Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-07
INSOLENT MORMONS.
Violent Words from Apostle Thatcher Rails
Ing Flags al Half.Alast.

Ing rags Al Haif.masts
An Ogden (Utah) telegram says : The
Fourth of July was celebrated by a
great meeting at Lester Park pavilion.
Judge o. W. Powers was the orator OF
the day and delivered an eloquent and
patriotic address. At its conclusion
Moses Thatcher, one Of the Twelve
Apostles Of the Mormon Church, in
jected himself into the programme
and read a speech from manu-
script. Among other things he
said "To the majority of the
people in Utah the Fourth Of July is a
farce. Our gray-haired President, John
Taylor, has been obliged to flee from
his home because he could not get JUS
tice in the courts Of the Territory. The
Supreme Court of the United States
and the courts of Utah are swayed by
public opinion and hatred" Judge
Powers replied, rebuking Thatcher in
the strongest terms. The Apostles
speech has excited great indignation
smong the non-Mormon citizens and
even among the more conservative
MormonS. The Territorial Enquirer
appeared yesterday with the representa-
ton of a coffin on its first page and this
inscription thereon; L" Independence
Day. Died 1885,"
A Salt Lake telegram says When
the sun rose Saturday morning the
national flag hung at half-mast on the
City Hall, county courthouse, News
office, Mormon Tabernacle, Church
Tithing office, John Taylor's residence,
Cerro Gordo House, Mormon Church
offices, and the Salt Lake Theatre.
That on the last-named building was
put at full mast as soon as w. Ros-
sitter, its present manager, saw it,
but those on the other build
ings hung limp and dejectedly against
their masts. No one could be found to
explain the reason. About noon a
committee composed Of United States
Marshal Ireland, Z. L. Haines, Major
Wilkes, and Captain Evans, the two last
last named being ex-Confederates, went
to the City Hall to find out the reason.
City-Marshal Phillips said it was the
result of his personal within. The COM
mittee demanded that the flag be raised
to full mast, which demand was met with
a denial. Captain Evans jumped up
and started out to raise it himself.
The door was shut and locked by a
policeman before he reached it. All
present, including some dozen police
officers, made a rush for Evans. Quiet
was finally restored, and the city Off
Gals said the Fourth of July was day
of mourning to them and " this people, p"
whose best men were in the peniten-
tiary by virtue Of Federal officials per
version ofall principles of law and lib
erty, and intimated that any man who
undertook to disturb the flag at half.
mast would be shot.
In a consultation with United States
Marshal Ireland the city marshal
agreed either to raise it full mast or
take it down within thirty minutes,
while in the mean time Constable Crow
had mustered up a small squad to
.'clean the mob out" In less than
thirty minutes the flag was run down
amid the jeers and sneers Of the city
officials. The Grand Army post,
which was celebrating near the city,
was informed Of the difficulty, and
came in after passing resolutions to run
the flags to their proper places, but met
acrowd of citizens at the Walker House.
The crowd wanted to 20 and by force
put the flags where they belonged, but
the counsel of Governor Murray pre-
vailed. Finally, a committee of FIVE
was sent to demand of the mayor that
it should be done, and in few minutes
the flag at the City Hall was run up to
the masthead. The citizens committee
made the same demand on Sheriff Groes.
beck and hoisted the flag at the county
courthouse from half to full mast
Others hung out IN defiance until sun.
down. All who are Immediately re-
sponsible for the piece of business dis.
claim knowing anything about it, but il
has leaked out that an order to thus
insult the nation at large and the Gov.
ernment Of Utah came direct from the
head of the Church.