Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-01
CALIFORNIA AND COAST.
Several ShipErsGks Reported Along The
Northern Coast.
DECIDED AGAINST THE MORMONs.
The Changers Welcomed by the
Citizens of MERGED and Fresno
Weather Reports.
lsrBolAh DISPATCHES TO TIE RnooED-usuos.l
AGAINST THE MoKmoNs.
Alien Members of the Church are Re-
fused Naturalization.


Alien Members of the Church are Re-
fused Naturalization.
SALT LAKE. November 30th.-Proceed-
ings before the Court on the question
whether or not alien members of the Nor
mon Church should be naturalized, ended
10 day By Judge Anderson refusing the APP
plicAnts The decision has been breath
iessly expected on account of bearing on
the political contest for Mormon or nom
Mormon control at the next city election
in February.
The Judge quotes Brigham Young at
considerable length and refers especially to
his denunciation of the Government when,
in 1857, the United States troops were sent
10 Salt Lake City.
In summing up he saws that whether the
language OF Brigham Young, Heber KIM
bali, 0rson Hyde and others instigated the
Mountain Meadow massacre, or whether
that horrible butchery was done by the
direct command of Brigham Young, will
probably never be known. The evidence,
Judge Anderson says, does not sustain the
claim of counsel that the feelings of the
people toward the Government have under
gone change and that in later years the
feeling of hostility has disappeared or be-
come greatly modified.
ia a most determined manner and with all
the means at its command, opposed the en-
forcement OF the laws of the United States
against polygamy and unlawful cohabita-
ton
Not word of evidence was introduced
showing that any preacher of that church
ever, in q single instance, advised obedi-
ence TO the laws against polygamy. On the
contrary. the evidence showed it has per-
slstently refused obedience to at least por-
lion of the laws of the Government, and
has insuIted and driven United States Off
GERS from the Territory, and has denied
The authority of the United States to pass
laws prohibiting polygamy as All unwar-
ranted interference with the Mormon re-
lieion.
Undoubtedly there are many members
of this church who feel friendly to the
Government and would gladly break the
shaekles that bind them if 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 ostracism.
In his decision Judge Anderson states
the ground of his opposition to the admis-
sion of the applicants to citizenship to be
that the Mormon Church is and always
has been reasonable organization in its
teachings and practices, hostile to the
Government of the United States, disobedi-
eut to its law, and seeking its overthrow
that the oath administered to its members
IN the Endowment House binds them IN
der penalty of death to implicit obedience
in all things, temporal as well as spiritual,
iothe priesthood and to avenge the death
of the prophets Joseph and Hiram Smith
upon the Government and people of the
United States.
The Judge reviewed at length the evil
dence submitted by the Government re-
garding the Endowment House ceremonies,
the teachings of the church. etc. Referring
10 the testimony of the witnesses for the
Mormons, he said one Of them testified
concerning the Endowment ceremonies,
but declined 10 state what oaths were taken
or obligations of the covenants entered in
70. or penalties attached TO the violation,
while some stated they had forgotten what
vas said about avenging the blood of the
prophets.
These evasions, the Judge says, rendered
their testimony of little value and tended
to confirm the evidence offered by the OBJ
jectors to the applicants.
The evidence establishes beyond any
reasonable doubt that the Endowment GER
emonies are inconsistent with the Oaths of
citizenship, and the applications of John |
Moore and Walter Edgar, both of whom !
were through the Endowment House, are |
denied.
As to the admission of other applicants
upon the ground of their being solely |
members OF the Mormon Church, large |
mass of evidence was introduced, consist. |
ing mostly OF the sermons and writings of
Mormon rulers and leaders, published IN
der the direction Of the church. The Judge |
continues:
Il think there can be no question but |
that the church claims and exercises the |
right to control its members III temporal !
as well as spiritual affairs. The evidence |
also shows that blood atonement is one of |
the doctrines of the church"
After reciung the teachings of the church |
at length, the Judge says: 1T has always !
been and still is the policy of this Govern |
ment to encourage aliens who in good |
faith come TO reside in this country and to |
become citizens, but when man of for |
eign birth comes here and joins an organ |
ization which is professedly religious and |
requires him 10 swear allegiance par |
amount to his allegiance to the Govern |
ment; an organization that impiously |
claims to be the Kingdom of God, to con- |
troll its members under His immediate d. |
rection, and vet teaches and practices a |
system of morals shocking to Christian |
people everywhere, it is time for the Courts
to pause and inquire whether such men
should be admitted to citizenship. The
evidence in this case establishes unques-
tionably that the teachings, practices and
purposes of the Mormon Church are an
fagonistie to The Government of the United
States, and utterly subversive of the good
morals and well being of the society, and
that its members are animated by the feel
ing of hostility toward the Government
and its Laws.
Therefore, &c alien who is a me mber of
said church Is no a fit person 10 be made
citizen of the United States
CALIFoRNIA'S WEATHER.