New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-13
A MORMON'S REPLY TO COLFAX.

THE TRIBUNE GIVES THE MORMONs A HEARING.
To me Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: have read with a great deal of inter-
est the speech of the Hon. Schuyler Cofax delivered in
Salt Lake City Oct s. containing structures inst
tutions wherein there is apparent faith and sincerity
manifested. Permit me, Sir. to make the following re-
marks. Mr. COlfax remarks:
osson Or lana .Hd Of civil and religious liberty and the tth
Of every himself and God YOG have mach
right through President and TWolye Apostles Of
your Church organization hss through the Ministers and Elders
and creed Of mine and this right would defend for with a. much
the right Of other denomination throughout the land
This, certainly, is magnanmOus and evenhanded jus
tce and the sentiments do honor to their uttere They
are sentiments that ought be engraved the heart OF
every American citizen He continued
country governed BY law and DO assumed revelation us
hes one In tramphng 90 the law
That our country governed by law all admit but
when II said that assumed revelation uses any
ma in trampng on the law" would respectfully ask
What not interferes with my giOus faith which you
state /" is matter between myself and God alone The
assumed revelation referred TO Is one OF the most vital
points Of religious faith; 1t emanstes from God and
cannot be leglsated away; II IS part OF the
"eyetiasting covenant" which God has given to man.
DO not Soneds that the institution you established here
Now / think that If Mr.. COlfsx had carefully exam
ined our religious faith he would have arrived at other
constituted Dir. Colfax Judge Of my religious faith
Mr. Coax has perfect right to state and feel that he
faith based in my faith at all but has he the right
to dictate my religious faith think not lie does not
ton from God is not religion, what is 1t HIS not
believing It is from God makes difference. know It.
who DO claim such reply that toe las d,Oure.
only reHscs the original prohibition Of Jour own BOOK Of Mormon 90
on Manage sf9 SSs' ''o your ''A 10 ''p''
In regard to the latter Of these would state that it
was only considered portion OF the discipline OF our
Church, and was never looked upon revelation. 1t
was published in the appendix to the Book Of Doctrine
celestial marriage WAS given That, Of course, super
inOD ri quoted. /
blame the gentleman for this he has too many engage
ments TO carefully examine our doctrines supIose
this was handed to him; had he read little further he
would have found It stated "For will. saith the Lord
OF Hosts. raise up seed unto me; will command my
people, otherwise they shall hearken unto these things"
In answer to this the Lord has commanded IT, aud
We obey the command. again quote:
And ye; while you that this later revelation gives the
sh. to turn ys bach o. ySSI Old 'h s1f gsSey the Law
under revelations ihs might claim to have rscee or under religions
Mr.. Coifax Is misnformed hero. All religions are
tolerated with us, aud all revelations, assumed
them but interfered with and relation to
turning back our old religion, we have never
done it.
Concerning our permitting the Hindoos 10 burn their
widows, II is difficult to say what should do hope.
are expected to commit 1t will time enough to atone
for them when done. We do acknowledge having lately
TO buy and sell Of and 70 whom please. We do not
interrupt others 10 selling, II they can get customers
theft gambling, drunkenness, debauchery, and other
civilized vices. Is this crime II so we plead guilty
we not cause to do lti Can call treatment by
milder termi Was 1t benevolence that robbed, paGed
Missouri Was 1t Christian philanthropy, that, after
robbng, plundering and rayaglng whole community,
drove them from Illinois into the wilderness among
savaResi Did Government make any amends for these
outrages or has ever done soi Is 1t to call this
perseeutOn We have learned 10 cost "hat the king
can do no wrong" Having said much In regard 10
Mr. COlfaxs speech, let now address few words
into the law ITSELF enacted In 1862 The revelation on
poygamy given in 1919 10 years before the
revelation is true, and came from God This
gOus belief and, right wrong IL is still our belief
and other persons theirs, understand it, 1t does
not prescribe faith for any else, authorize
know that the law OF 1884, ia relation to poygamy
passed purpose to interfere with religious faithi
We are told that we are living In enlightened
age. Our morals are more pure o. our ideas more re-
fined and enlarged our institutions more liberal.
liberty, and the faith Of every man is matter between
himself and God alone"-provided God does not shock
believe in II He does let Him look out. We won't per-
secute-very far be that from us-but we will make our
platforms pass Congressional laws and make you sub.
NIT them We may It is true, have TO send out an
army and shed the blood Of many; but what Of
scribed and killed, according TO the laws Of tho
great Republic, In "the asylum for the oppressed"
through their miserable minons barbara ages
Let here respectfully ask b there not plenty OF scope
for the action OF Government at hOme What OF your
gambling hellsi What Of your gold rings, your whisky
rings your railroad rings manipulated through the lobby
into your Congressional rngsi What OF that great moral
Of the Iand-that great institution OF mOnogamy
Prostitution What Of ts twin stster-Infantcldei
We can teach you lesson, poygamist as we are. You
acknowledge one wife and her children. What OF your
associations unaoknowledgedf We acknowledge and
maintain all wives and all Of our children We don't
keep few only ana turn the others out outcass, to
be- provided for by orphan asylunS or turned
bonds on the street. TO help increase the fearfuy
Ing evil our actions all honest, open, and above
board We have no gambling hells no drunkenness no
nfantelde no houses OF asslgnation; no prostitutes.
Our wives are not afraid OF ntrgues and debauch
cry nor are our wives and daughters corrupted by de-
signing and unpT1neipled Villains am you would
not reflection reverse the order Of God and exchange
The sobrety the chastity the virtue and honor OF
nsuutons Tor yours that are debasng dishOnorabe
cOrrupting, OBTAINING and destructiyef we have fed
from these things and with great trouble and care
pnrged ourselves from your evils don't try to legsate
them upon US, nor seek to engulf us In your yices
salt Lake ON, Nov 2, 1SC9. JOHN TAYLOR