, 1889-12-05
NOT CITIZENS.
Mormon Applicants Are
Ineligible.
JUDGE ANDERS0N'S DECISION.
He Gives the Saints a Terri.
BILE Soorohing.
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE
Laid Once More to Brigham Young,
and His Horde of Nor
mon Elders.
JUDGE ANDERS0N'S DECISION.
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE

SALT LAKE, Utah, Nov. 30.--Judge
Anderson to-day delivered his decision
II the matter of application of Mormons
who had taken tho endowment house
oath for admission to citizenship. The
decision reviews the testimony at length
and denies the application.
In his decision Judge Anderson states
that the ground Of his opposition to the
admission of applicants to citizenship p
to be-
THAT the Mormon church is and al
ways has been a reasonable organiza-.
ton In its teachings and practices, hos
tile to the government of the United
States, disobedicnt TO its laws and seek
ing its overthrow; that the oath admin
istered to its mem bers In the endowment
house binds. them, under penalty of
death, to implicit obedience in all
things temporal as well as spiritual, to
the priesthood and to avcnge the death h
Of the prophets, Joseph and Hiram
Smith, upon tho government and people
of the United States
The judge reviewed at length tho evil
dencc submitted by the government re
garding the endowment house cercmo-
nies, teachings OF the church, etc. Re
terring to the testimony of witnesses for
the Mormons, lie said;
"All of them testified concerning the
endowment ceremonies, but declined to
state what oaths we're taken or oblign--
tons or covenants entered into or penal.
ties attached 10 violation, while some
/ "a knl tt.,,, sl,, Il
about avcngng the blood of the
prophets"
"Thesc evasions," the judge says,
rendered the testimony of little value
and tended to confirm the evidence
offered by objcctors to the applicants.
The evidence established beyond any
reasonable doubt that the endowment
ceremonies are inconsistent with the
oath OF citizenship and the application
of John Moore and Waiter Edgar, both
of whom went through the endowment
house, is denied"
As to the admission of, other apph-
cants upon the ground of their being
solely members OF the Mormon church,
u large mass OF evidence was introduced,
consisting mostly OF sermons and writ
ings of Mormon rulers anti leaders pub
lished under direction ofthe church.
The judge continues ~ think there
can he no question but that the church
claims aud exercises the right to control
| its members in temporal as well as spir.
itual affairs The evidence also shows
that blood atonement Is one of the doc.
trines of the church." The judge quotes
Brigham Young at length and refers es-
pccially TO his dcnuneiauon OF the gov
ernment when, IN 1857, United States
I troops were sent TO SaitlLaks City.
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE.
In summing up he says: Whether
the language of Brigham Young, Heber
Kimball, Orson Hyde and others insti-
gated the Mountain Meadow massacre,
or whether the horrible ,butchcry WIS
done by the direct demand of Brigham
! Young viii never he known"
"The evidence, Judge Anderson says,
| docs not sustain the claim of counsel
that the feelings of the people toward
/ the government have undergone n
change and that in late years the feeling
OF hostility has disappeared or become
greatly moGiiied. The evidence shows
thut the church has in the most deter
mined manner and with all means at its
command opposed the enforcement of
the laws OF the United States against
po.ygamy and unlawful cohabtation
Not word of evidence was introduced
showing that any preachers of tlat
/ church ever in single instance advised
obedience of the laws against polygamy.
ON the contrary the evidence shows that
! il has pcrsistently refused obedience o
l..s..r ut lN. lp..s = q l.
government, have insultcd and driven
United States officers from the territory
| and has denied the authority of tho
/ United states to pass laws prohibiting
/ polygamy as unwarranted interference
with Mormon religion.
Undoubtedly there are many mem
bers of this church who arc friendly to
the government and would gladly break
the shackles that bind them II they
dared; but with an organization the
most thorough that can be imagined
which can be welded against them,
they remain in the church rather than
take the risk of financial ruin and social
os tracism.' Ai.er reciting the teach
ings of the church at length, the judge
says; ,.A,., ., am =,
policy OF this government TO encourage
aliens who in good faith come to reside
In this country to become citizens; but I
when man of foreign birth comes hero
and joins an organization which, pro-
fessedly religious, requires of him al
legiance paramount to his allegiance to
tho government, an organization
that imperiously claims to be
the kingdom OF God, TO control
its members under his immediate G
direction, and yet teaches and practices
a system OF morals shocking to Christian
discipline everywhere, 1t is time for
courts to procure and inquire whether
such men shall be admitted to citizen
ship. The evidence in this case estab-
lislies unquestionably that the teachings,
practices and purposes Of the Mormon
church are antagonistic to the govern
ment of the United States, and utterly
subvcrsivo of good morals and well be
ing OF society, and that its members are
animated by u feeling of hostility to-
ward the government and its laws.
Therefore, an alien who Is member OF
said church is not a tit person to be
made citizen oft United States"
ZULU RABIES.