The Dillon tribune., 1885-04-11
MORMON MUSIC.
Epistle of the Two First Presidents.

AT the Mormon general conference at
Logan, Utah, on April 5th general cpi>-
tie 10 the church from Presidents Taylor
and Cannon, of the first presidency, was
read. Referring to the present condition
OF affairs and the polygany prosecutions
It says men Of pure lives have set exam
Piles worthy Of emulation. Citizens Of the
highest type and character have been Sc
lected for vile prosecution as criminals of
the lowest grade. Juries are selected for
the express purpose Of convicting men
prominent in the church. This partisan
bias is so thoroughly known in the COM
munity tina: it is commonly considered
that an accusation in the court now con.
stituted is equal to conviction. The ole,
rule OF Jurisprudence that the accused bc
considered innocent until proven guilty, is
reversed and the burden Of proof has rested
upon the accused, in nearly every instance
the judge and jury equally with the prose-
cution appearing to view him guilty and
requiring him 10 furnish proofs of inno-
cence. Jurors have been selected from
known enemies to the parties accused, or
the principle involved in the trial. The
result has been that Mormons would have
been safe in seeking justice from the infer
nal regions or Algerian pirates as from
courts of such character. Indictments
have been found on tho flimsicst evidence,
and as result a reign of terror has pre-.
vailed, and continues in Utah. The Nor
mons consider this violent prosecution
only intended to provoke the people to
commit some overt act whereby the in
coming administration may be embarrass-
ed. The proceedings, the epistlc declares,
are so outrageous that no other men who
anticipated being accused dare submit to
such treatment, and many have left their
homes for foreign lands. President Tay.
!or remained at home until perceiving the
determination of certain Federal officers
here to cmbarass and harass every prom
incnt man, and being informed Of the
threats against his liberty, he deemed it
wise under the circumstances TO withdraw
for while Neither one Of the first pres
idency has been officially notified or re-
liably informed from any court officer of
process of amy kind being issued against
vaded and searched by spoilers, spies and
deputies, who displayed zeal in their en-
dcavors to ascertain the whereabouts OF
the leaders. The conclusion is they wished
to get them into their power, conscious OF
our innocence of all violation of the laws.
of God or the constitution. But if the laws
entrap US because of our belief in the prac-
ticc of a revelation God.given we desire at
least it shall be upon what the world
would call evidence and substantial proof,
but not upon religious prejudice and a de-
termination to convict. Should conviction
follow in such case, we should submit, as
the martyrs have done in every age where
God had people on earth. AS to the
prosecution inflicted on us for adherence
in His laws, we should at least have the
same rights as burglars, thieves and mur
eerers II we are sinners, Abraham also
and the ancient prophets and Jesus de,-
cended from polyga,nic source, and many
of Gods tavorite children are also sinners.
Christianity cannot offer anything eternal
OF Il character to compensate MS for the
abandonment of truth demanded of us.
The Constitution protects the sacrcdness
of contracts of plural marriages, contracts
of the most sacred character, being for time
and eternity.
The cpistlc estimates that the members
Of the Mormon church practiciny polyy-
amy do not exceed two per cent OF the
whole membership, and considers ii an act
Of great injustice that the remaining YS per
cent. are abused, outraged, their business
interests disturbed, values unsettled, and
neighborhood property jeopardized because
of 4 raid OH alleged law-breakers. Com
n:ittec was appointed to draft resolutions
| Of protest to President Cleveland and the
Nation, setting forth specifically and in
detail the tyranical conduct of Federal of:
ficials from which The people of Utah are
suffering s.
| BarrtOs' Son Speaks.
| \ son OF President Barrios left New
York on the night of Sth inst for Washing
ton. "From information have" he said
before his departure, II do not believe NV
father is dead. have received no trust.
worthy information Of the fact. Ifit was
| true. the American Minister NJ Gu,t.,o,,,