The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
MIR. Reeds Sermon on Mormonism.

In the indianapolis Journal, June T. is re-
ported a sermon by Rev. III. w. Reed, of Den
yer, on Notwithstanding Mormons." There are
some statements in that sermon which Iced
correcting. To those who acquainted with
the practical workings of Mormonism such a
sermon is harmless. 1t only excites their won
der that men of prominence can be so
mised upon such an important question.
But to the people of the East such a sermon is
misleading and fraught with harm to the gen
eral cause We are now passing through the
crisis in Utah--every statement tells now, and
if in any way the people of the East get the
wrong impression in regard to the real state of
the question here the cause of truth is lost Be
fore any man in the East can cry for peace
here he must know what that means.
You would get the idea from this sermon that,
after ALL the Mormons are harmless. The great
trouble is with those who are attempting to
urge the government on to prosecute Mormons.
First.-As to his statement that polygamy is
not Mormonism. That will do if he means the
Josephites, but it will not do when applied to
the Mormons of Utah. The church. as it was
organized under President Young, and
as it is now governed by President
Taylor, accepts polygamy as one of its
cardinal doctrines. For in Utah to-day that is
the great question they are contending Tor
they will not give up. And from every Mormon
pulpit in the Territory the people told almost
every Sabbath the "Edmunds Law is unconsti-
tutional and you must live your religion. There
is no other point about which there is any con-
tenton. In no case and under circumstances
do either gentiles cs government officers
attempt to interfere with the rights of Mormons
The violators of the Edmunds law alone
sought for. Mormon who lives within the
law is as free from disturbance as any citizen In
Colorado or Indiana. What is the real condi-
tons of things here9 This law was passed in
1882, think. At first, Mormons laughed at the
idea Oft the government enforcing such law.
In 1862 Congress passed law against
polygamy but it was never enforced:
In the face of that law Mormons entered
into polygamous relations, and again they
thought to do the same thing with the Ed
munds law. Till in the providence Of God Judge
Zane was sent here it was dead letter but now
it is being enforced, and that is the Of all
this trouble. In word, the law forbids 20
lygamy and unlawful cohabitation, and the
leaders of the Mormon Church, backed by the
masses of the people, are united and determined
in their opposition to the enforcement of this law.
Could our friend but hear what gentiles hear
every day he would be convinced that polygamy
was very important part of Mormonism.
SecOnd-"There are plenty of greedy and COW
etous gentiles Utah, who would like nothing
better than compelled exodus of the people who
have made that salt desert garden, who would
leave behind them property valued at
always has been. They say the greedy gentes
are responsible for the condition of things here
That charge against gentiles is untrue; for there
is not in this Territory to day res ponsible or
respectable man who desires to drive out Nor
mons; who desires to interfere with their rights
in the least. And more than that, any honest
man must confess that gentle money and en-
terprise have done more to advance and
improve the condition of things in
this Territory in the past ten years
than al ha VII m on
the ground know how uni ust and misleading
such statements are Gentiles are not here for
greed; they are not here to take what does not
belong to them, but because they have right
to be-because this is a part of the United
States well as Colorado Indiana And
here say the laws of this land shall be re-
spected and obeyed We have not entered into
any persecution of the Saints. We have not said
Mormons shall not worship God as freely as we
do; but we do insist upon obedience to the gov
eminent
Third-Let me show you the condition of
things here by a few extracts from leading Nor
mon papers.
Whenever the officers of the law attempt to
discharge their duty under the law they are as
sailed through the press In the most abusive
manner.
General Kimball well-known in Indiana for
his distinguished services in the war, as foreman
of the grand jury has been subjected to the
vilest attacks in the columns of the Ogden
Herald, the organ of the Mormon Church. Since
that time he has been pursued almost daily by per
sonal abuse. Why should he be singled out and
abused and slandered by an irresponsible and
characterless editor2 1t is very evident to every
Gentle. Il is to defeat the execution of tha
law, by threats, personal abuse, by all possible
mean They are seeking to bring the laws of
the La. ! into contempt by bringing the officers
of the law into contempt A mans position does
not shield him. The Ogden Herald, of June IT,
1885, says:
'rhe judges Of the Supreme Court vis ted the Ter
rtoral prison and inspected that nstitut ion Judge
O. w Powers said the Utah pen simply disgrace
to civilization 1t is outrage to keep herded
up in that yard with the beating them, etc,
By way Of explanation: The government ap-
prOpriated money for pen at Salt Lake and
Brigham Young had the building of it. The in
stitution Judge Powers condemns is what Presi-
dent Young erected The paper goes on to say:
And yet this horrible place which Judge Powers
charscterizes in such graphic language probably af
fords Judge Zane good deal of satisfaction for it is
tolerably evident that he takes endsh delight in i'm
posing the most unusual hardship upon Mormons
despoticaly adjudged guilty of ofenses under the Ed
munds law The arbitrary refusal by himself Of the
partisan chief justice to admit convicted of
lawful rehabilitation by his ruling to bail under
Court, is to mind ample evidence that Zane is
tuated by the malice of bigotrv, and devoid of the
common sentiments of humanity"
This is only sample of the attacks made upon
the officers. when they fearlessly discharge their
duty. This is the sentiment of the leaders of
the church, supported by the mass or the people.
How we to deal with such outspoken oppo-
stion to our lawss
To say the Mormons are prosecuted because
they are Mormons, is not true is it reasonable
to suppose that grand jurors would unlawfully
and numerically prosecute Mormonsa Is it rea-
sonable to suppose that Zane takes fendish de-
light in sending prisoners 60 the above described
pen built by President Young2 I tell you these
attacks upon the officers of the law, are but
part of an organized effort to defeat the execu-
ton of the laws.
While the people East say be mild and gentle
with this people, they are breathing out threat
enngs against the government for they profess
loyalty with one breath and advise disoyaIty to
this law of the land with the other The success
and prosperity of the Mormon Church means
go far as it is able, death to government;
for it is intended not only to DE church, but