Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-19
HOW THE BOMBsHELL STRIKES.
Criticisms on Bishop Sharp,s Ac.
tfon-Saints Are Glam and Some
Are Dumb, but n Number of
Them Happy.

citizens on the street and in their places
of business. with the following question:
"Give me your opinion on the stand that
Bishop Sharp has taken?" and received
the following answers:
Prominent Lawyer: | think he has
done right.
Southern Utah Mormon: Had the
Territory been put under martial law, it
would not have struck the people with
greater CONSERVATION. 1t is a great boom
for the Government and an example for
others to follow.
4 young Mormon: | am exceedingly
surprised, intensely grieved; but have no
word of condemnation. Ii he is satisfied;
l am.
Young law graduate: Only kind OF
man I respect.
A Mormon liable to be in Sharp's
place: Is not my kind of a man. act
independently.
A young Democrat: Under the cir
cumstances display OF courage that
will doubtless have the effect to inspire
like courage in others.
Main street Merchant: Sharp's state
ment is the keystone to the situation.
Bishop OF Seventh Ward: Don't know
what authority Bishop Sharp has received
for acting as he has, and so could not
give an opinion about the matter. | don't
know how he has been counseled.
z. L. Williams: He has taken the only
position good citizen could take, and
cannot be criticised from any standpoint.
Ii the religion OF his church makes him
an outlaw, his church cannot criticise
him for doing as he has done
Mormon La ly: The Bishop could not
afford to go to the Penitentiary. The
church could not afford to let him 90.
Judge DIsenberry: I thought there was
nothing to condemn in the action of
Bishop Sharp, but on the contrary, con-
sidering all the circumstances, thought it
rather commendable. He looked upon
the matter as one entirely personal and
an affair OF conscience. He did not be-
lieve that Bishop Sharp had acted under
advice from the church authorities, but
upon his own volition. He did not think
that Bishop Sharp had in any way COM
promised his standing as a Latter-day
Saint. He could not tell what effect the
Bishops course would have upon the
body of the church generally, nor upon
those who were liable to be placed in the
same position.
A Democratic Druggist: | like it, and
think he was honest. | want to give
John Sharp credit for it, He did so be-
cause he thought it was right
County Official One: ~ fully approve
of Sharp's course and think he did the
light thing. cannot say what effect his
course will have upon the masses of the
people" ''Do you think he acted on his
own responsibility or not?" 81 do, butt
think he had good advice from some
quarter, though" 'Do you think the
leaders OF the church advised him to pur-
sue the course he did?" "No, don't. l
think he was advised by some one who
has more sense than they have
got" Thus ended the conversation with
county official one.
County Official Two-"Well, what do
You think OF Bishop Sharp's course ?"
Il hardly know. | guessrit's ali right"
DO you think he acted under advice
from the leaders of the church Or upon
his own responsibilities" II think he
acted on his own responsibility. "Do
you think the statement he read in court
and the promises he made therein con-
sistent with his faith as Mormon 90
eyes, / do. can see nothing in that
statement inconsistent with his faith and
duty as q member Of the church, "Do
you think he was sincere in his prom
ises?" eyes, SO far as the statement he
read in court is concerned, but not when
he said that he would not advocate the
doctrine OF polygamy nor advise people
to enter it, f'If the written statement
is sincere, why should not the other
promise be sincere?' ' THAT ig a hard
question to answer, but ii John Sharp
was sincere as to his promise not to advo-
cate pclygamy, then all have to say is
that don't think he is a fit man to hold
Office in the church." ''Then ii he is
sincere in that promise, You think that
to that extent he has renowned
principle of his religion ?'' 81 do, and no
such man ought to be in Office in the
church,
County Official Three. "What do YOU
think about the Sharp business ?" AZ
hardly know, as have not had time 10
any more than glance at the accounts in
the papers, and have not thought the
matter over" 'Does it look TO you as
though Bishop Sharp had in part re-
nounced his religion?'' ''Well, he is
getting somewhat old and it looks as
though he could not stand the pressure,
and had Weakened" "Then you think
that he has gone back little on his re-
ligion, do your "Well, looking at the
matter as it is, it looks as though Sharp
thought il 4 little thinner than he used
to-"
Editor oi the Home Sentinel: "What
will be the effect, in the country. OF
Bishop Sharp's promising to obey the
Edmunds law, Mr.. Harrington o. 81 can
scarcely say. ] do not think it will be
so great in the remoter settlements as
you in Salt Lake expect. Bishop Sharp
is known in the settlements chiefly as
railroad man, and am inclined to think
that his influence with the people is
chiefly confined to this county and to
Weber and Utah counties. | look upon
his conduct as very much 4 matter of
conscience and personal affair."
Salt Lake Herald: Perhaps Bishop
Sharp did right, and perhaps he did
wrong; but in these matters of religion
each individual must act for himself. The
Herald feels rather ratified upon the sub
ject, and will refer its readers to the
Deseret Neacs.
G. II. Parsons: Just the thing they all
ought to do; and Just as soon as the peo-
pie do it, it will be the end OF the trouble
here, and business will boom.
Preparing for isIOlanthe..