The New York herald., 1879-09-15
MORMON SCOFEING.
Views of Latter Day Saints on Mr..
Evarts' Foreign Circular.
1T WILL BE INEFFECTUAL.'
The Measure Unjust and Un-
constitutional.
SALT LAKE. Sept. 8. 1879.

SALT LAKE. Sept. 8. 1879.
The publication in the HERALD of the circular Of
the State Department to foreign governments
garding the permitting and sanctioning OF Mormon
to the shores of the United States is the
present staple of conversation in this Zion of the
Latter Day Saints. visited to-day Apostles Cannon.
Darlington and Brigham Young. Jr.. to learn what
they had to say concerning the movement at
Washington.
"What do you think, MIR. Cannon. of Mr.. Evarts'
circular letter to our foreign consus. &C.. urging
upon foreign governments the restriction. il possi-
BILE. of the emigration of Mormons. on the ground
that they enibarking for this country with the
settled determination OF violating its laws?
"Oh! it is political maneuvre. think, If 1t is
anything, designed to create public sentiment
think Evarts will be laughed at in Europe. Very
likely some foreign governments, already averse to
emigration on any account. would be affected by
such letter. if it has really been written and sent
and doubtless the idea is TO play upon that feeling
Mr.. CARRINaroN-They are now going step further
than in the Reynolds decision. That allowed free
dom OF belief. but denied freedom of action. Now
they propose to induce foreign governm, nts to
strain Mormons from emigrating simply because
they Mormons that is account of their belief
And il they do not restrain them the inference is
they will not be allowed to land. Such policy will
be hooted at everywhere. and hope it is not true
for its credit, that the government has decided
any such step.
"If it is true, however, and is carried out, how
will you meet itg"
Mr.. CANNoN-lt can't be carried out without a
universal coalition against Mormon immigration.
They could so from ono country to another to
embark. from England to Holland or Australia,
and We could land them in Canada Mexico Fail
ing these expedents could have them come as
other emgrants by families. and in short any pos
sible action Of the kind could be ovaded in o hun
dred ways.
Mr.. CAREINaToN-Great Britain. I feel sure. would
have nothing to do with such scheme. The British
government is more liberal than ours or than any
other, and the citizen OF Great Britain is freer and
better protected in his rights. 1t is not to their In
terest to discourage emigration, Mormon any
other. There is too much distress there. / have
been there most of the time during the last ten
years and have been treated better there than here
For example. British judge would not have gone
in with lot Of lawyers and. preudging case, sent
man to the Penitentiary without trial.
SHAKING SEED.
Mr.. CANNoN-lt is a recognition OF our growth and
influence, il it is true, such was not prepared
u
and to create inquiry. People will ask why is
this Mormonism thus made the occasion OF such ex-
traordinafy measures.
Mr.. CAREISGToN-lt is like kicking o mustard
stalk when it is ripe-the more you kick 1t the
the seed will be scattered.
Mr.. CANNoN--If it is true Evarts is unconsciously
fulfilling Mormon prophecy for it was predicted at
the beginning that the system would grow and re-
ceive the attention OF townships. OF counties. OF
cities and States OF the federal government and finally
of all governments.
"what do you suppose has reused the adminstra-
ton to this step? 1t has been understood to be
rather conservative the Mormon question"
Mr.CANNoN--I was told before lett Washington that
the pressure of other affairs alone kept the nands of
the administration OF the Mornons, and that soon
action would be taken with the view of dcterring
the democracy from admitting Utah a State.
THE GOVERNMENT ACTED.
Don't you think there is a direct connection be-
tween the defiant atttute OF your people under the
Reynolds decision and this move Of Mr.. Hayes?"
Mr.. CANNoN-Perhaps so. learned, while still in
Washington that letters had been sent on from here
stating that the Mormons more determined
than ever to practise poygany and that plural mar
riages being entered into i'll greater number
than ever. and such was the general impression in
Washington. do not know. IN point OF fact.
whether the decision made any difference not. /
think likely would tend to deter many from violat-
ing the law, that it declared and held to be
nsttutional by the proper tribunal II had been
the time should have advised the cessation
the practice. Since returned home have been
busy with other matters that have given atten-
ton to this at all.
Didn't you take the ground while in Washington
last winter that IL the government would ignore the
past the Mormon people would obey the law IN
future, and have you not since your return incul-
Gated poygsmy on the people as strenuously as you
didy'
Mr.. CANsoS-No; I took this ground That il the
past were ignored the government would then have
acted magnanimously and would be in position to
enforce the law in future with good grace. Many
things were attributed to me that never said. Sem
ators the President agreed with that the past
would he well enough ignored il the government
could have any security pledge ofobedience to law
in future. OF course could not give that and don't
know any one who could And as to urging upon the
people since l returned. although l have been
charged with ii and what purpored to be reports of
my speeches urging IL have been published, still 1T
is true. have maintained that the principle IL
ound and the practice divnely commanded that 1t
a tenet Of our religion, upon the acceptance of
which our salvation dependea; but the worst have
said about continuing the practice was that II they
tho consequences. even II they were hne and i'm
prisonmeut.
EVIDENCE NOT LACKING.
"Well, Mr.. Cannon, you know the government can
do nothing without evidence, and 1t is just hard
to get evidence il was before the law de-
clared CONSTITUTIONAL because of the secrecy
with which the whole business is hedged about.
lhe government mas really desired nothing but
moral advantage from the ey nolds decision. 1t is,
therefore, put upon such other measures
feasibie to accomplish its object. No doubt II it at
empts i'll earnest to keep your European converts
rom landing on our shores II will come very near
doing it..
Mir. CAsSoS--Yes. it may. but the fact is you arc
fast getting n shape TO get all the evidence you need
The tendency is toward the acceptance of the same
kind of evidence In proof OF u criminal or Illegal
marriage as has always been held to establish
ordinary marriage, and when that has become tho
received doctrine l reckon you will not want for
evidence. Ia this view OF the do not consider
that wo hold any imprcgnablc vantage ground, and
do not doubt that IL would be the general feeling of
the Mormon people TO forego the practice while
clingng to the principle OF polygany were the gov
eminent to snore or legalizc the past. There would
be exceptions. no doubt; there are always some un-
wise people every where; but it wouldn't amount to
much. Very many Mormons are neither theoretical
nor practical polyganlists.
JEoREEs GLORY.
"Why not IL il is requisite to their salvationY
Mr.. CASSoS-Oh, they haven't faith enough and
there different degrees salvation exaltaton
The poiyganist alone reaches tho highest degree Of
glory.
at is the mystery OF mysteries in my life to hear
men ike you talk IN that way"
MIR. CANSoS-Oh. well that is Bible; but suppose
you don't recognize that.
"ADvERrlsING BUSINESS"
Returning to town, the first man met was James
Sharp son OF Bishop John sharp to whom pro-
pounded the query which had first addressed to
Mr.. Cannon.