Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-07
THE EPISTLE.
How The First Presidency Looks Upon
The Enforcement
OF Law and Morality in Utah Ter
ritOry.

ter of John Taylor and George @. Can
non, as the First Presidency of the
Church, to the people assembled in con-
ference at Logan. Comment has been
refrained from, as the intelligent mind
needs no prompting to place proper
value upon its expressions.
The letter begins with an expression Of
regret that the writers are unavoidably
prevented from attending the conference
in person; and goes on to say, that under
the circumstances it is proper for them to
address the people by letter, to express
the
FAITH, FEELING AND HOPES
by which they are animated, in regard to
the work in hand. Never, at any time,
have we had more Joy and satisfaction,in
the Gospel We see Gods hand marvel
ously manifested in behalf of His people.
For a wise purpose in His providence He
permits the wicked, in the exercise of
their agency, from time to time to affiict
His followers. We have submitted to His
laws, have obeyed His gospel, and have
chosen the path which He assures us will
bring us into His presence. Others of
His children prefer different course.
They yield to a different influence, and
under its power they seek to destroy the
work of God and all who are connected
with it. Not only in time past, but in
our own days, the wicked have prosecuted,
tormented and
MURDERED THE SAINTS OF GOD.
But while so doing, they bring upon them
selves everlasting condemnation, their
acts being overruled for the glory and
exaltation of His faithful people, and the
accomplishments of His purposes.
For a few months past we have seen
in these valleys an exhibition of this
deadly hostility against the Latter-day
Saints. The best men in the communi-
ty, men of pure lives, men who have set
an example to the people, who have led
in works of righteousness, who have
been citizens of the highest type of char
acter, have been selected as victims of
VILE PERSECUTION.
and been assailed and denounced as
criminals of the lowest grade Juries
have been selected for the express pur-
pose of convicting men who are promi-
nent in the church and their partisan
bias has become so thoroughly known in
the community, that the common ex-
preston is, that an accusation in the
courts, as now constituted, is equivalent
to a conviction. The result has been
that a Latter-day Saint would be almost
as safe in seeking justice in the internal
regions, or at the hands of Algerine
pirates, as in courts of this character.
A reign of
JUDICIAL TERROR
has prevailed and still prevails in these
valleys. Seeing no prospect of fair trial.
men have deemed it better to avoid ar
rest for a season, or until there was a
prospect of receiving impartial treatment
by the courts and juries. A law Whichis
IN and OF itself, as we believe, unconsti-
tutiOnal, and aimed at the practice of re-
ligion, and SO viewed by number of
our leading statesmen in Congress,
is taken advantage of and car
ried to lengths probably never dreamed
of by many of the men who voted for it.
The letter then goes on to discuss the
case of President Taylor himself; reciting
the history of his visit to Arizona, where,
it states, five Mormons had undergone a
form of trial, travesty of justice While
all were prepared to undergo the legal
consequences of the violation of the Ed
munds law, they were not prepared for
such tyrannical provisions of the law.
No man achO could by any possibility be
accused any longer dared submit his case
to such treatment. Many of them there
fore left their homes. President TAYLOR
being informed of threats against his
own liberty, deemed it wise, under the
circumstances, to
WITHDRAW FOR AWHILE
to attend to his business in a more pri-
waite manner than he had been in the
habit of doing in his public office.
The question has been asked us, how
long we intend to pursue this course.
In answer we say, that at no time have |
we ever shrunk from the investigation of |
our conduct, our utterances or of our
lives by any fair tribunal
Our faith and practice, for which we
all sought to be condemned, are the
alth and practice of the
BEST AND HOLIEsT
Of Gods children. If we are sinners in
his respect, then Abraham, Moses. Elkan-
nah, Solomon and David were also sin
hers. After further defence of polyga-
ny IN this strain, the letter makes the fol-
owing
REMARKABLE STATEMENT:
Gas the male members of our church
Who practice plural marriage are esti-
mated as not exceeding but little, if any,
wo per cent. of the entire membership
II the church, we consider it an act of
reat injustice to the ninety-eight
'er cent. to be abused and out
aged and have all their business
Citations disturbed, values of every
ind unsettled, neighborhoods agitated {
nd alarmed, and the property of the {
eople generally jeopardized, because of
ais raid upon these alleged breakers of {
he law" The letter then, after charg- {
lg upon the Gentiles the introduction of q
7erything evil into the country, con- \
udes with religious counsel, and assures a
re people that, in spite OF everything, t
Gods work will roll forth, and those
no fight against If will narieh ,,