Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1889-11-23
THE AVENGERS OF BLOOD.

The exposures now making in the
Third District Court Of the awful nature
aud reasonable forms Of the Endow.
ment House oaths are having q deep
effect upon the community. Especially
is this effect marked upon new corners
and upon young men raised in the coun-
try who have never been at outs with
their Mormon relatives or with the
Church particularly, but who have never
taken much interest in the alleged ere
ligion." To be sure, these have heard in
@ general way pretty much all that has
been now disclosed, but in scraps and by
piecemeal. and the prompt denials Of the
truth CT these bits Of information have
left the minds Of these young men about
ss if they had heard nothing. But now
it is different. Here is a practical test
made Of a mans eligibility to become q
citizen Of the United States while he at
the same time adheres to an organization
which requires in its fellowship secret
oaths Of vengeance upon this Nation,
enforced by bloody penalties. The ma
ture OF these oaths is told by witness
after witness with such cumulative effect
that the force Of the evidence annot be
evaded. The enforcement Of the penal
ties is recited, and an instance given Of
the murder of q man who had violated
his covenants" Citations are made OF
teachings by the authorities of the Nor
mon people in direct line with the testi-
mony offered; of prayers for the break
ing up of this Nation "~unless it re-
pents;" Of 0rson Pratt's solemn and &C.
cepted declaration that "the Kingdom
of God on earth is the only legal and
authorized government that exists or can
exist among men. All this makes a per.
feet case. To meet it the Mormons put
on their witnesses, who make a pitiable
showing. Apostle John Henry Smith
was all loyal and bland till he was asked
q few questions involving the practical
application Of his pretensions; then he
collspses utterly, refuses to answer, and
his counsel finally appeals to the Court
to instruct the witness that he need
give no answers that "would criminate
himself" Surely q most contemplate
outcome from such lofty claims as the
witness began with; his mission on the
stand was to show how loyal and true
his people were to this Nation, and his
counsel turn white with apprehension
lest his own testimony will land him in
the penitentiaryi He took the hint, and
his refusal to answer pointed questions
was virtually an admission on the gen
eral issue that the evidence of the
"Apostates" was true, and personally
that a truthful reply would open for him
the gates of the Jail.
The other witnesses to Mormon loyal
ty were all of the same sort on the Main
question. When it came to the point,
they with one accord refused to answer,
which demonstrated that they could not
deny facts sworn to by Messrs. Bond,
Wardell, Cahoon and others. MIR.
Aaron Thatcher, indeed, stated very
plainly that this was not so in his case,
when he said he would answer as to
what was not said; following this up
with decline to state I" when the ques'
tions involving these very disclosures
were put to him. Yesterdays Mormon
testimony was of precisely the same
character as on Saturday. The truth is,
that all these matters testified to have
been notorious for years; only just now
they are put with a coherency, connect.
edness and practical force never before
attempted. The showing is a thorough
vindication of the Apostates, of the
Tribune and Of loyalty in Utah. Its eff.
feet is bound to be very great.-Salt
Lake Tribune.