The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-04-07
rAMMoTH PROTEST.
Eoistle from the Presi-
40 dency of the Church.
,,rn FOR A MASS MEETING.
,,+es Appointed in Logan to
wake a Protest to the
Nation.

NALIOhs
ia Logan Conference, on Sunday
II va the following letter was read
s sllI5 F. cummings ESQ.,;
PRESIDENTS OFFICE,
SALT LAKE CITY,
April 4th, 1885.
os,srs and Members of the Church
fs nc S..ss Christ of Latter-dGy Saints, IA
9ortfrencs assembled; -
.5 Brethren and Sisters:-It is
;~snay proper, under the circum-
sn,- oe. not being able to be with you
s''.s ~,eou at our annual Conference,
u 90 should address you few lines
ns 10 sTpress to you our faith, feelings
' ' hopes concerning the great work OF
=, Cod IN which we are all mutually
. ~ Never at any time in our
t"ss have we had more joy and satisfac-
~ ~ IN the Gospel, and in the labors
.S.,oof than we have at the present
.;rs Profoundly grateful to our God
~ His kindness to US in permitting us
have a name and place among his
nsoDle, and to be the bearers of His
-,-Iasting Priesthood. we are deter
e';nad with His help to press forward
l m;,b increased diligence and zeal in do
WV mart toward the carrying on of
1 mE. mr. onrnoses and work. We see His
E ~ maryelousiy manifested in behalf
I DSI neopIe. We know that His power
= 18th iii ms. that His angels have charge
D - us. and that no affliction can
III mon any one, however humble,
r;tbont it being fully known to Him.
Tb;r knowledge that God is near to as,
nd hears and answers our prayers, is
a-,I rneeasing cause of thankfulness and
n n- For a wise purpose in
Els providence He permits the
ricked in the exercise of
tbeir agency. from time to time, to
sflict His followers. Since the days of
our father Adam this has always been
tbe case. and it will continue to be, so
long as Satan has any power over the
hearts of the children of men. We are
ali children of the same Great Parent,
and each one has the opportunity and
odyiIege granted to him or her to
exercise his or her agency. We have
chosen to serve the God Of Israel. We
have submitted to His laws, have
obeyed His Gospel, and have chosen the
pstb which He assures us will bring us
INTO His presence. Others of His chill
dren prefer a different course. They
Weld to adifferentinfluence and, under
its power, they seek to destroy the work
Of God and all who are connected with
it. This they can do in the exercise of
the agency which the Father has given
unto them. Not only in times past, but
il our own day, the wicked have perSe-
cuted, tormented and murdered the
Saints of God. But, while in so doing,
they bring upon themselves everlasting
condemnation, their acts are overruied
for the glory and eXaltation of His
faithful people and the accomplish
ment Of His purposes in the redemp-
ton Of the earth.
For al few months past we have seen
N these valleys an exhibition of this |
deadly hostility against the Latter-day |
SAINTS. We need not enumerate to |
you all these acts of oppression and |
wrong. You are familiar with them. |
But the best men in the community, |
men OF pure lives, men who have
S' an example TO the people ever since |
they came to these mountains, and in
al their days, who have led in works of |
hgnteo1snesS, who have been citizens
athe highest type of character, have
zen selected as victims of vile perSe-
VuElon and been assailed and denounced |
Sehmlnals OF the lowest grade. Juries |
lave oeen selected for the express pur- i
pse OF c0nYlcting men who are prOmi- |
ttat IN the Church; and their partisan |
alAS mas become so thoroughly known
1tle community that the common ex-
reSSon IS, that an accusation in the |
|ufS' snow constituted, is equivalent !
IaeonWction. The rule of jurispru-
%uCe which has come down for |
IT. past has been that the accused |
. -sl De deemed innocent until proved |
ss a. III o. courts, We are sorry to say |
n W. HaS been reversed. The burden Of |
SUol has rested upon the accused in |
ig ,-uss every lnStance-the judge, the |
s %!: equally with the prosecution, ap-
ing 70 view him as guilty, and that |
rs" "aS ms DUTY to furnish all the proof /
s coesy 10 exculpate hun from the |
F nsI;at OF guilt. Among all the
Nos, speaking people and for ages |
s5or me jury has been looked
i H. Is The palladium of human liberty.
Ey.,; as Deen the richest fruit of our civil /
osSs ' WI, No greater guarantee of fair
6,, s T DC Imagined by our ancestors
,6or,5s iiat man accused of crime
n6s. nave. his case submitted to the I
fr;Sa OF his peers-his nelghbors |
srans; IN the ylcinage-and presumably |
nd,i;an'ed with his life and with the |
70 " soea which may have prompted him |
s y commit the crime of which he was |
to dew. me wisdom Of man has failed
this of s iaifer or more just means than |
guiIt a. ue:cldlHg upon their fellow-man's
u tbis innocence when accused. But 1
pedo5 ' judicial District, for a long
Gst hal PAST We do not know Of a jury /
hsyebaSoLO een thus constituted. Jurors |
laitv tn ~ !, selected for their known en-
pfi6c;n,o me parties accused. or to the |
Tho H involved in the trial.
day esult has been that q Latter |
stekna would almost be as safe in |
Cons .of justice in the internal re-
pirates u al the hands OF Algerine |
lndictn1 az N courts of this character.
&ferente nus have been found against
eGace ~ psft'es upon the flimsiest evil
deHce VIII Flu m some instances upon evil
Any fsir I,Gn would have no weight with
ben tba. .itlued jury. The result has
has pteva as reign of judicial terror
Valleys ' Se and still prevails in these
tds'SS, ma, Seeing no prospect of fair
sroid Hleh have deemed & hatter to