The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-04-08
srMr-w EEK1Y MINER. BUTTE MONTANA APRIL 9, 90.
.ro-mons Aroused.

SALT LAKE,April Sat tne n 4Sie
mon general conference ~ Loe1n ,roh
- m = general epistle to the cnu "a
was read from Presidents Iaylo1 d. Ds.
Cannon. of the first presidency. W. ~
ferring to the present condltlon "
affairs and the polygamy pIoSe
lions It saws men Of pure lives nav
set eramnles worthy Of emulatlon;
Citizens of the highest type an na
character have been selecreo loa
vile prosecution as criminals OF tne
lowest grade. Juries are ee'ecteuloI
the express purpose OF col This
men prominent in the churcn. III =
PARTISAN bias is SO e.
known in the community tha ~ 10
commonly considered tina. an accaS1
iation in. the court now congtltu. ~
is equal to q conviction. me 0Iu
rule of Jurisprudence that tne
accnsed be considered innocent
until proven guilty Is reversed
and the burden of proof has resi-
ed nnon the accused, in nearly every
instance the Judge and jury equally
with the prosecution appearing 10
view him guilty and requiring nIm
tn furnish proofs of innocence. Ju'
rors have been selected from known
enemies to the parties accused, or the
principle involved in the trial. The
result has been that Mormons woulu
have been as safe in seeking Justice
from the internal regions or Algerian
pirates as from courts OF such cnal,
acter. Indictments have been found
on the fimsiest evidence. and as q re-
anti a reign of terror has prevailed,
and continues in Utah. The Nor
mons consider this violent prosecu-
ton only intended to provoke the
people to commit some owe act
whereby the incoming administra-
ton NAV be embarrassed. The pro-
ceedlngs, the epistle declares, are so
outrageous that no other men VINO
anticipated being accused dare suo-
NIT to such treatment, and many
have left their homes for foreign
lands. President Taylor remained
at home until perceiving the deter
mination of certain Federal omclals
here to embarrass and harass every
prominent man, and being informed
of the threats agains his liberty. be
deemed it wise under the circumstad-
ces to withdraw for a while, neither
one of the first presidency has been
officially notified or received reliable
information from any court officer
of process of any kind being issued
against him, but their residences
have been invaded and searched by
spoilers, spies and deputies, who dis
played zeal in their endeOvOrs to as
certain the whereabouts OF the lead.
ers. The conclusion Is they wished
to get them into their power, con-
scious of our innocence of all viola
ton of the laws of God OF the consti-
tuition. But if the laws entrap us
because of our belief in the practice
of q revelation God-given we desire
at least it shall be upon what the
world would call evidence and SUBJ
stantial proof, but not npon religious
prejudice and a determination to
convict. Should conviction follow in
such a case, we should submit, as the
martyrs have done in every age
where God had a people on earth.
AS to the prosecution inflicted on us
for adherence in His laws, we should
at least have the same rights as bur-
glars, thieves and murders. If we
are sinners, Abraham also and the
prophets and Jesus descend
ed from a polygamic source, and
many of Gods favorite children are
also sinners. Christianity cannot
offer anything eternal of a character
to compensate US for the abandon
ment Of truth demanded OF us. The
Constitution protec's the sccredness
of contracts of plural marriage, cOn-
tracts Of the most sacred character,
beng fer time and eternity.
The epjstie Estimates that the
members of the Mormon church
practicing polygamy do no: exceed
per cent. of The whole member
ship, aud considers it IN &C.. of great
injustice that the rem aiming 50 per
cent. are abused, outraged, t 'eir
business interests disturbed, values
unsettled, and neighborhood property
jeOpardized because of a raid on al
l~aw-breakers. Committee was
to draft resolutions of pro-
to President Cleveland and the
setting forth specifically and
n detail the tyranical conduct of
Federal officials from which the
people of Utah are suffering.
Manitoba War.
WINNIPEG, April 6.-Tidings from
he state Of affairs as growing worse
before telegraphed by Col. Irvine
the government. has come through
~ courier and carries bad news.
Supplies are scarce and unless relief
,ets through very soon the mounted
,olice and all Prince Albert people
will be at the mercy Of the rebels.
Irvine says reinforcements of 1900
hundred men are wanted at Prince
Albert Immediately. He adds that
he country people, owing to threats
the rebels, are leaving their
and Teton Sioux are swarm
ng the country and committing dep
edations, while supplies are becom-
ng short. The Sioux re-
erred to are led by Chief
White Cap and occupied the reserva-
from the United States.
message was dated March
Further word is awaited with
,reat anxiety. The Hudson Bay Co.
ast night received the following
Message from Fort Quapple:
Just heard from Col. Irvine; he
8 waiting for reinforcements; no
news from him. The
Teton Sioux are committing some
lepradatl0ns in the Prince Albert
The rebels have evidently organic
d a provisional government. In
edition to the receipts signed by
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary
the Saskatchewan previous
Y mentioned the Hudson Bay
company hold others signed