The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-25

We're driven by violence from their posses
sions tax titles scarcely constitute good
titles. And many of the present owners of
Mormon lands think so; for it is no infre-
quent occurrence for inquiry by attorneys
and innocent purchasers of the old ''Mor-
mon" farms to be set on foot among the
community here, with a view to completing
the chain of documentary proof back to the
government patent.
But while mob violence at one time an
swered every purpose of the enemy against
us, now another method is resorted to; and
those who rob US attempt to do so under
the color of law. Little do the men who en-
gage in these practices think that in thus
attacking US they are giving US experience
and strength. 1t has been the teaching of
the leaders of this church from the begin
ming, that the day would come when just
such expressions as these would be brought
to bear against US; that every form of per-
secution would be tried; and that finally the
constitution itself would be trampled upon
in order to deal US deadly blow. Every
child, therefore, who reads of the present
proceedings knows that they are in fulfill
ment of predictions with which he is famil-
which he hears and sees; and the entire
people, Notwithstanding their sufferings,
rejoice that God has so wonderfully pre-
pared them by His revelations for the
scenes through which they are now passing.
Love for the constitution, the great charter
of liberty which was framed by men raised
up and inspired for the purpose, is
deeply imbedded in the hearts of
the Mormon people. They expect that
if there is not thorough repentance
its provisions will be disregarded and its
guarantees be thrown aside. They believe
that to them is reserved the high destiny to
help uphold it. Hence every suit that is
brought against them in the courts of this
territory and which may be decided against
the provisions of the constitution, they feel
it their bounden duty to contend and to
carry to the court of highest resort. 1t is
a remarkable fact that that court has had
graver constitution ii questions to decide in
connection with the Mormon people and the
affairs of this territory than have ever been
brought before it since the founding of the
government, except, perhaps, in the prin
ciples which the bred Scott and other cases
developed, and which involved the judicial
determination of the slavery question.
Within few days the Idaho test oath, as
fragrant a violation of constitutional law as
was ever attempted, an enactment that
would have shocked every American of
earlier times, has been gravely discussed
in the capitol of this nation, as an act that
should be enforced against an entire people. |
A few months ago a case was argued to
test the validity of a law which literally
confscated all the property of the Mormon
church donated to it by its mem
bers in obedience, as they believed, to
a divine law, for sacred purposes. |
We need not allude to the cases
which have arisen under the Edmunds-
Tucker law, including the Infamous segre-
cation theory, etc. The two cases men
toned are of themselves of the utmost
Importance, not to the Mormons alone, but
to the lovers of liberty everywhere. 1t
may be the Mormons to-day, but who will |
it be tomorrow! When once the barrier is
thrown down and constitutional safe
guards are violated, where shall any one
seek safety! The disposition manifested |
now is that everything which has been |
held dear by freemen from the earliest |
days shall be ruthlessly trampled upon by |
those who are making war against US in |
their eagerness to strike us down, doing |
that by moral violence which was accom-
plished formerly by the use of the rife, the |
bayonet and the torch. The end to be |
reached is the same, but the methods by |
which that end is reached vary according
to circumstances.
&c
not for ourselves, because we are con-
scious of our position and of the future |
that awaits US, without the shadow of |
doubt concerning a higher interposition in
our behalf. We mourn for our
unhappy country and those who will |
have to reap the whirlwind after
such abundant sowing of the wind. The |
experience of the past and present are part
of the great plan. We are being taught to |
appreciate liberty by having to endure op-
preston without it. When we shall have |
emerged from under the clouds and the |
sorrows, the love of freedom will haveleft |
an impress so indelible upon US that we
will hold it as priceless to ourselves but |
too precious to be denied to others. Our |
first leader was wont to say that man |
who would not preserve the rights of 9th !
ers was unworthy of those rights himself. |
He declared that if he were ruler of the |
world every subject should enjoy the full |
lest rights. Even the idolator, so long as
he did not trespass upon the rights of 9th
ers, had the same right TO his belief and |
practice as the true believer. He also said, |
speaking of those who grew impatient |
under trial and were quick to visit punish |
ment upon those who wronged them, that \
he was willing to leave mankind to thejus- |
tice or the mercy of the great Creator; |
that as we expect to be judged righteously |
by Him, so might He be trusted to punish
those who deserve it, without mankind
taking punishment into their own hands. |
One of the most remarkable facts con-
nected with the history of the Latter-day
SAINTS is the fate of those who have pitted
themselves against the work and have
sought to destroy the people. We have
had presidents, governors, judges, and
other prominent and noted men, who have
undertaken the task of "solving the Nor
mon problem" by violence and by the fran
ing of various devices and schemes having
in view the overthrow of the liberties of
the people But who of them has pros
pered. Who has achieved fame or creditl |
1t Is true that some have obtained some
notoriety for the time being. This was not
because of any superior merit which they
possessed, but because their names have