil the fun, and cannot resist the temptation
carrying out the joke, now II IS so well root
ed ia their mines And you cant think how We
| devils shake our sides with laughter wher
we get up in the. gallery in some fine
church, put on our long lace, and assist u
singing, and in the d-vout responses; this done The
| SpauldIng Story is gravely told from the pulpit
| while the pous old clergyman wears face as Ions
a. that Of Balaam's beast All IL swallowed down
| h ing our heads behind the screen, and laugh anC
| wink at each other in silence, as any thing over
heard would disturb their worship; and as bad as
am, never wish TO disturb those popular modes o.
! SO you see, Mr.. Smith, we have our fun 10 our
selves, at your expense but, after all, we DO not
| mean any hurt by it,allhoueh must acknowledge
| upon the whole, it serves our purpose
Smifh-Well, we will drop this subject, as
want to inquire about some OF your other stories
which have had an extensive circulation by means
OF your editors and priests. For instance, there Il
| the story Of my attempting to walk on the watel
attempting TO raise the dead as mere trick OF i'm
position and getting detected in II and the stories
of my attempting to appear as an anger, ana getiint
caught and exposed in the same and besides tins
you nave me Killed Dy soWe Heanr, sseiy 't'''
while New, you old hypocrte, you know tina
none OF these things ever happened or any circum
stance out Of which TO make them; and that sc
| far from this deny the principle Of a mems work
ing miracles, either real or pretended, as proof
| his mission, and contend that miracles, IT wrough
/ at all were wrought Tor benevolent purposes, ant
without being designed to convince the unbellever
WHY, then, do you resort TO such silly stories il
your opposition to me, feeiDg that you have many
| other advaniagesl Not that would complain 0
such weak opposition, as il il were calculated I,
| hinder my progress, but rather to mention It a
| something well calculated to injure your owl
cause, by betraying your weakness, folly and mean
ness.
| Devil laughing )-IIah,. hah, hah, EN-, E, o
| Mr. Smith; Just put out these stories Tor Joke
ia order to have my own fun, and without the mos
distant idea, that any being on earth wopld be Sc
sillv IA 10 give any ere dence 10 them but iudg,
nv surprise and Joy, when found priests, editors
and people so depraved in their Judgment ant
tastes so in love with lies, and so ready to catch