New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-02
THE MORMONS DEFENDED.
BRIGHAM YoUNG'S GRANDSON ANs"Eh'
MRS. PADDOCK.

r,oy-rrr MAINTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE.
TO the EdttOr OF The Trtoa"e
s,,. In TIE TRIBUNE of March 80 Mrs
Paddock discusses the Mormon q'cs"ou VIZ" 1rao
,saIth NJ ideas and aearth Of facts Inc au'ho' VI -"
r., =, Mas,pe La Tour dit writer for such etler
perhaps her living unquestiOnahy all OF her reP""'
,asrss anon the complexion she gives to MormomSn'
IN consideration OF which may be nvidous 10 suggest
that her views are not entirely unbiased nor her 'no
tives free from question. .
with your permission will an unvarnshed taie ueVor
NJ the reasons for my devotion to the cause OF M
ranresented paople was born in salt Lake cry IN
1853; nv parents we're Latter Day Saints lremahe"
in Utah until six years ago. Since then nave n'e "
constant contact with the influences of the Eastern
States collegiate business and social and have ths
been enabled 20 contemplate the peculiar people'
with whom nature and reason have cast my lot Win tie
dispassiou Of distance and changed associations
possible that in questions Of fact say ho'lS W
religion have been grossly deceived my Sen'c nav
been so inexpcaby dued and misdirected that h"'e
seen only virtue where vice rampant onN shI "oo
Fgvntan darkness prevaed It is not possible and as
Iexneet 70 render nav account my Maker Affirm that
present matters faithfully as have seen 'hea'
Mormonsm in its every phase from ldaho 20 ArHoh
familiar to me- only in the home but in the WORKSHOP
and the church. Having delivered my creuehu"4s ''"'
proceed to the matters at issue
In my earlier years. before the advent 81 the Hnop
and the cvilizing influences Of Christianity we were o
from whskey shops gamblers and houses Of i'll rep'e'
there were thieves and people did not dream OF LOCK
ing their doors Jas empty. What Few poilceicn
there we're grew fat in Incidence And iths was III
frontier country wherein has been the rule FOR law
lessness and murder to reign supreme. WIN 'il'ii.
rgor the Mormon youth were Taught the leSsons anu
shown the examples of sobrety, honesty peace upright
ness and chartaheness only TO one another hut To
the stranger within their gates. Respect for old a-e ana
for women was an important feature OF our instruction
We we're raised in the school Of patriotism and listened
with pride the story of the Mormon oat'nou III ''o
Mexican war: story Ofthe raising OF the American
fac upou Ensign Peak. above salt Lake CITY Wheh 'He
country WAS still Mexican territory. Our grievance hd
not been against governments but against mohs nave
heard it preached thou1and times from the pulp" 'nA
the Constitution Of the United states Na n>e' 'N the
Almighty No idea has been more firmly impressed upon
the Mormon mind than the necessity OF RENDERING ue
selves entirely subject constitutional government In
tie Book OF Doctrine and Covenants which ABOVE al
books or teaching is standard among me LAJief bN
Saints are found many passages the burden OF "mch Is
that Constitution and the laws should De respectful
We are there told:
We beeve that all religious societies have right 10
deal with their members for disorerly conduct accord
,, IN the rules and regulations OF such s9ciases. pro
standing but do not believe tnat any relonS ,o.it
has authority T. try on the right OF property or me
from taem tis world SoOls or 10 pa. L I
Jeopardy Of either lie or limbs neither o. lnhlct any
physical punishment M them; they can only eNc'n
nunicate them from their society ana "ltAdi'" Ihen
from the fellowship
The condition of affairs IN Utah is often mi,repre-
sented The Associated Press being particularly uni'-
liable it Is foreeone conclusion that any and-'iornon
twist facts are capable Of viii be made, and non-eeu
furnished with a distorted account
No more certain proof OF the tolerant nature of the
peonle can found than in reference TO ule Wtri
character OF the opposition press in Sllt Lake One
paper oranother existed there since earliest reco
lection pleasure it TO mauSu. with al possible
bitterness and personality the character 0f oar leaders ana
the nature of religion. tits not long sin the organ
which now represents the revolutionary element IN @t
in a
ing Mormon boys drunkenness and lebauchery and o
Turing Mormon girls ruin and shame. urging that ucl
would better he their end than that they should remain
Morrnons Did ever a more damnabe doctrine of hate
and immortality remain unpublished In any community
othe an one accustomed TO meeEly bear tue spurns
nut upon tlem punishment would have been complete
and summary But the Mormon. beng prescribed
party must walk exemplary life; for the sntes ies
urged AGAINST him become more strong than proofs OF
holy writ ApOstates have ever lived in Utah III peace
and security all statements TO the contrary nowith-
standing.
T is the testimony of Judge Black that our Territorial
government has been conducted with surprising purity
sis1on and iustice Simple in It's machinery and i'm
partial in its laws burdens are light and It's protection
universal: no cheating at elections Official delaca
tions no special and not dollar OF public debt
one instance OF dishonesty disgraces the record AT
certain election the Liberals - or Americans these
being the cOIors under which the Utah political
febooters sail got possession Of county court
and ,v criminal usrpation OF power voted literally
81 900 to their probate judge for expenses In conesng
the scat of the representative to the Legislature from
that county, during this administration county paper fell
SO per cent startling misuse OF the only authority
ever acquired by the Liberals andkoue which points
moral!
Bv the last census educational position Is well up
anon the states and beyond Territories. The
common of Utah not Mormon schools except
In the feature. natural enough considering the IIc-
ronderance MOrnOns. that teachers and scholars arc
hat e
md az free as possible from Influences improper IN non
sctarian schools believe that with pside
70 the business reputation Of people at home in Utah
and abroad.
We are accused OF persistenty attempting 70 nuify
the laws OF the United states The first offences wn'ch
were alleged against were those when led TO the
sMormon war OF IsJ7-'Js We respectfully urge that
public opinion was misled and aroused AGAINST rs by
various sensations; for instance IN the aet-
tons that destroyed the seals and records o. the
courts which were subsequently, tom lnlict, Iitt lAe
Immediate Of this needless expedition Whlch mean
IN report and ended only IN smoke, was prondpy e ti
s0nahle Secretary OF War Floyd 10 put the Duh
OF the army ana Vasy QUANTITIES o. minus ~ go
OF way in Wow Of impending noattes between tAe
The Anti-Polygamy law of 1862 unquestionably
dsegarded because OF the prevailing opinion OF It's uncon
wrong but the court OF has proven itself
infalble and may hope IN case Of redrgumen That
the rights Others which must be the basis OF con-
clusion its relation 70 the continents Of the ma
Generally wrong. Certainly innovations are ever u
popular. The Poland bill among The hrst 10 sup RON
he Mormon his political rights, has never met with op
positlOu Governor Skaters proclamation forhdng The
iiiti u, drill although directly opposed Article H.
a. the Amendments. has been oDedenty observed The
Edmunds law the testimony OF the Commission. mas
MOI bean opposed though alleged by Brown,
- ceris itutonal IN AT least a half dozen re-
epects IL added, however That in several cases
Where persons who nave never violated any law have
arbitrary decisions OF the Commissioners the courts have
Governor Murray VINO on occasion assumed 10 ex-