Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-08
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE

The average Utah Mormon devotee has
more audacity and possesses greater cool
ness and is charged with greater persist
ence than any other of our people. In
1857 the Mountain Meadows massacre oc-
Cured. 1t was one of the most remorse-
less, cruel and bitterly wicked butcheries
of men, women and children recorded
against the inhumanity of man. The
world wrote it down against the Mormon
Church and the stain has never been blot
ted from its escutchcon. John d. Lee was
tried rs the chief of the Mormon murderers
who executed the decree that sent the fated
emigrants to pitiful death. He was, after
years had almost Oblitcratcd the evidences
of his crime convicted, and, after a second
trial, shot near the very spot where the
bones of his victims had crumblcd to dust
He died declaring that he had been be-
frayed and 50 he was. He was Mormon
dirnitary possessing great power and in
vested with great trusts. He received dur
ing his trial the aid and comfort of the
Church and its officials. The writer was
present at his first trial aud saw Mormon
procession with flags and music march
about his prison and hail him with friendly
acclamations. Nominally the Church au-
thOriticS condemned him. but secretly he
was condemned Is a martyr and urged to
lay down his life as sacrifice for the
Church The Mormon organ at Salt Lake
at this late day, when the scaring-iron of
time was beginning to dull the sensitive
ness of the public concerning the atrocty
of the massacre, has the cool audacity to
revive the whole matter 1t says in its
issue Of the 81 inst relative to the mas
sacre
The charge is frequently reiterated that the
terrible deed was done 10y direct order Of PTeSi-
dent Brigham Young, and that the " Mormon
Church is responsible for it. That this is not
only unfair but really wicked and detcstabe
most persons who have impartially investigated
that deplorable matter have frankly conceded.
We seldom notice the absurd and malicious
stories told in relation TO It by those who write
and lecture against MOTmonism." Everybody
with ordinary sense ought 10 see the folly OF
changing 10 a society or a community the wrong
doing of few of its members, particularly
when the spirit and sentiments OF the body are
opposed to the evil complained Of
But it says reference to the affair is
finely now because Of q statement recently
made by a seceder from the Mormon
church.
His name is John Hawley He lived in john
d. Lees neighborhood at the time of the mas
sAere, and openly denounced the deed. lie
claims that he was warned to be more on his
guard in his language. but continued TO express
his adherence of the murder. His statement
is published in the Lamont (lowal Herald (the
Josephite organ of June 2sth, and is generally
agnostic TO this church
He refUtes the statement in John ID. Lees his
tory that he was at the meadows, and declares
that he knows nothing about the massacre ex-
cept from hearSay, and after describing the
dispute az the time over his outspoken denunci
ation of the deed, he says:
. That day brought Brigham's message to the
peoplc concerning the company just killed. but
100 late TO do them any good II read as fol
lows:
let them pass and treat them as you would
wish to be treated were you passing through
their land
when this was read had friends. This ties
tirnony must meet some time.
suggest itselfto every thoughtful per
son that if Brigham Young issued such an
order to his minions in southern Utah, it
was in response to their demand to know if
the California immigrants should be put
out of the way or given free passage The
order was necessary if at all, to prevent the
carving out of a fixed policy of the church,
dangerous TO the travellers. If the head Of
the church ever issued such an order he
preserved copy of it in his Office. If he