The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-22
THE MANITOBA HOAX.

The average American newspaper cor
respondent would consider himself as I'm
worthy membership in the profession if h'
did not give free rein to his imagination
and tinge his work with sensationalism
He assumes it to be his duty to discover 1
reason for everything he sees, and to STATE
that reason, however ridiculous or improb
able if may be. Indeed, the more improb,
able it is the better he likes it, and the more
of a sensation he creates.
For the past six years the newspaper
fellows have had the Mormons on the eve
Of departing from Utah in a body, leaving
their homes and possessions to be quar-
relied over by those from whom they were
about to fee Among the countries t.
which the correspondents have sent the
Mormons may be mentioned three of the
states of Mexico, on one occasion it having
been asserted with degree of positiveness
intended to carry conviction to the minds
of everybody that the lands of the Yaqu.
Indians had been purchased and an alliance
offensive and defensive formed with that
unframed and untamable tribe. Then the
Saints had arranged with the authorities
of Honduras for the purchase and
absolute control of a large section
of that fertile and fervent little
republic-enough, in fact, to provide farms
and gardens for all the Mormons, and 81
were to go as soon as they could arrange
their affairs here and dispose of their
property. That scheme was the sensation
of few days, and was followed by alleged
negotiations with other Central American
states, an d some of the correspondents
more enterprising and more imaginative
than their fellows, sent the Mormons tc
South America. The removal TO the Sand
witch Islands is a standing item of news
available for use at least twice year. II
has even been published that KALAKAUA
the Kanaka king, was a member of the
church and eager for the Saints tC
occupy his kingdom, giving it prosperity
and fastening him more firmly on the
throne. 1t isn't six months since the news
papers had the Mormons about to transfer
themselves and the headquarters of the
church to the peninsula known as Lower
California, with the consent and co-onera-
ton of the Mexican government. The
project fell through, as the others had done
when no signs of heglra were exhibited
and since then the people have been per
mitted to remain here, though now and
then has come from Ell Paso a paragraph
or dispatch saying that negotiations were
pending for establishing large colonies on
the south side of the Rio Grande.
We had almost concluded that the cor
respondents had forgotten about the re-
moval business, when last Sunday morning
was publishel a Winnipeg telegram assert
ing it as a fact that the Mormous were on
the point of leaving Utah and the United
States, and taking up their abode under
the English flag in British Columbia. The
correspondent went somewhat into detail
Leading Mormons were already in that
country perfectiag the arrangements, and
the hegira would began in the early spring.
OF course polygamy was to be practiced
there; indeed, that it might be practiced
was why the Saints were going, the object
being to escape the severe enforcement Of
the laws of this country.
We wonder that the CORES pc ldents do
not tire of these fabrications, and it is
equally surprising that the public does not
weary Of reading this balderdash served to
it with such regularity; especially when
zine persists in showing there is abso-
lutely nothing in these announcements be
yond the vain and idle imaginings of the
news hungry journalists. Now, what is
there in this latest hegira! What has oc-
CURED to suggest that the Mormons con
templated a removal! Absolutely nothing
For years there has been a colony Of Saints
on the other side of the line dividing the
United States and the British possessions.
Just as there arc colonies or settlements
of MormOns in Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona,
Colorad1 Nevada and elsewhere. There has
been no secret about the branch of the churC
in A b Ia, the fact being known through
out Canada aad this country. AS the
are doing with all the stakes all
the time, Presidents WOODRUFF and
CANNON and a few others visited the
northern colony the other day, going in the
most public manner possible, and having
concluded their visit returned in the same
way, arriving home on Saturday. The day
they reached this city it was telegraphed
from Mcleod and from Winnipeg that they
were at the former place arranging for the
removal Of the Mormons to that country in
the spring. With just as much propriety it
might be alleged that the Saints were going
to Arizona, to Colorado or other places
visited by the leaders.
How ridiculous all these stories are! If
the Mormons wanted to go, they could not;
that is to say, the great bulk of them could
not, for all they have is here, and it is their
presence alone that makes it valuable. To
leave would be to go forth, men, women
and children, las tramps, and people who
are comfortable, if not rich, in the matter
Of this worlds goods, ARE not likely to throw
everything away and go wandering
about the country in poverty and
want. Then, again, where could
the Mormons go to find more peace than
herel But above all, and doing more than
all else to control in this matter is the fact
that the Mormons are American citizens
citizens of the great republic to which and
its institutions they are as devoted as any
members Of the democratic family. The
stars and stripes is their flag and it is as