Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-07-01
MIR DeDuslk's speech mt Emery.
WAsHINGToN COUNTY,. VAL
Luna 90 IQzn

Messrs Editors With your permits
sionl Will correct, through your col
umns, mistake which appeared in
the last Issue of your paper, embodied
mainly In the following paragraph =
1.-Two of the addresses, ut Emory last
week, by members of the graduating
class were largely devoted to a defence
of Mormonism against civil Inference
and were, despite their rhetorical mer-
1t, received by the audience with very
manifest feelings of dissent. To de-
nominate prohibition of polygamy
persecution, and plead therefrom the
rapid growth of that crime against
nature, can only be equalled in absurdi-
~ by proposing the parity Of sentual-
ism and divinity of Brigham Young
and Jesus, the Christ" Pho convic-
ton Is, also, very generously express
ed that such notions twill not long
live In the mental crucible of Messrs.
DeBusk and Wiley, for they have ex-
libited degree of genius, &C."
In the humble opinion of your cor
respondent, the comment itself very
nearly, If not quite, involves u contra
diction of terms. / could say but lit
tie, indeed, in praise of the genius and
mental crucibles of men, who were
guilty of the absurdity of proposing
the parity of sensualism and divinity
of Brigham Young and Jesus, the
Christ. Certainly Messrs. DeBusk and
Wiley are not entitled to as high a
rank in intellectual circles rs you are
willing to grant them; or, il they do
deserve such rank, it can hardly be
that their conclusions, in a brief course
of reasoning, are so entirely and enor-
mously absurd. As regards the adj
dress in which L am personally inter-
ested, will just say that the only allu-
sion to polygamy contained therein
was the following: Side by side
with those worthy principles which
reside in their hearts dwell vices born
of He'll. The builders of their system
have discarded one OF the essential cle-
ment. of every organization which pre-
sides over human happiness :-assign
ing to woman her true position in the
social sphere"
The persecution which was dwelt
upon with some degree of earnestness
occurred some thirty years ago during
the periods of their sojourn in the
states of Ohio, Missouri and Illinois
respectively. l have no apology to
make for anything which | said against
il. Surely no one who Is, even mod
erately acquainted with Mormon his
tory will question the strict prOpriety
of the term wher much of the treat
ment which they received Is denomina-
ted persecution of the darkest phase.
Eminent Professionals, men of learning
and judgement, who have examined
the facts and recorded them as history,
substantiate the assertion.
AS my friend, Mr.. Wiley, has gone
10 his distant home in Alabama, 1t is
probably due to him that / should
make some statement in regard to the
position which he supported. He, as
| understood him, did not attempt to
palliate the crime of polygamsts, or to
disguise any of the abominable feat
ures of their besetting vice, but con-
tended that it should be left to moral
dgencies of n silent yet powerfully eff
fective nature, to remedy and control.
am encoura. o 10 give this as his real
view by the fact that it was our fortune
to entertain differe'it opinions on the
subeiect, aud, after .the manner OF
school-boys, were freely disposed to
| advance whatever arguments we could
command, each In support of Ills own
| b elief.
can easily see, think, how the er-
ror originated in your minds, by retain
| Ing a recollection of some Of the most
prominent remarks which were par
TALLY or, perhaps entirely at variance
with your own views ard forgetting
much intermediate matter, as we'll rs
by mingllng together the ideas present
ed separately in the two addresses, by
two ditleIe nt men, II very natural re-
| suit in the confusion and multiplicity
of the speeches of the day. 1t is only
this way that | can find any applica-
ton for the criticism as it now stands,
This correction may seem to you
rather uncalled for. However, If you
will reflect for moment, you will
doubtless agree with me that IL is lit
tie uncomfortable, at least to be adver-
tIsed as an advocate for, oven an apollo
gist for polygamy, or as would-bo'
orator arriving at the monstrous alb
surdity of proposing parity Of sensual
ism and divinity, Of Brigham Young
and Jesus, tho Christ. With feelings
Of high regard l am,
AS Your Obdlent Serv't
| s. w. DEBUSR.