Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1855-11-28

The NORTHERN ISLANDER VS.. THE GRAND
RIVER TMEs--4The Northern Islander, a
Mormon organ, published at st. James, Beav-
er Island, under the supervision of ]. ].
SrRANa, the leading member of the Mormon
community there established, in its issue OF
the 18th ult., contains an article published in
the Times of Sept. 26th, in relation to Sc
ries of depredations supposed to have been
committed by piratical crew of Mormons
from that Island along this coast Of Lake
Michigan, during the month of September
last, upon which the Editor comments at
great length. Though we heartily dislike
newspaper controversy, and if possible are de-
termined to avoid one, yet there are few
statements made in relation to that article
which in justice to ourselves and others we
feel bound to give passing notice. AS the
comments of the Editor are too lengthy to
be copied we will barely notice few para
graphs. The following particularly claim
attention:
"Of all the credulous people in the world,
the most credulous are those who think it the
height of credulity to believe anything good
of the Mormons.
"And who are Mormons? A little COM
munity of people, of peculiar religion, loca-
ted eighty miles from where any of these
crimes were committed, and three hundred
from some of them, forcing the means of sub
sistence out of the rigid nature in the frozen
north, where industry and economy are nee
essary to sustain life; acknowledged by their
bitterest enemies to present an example of
honesty and good order, among themselves,
without parallel in all the State; enforcing
unpopular laws, like the liquor law, and the
laws against gambling, &C., as they are no
where else enforced among an Anglo-Saxon
people; SO exemplary in their every day life
that in two counties there is not prisoner, a
pauper, drunkard, and scarcely Sabbath
breaker.
"And crime is so uncommon in border
country, just upon the verge of civilization,
like the settlements along the east shore of
Lake Michigan, it is not to be believed that
any along there could do any Of these things.
No; the Mormons must have done it. These
Mormons have been steadily accused of all
the crimes committed, and half the State
watching for six years past, and never detect
ed them in doing any thing; therefore they
must have done it,
"What a convenience it is for the thieves
in Ottawa and Allegan that only three hun
dred miles away there are Mormons to serve
as scapegoats for the petty thefts they COM
NIT on their next door neighbors.
ave congratulate the Grand River Times
that he has something besides conjecture to
found his opinion on. He has information
from Mr.. D. Moon Pray, is this Mr. d.
Moon,' the odd acquaintance who was driv-
en- away from Beaver IslandT
ave presume he is. We recolect of a
person of that name being driven away
There are several other 'fugitives from just
ice,' scattered about who have similar
claim for the sympathy and confidence of
the public. The Mormons have driven then,
away. Hence the order that prevails here.
"And Mr.. d. Moon who is he? o, he
is common sample of the accusers of our
brethren. We did not know before that the
editor of the Times kept such company
How odd it must sound to the Times con-
freyee to be Mr.. ed. 1t has been supposed
that except for an occasional legal proceeding
he would have forgotten that he had any
other name than Dave."
Now as respects credulity, as referred to in
the first paragraph, we must confess we do
not belong that class of credulous ones, for
we have ever maintained the opinion that
vast majority of the Mormon community
were sober, industrious people, good citi-
zens, upright in their dealings man with man,
and that the good qualities attributed to
them in the second paragraph were in reality
possessed by the greater proportion of Them.
and that much praise is due for the noble
stand they have taken as community rela-
tive to sustaining the Prohibitory Liquor Law,
in their midst, and discardng gambling with
its attendant vices. Neither have we the
least disposition to attribute to them wrong
motives or corrupt criminal acts because, for
sooth, they are Mormons. Is it to be suppos-
ed, as the conductor of public print, we are
SO obstinately attached to any particular code
of religious tenets, or so blindly prejudiced