The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-25
Some Of the Dreadful Scenes That Were En-
acted in and Around Carthage.
THOUSAND MILE JOURNEY TO SALT LAKE CITY.
Brief Review of the Years That Have Passed Since That Time
and the Present Situation.
BY PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON,

laid numerous offenses at their doors.
with stories calculated to infiame the
ignorant mind and appeal to popular
clamor. 1t was at first charged against
the Mormons that their religion was an
imposture-they believed in revelation
from on high. Another offense was that in
their domestic affairs they were peculiar"
they were reserved in their department
and dealing; they did not mix with the
wild elements of mankind which sur
rounded them; in short, they minded their
own business. These were atrocious
crimes, indeed! For these were they out
ragged, plundered and butchered! Many of
them came from New England, where the
anti-slaver- :::ayement was beginning. They
were recognized as Yankees were &C
cused of secreting and Stealing negroes,
and were hated as abolitionists with all the
bitterness that the men who lived on the
border of the slave states at that time felt
for adherents of that doctrine. This was
held up as a most grievous offense, and
they were driven out at the point of the
bayonet. No charges of immortality then!
No Idlh VI Emporium III IHpCTtO. NC HOLY
adherence of polygamy! No loyal anxiety
to repress violations of law, for there were
charges neither of misdemeanor nor of
felony No high-voiced hypocrisy about
disloyalty or treason; for they were law
abiding, obedient to judicial summons and
patriotic. Because they did not have
slaves and did not want them, they were
abolitionists. because they cultivated
their land and attended their own affairs,
with no taste for lawless forays and no love
for fronuer excuses, they were exclusive.
Because their religion was strange and
claimed the inspiration of divinity, they
were fanatics. oAnd because1 they were
said to be ''oholitionists," and exclusive
and --IanaucaI,' Jney we're unworthy of
place or protection within the state. Mis-
souri, washed her hands of them and did it
in blood.
The distinguishing traits of thrift and
industry which had attended the efforts of
the Mormons in Missouri and Ohio, were
again admirably presented in their new
home In Illinois. They founded and built
city which was the pride and wonder of the
state. What little had remained to them
after their repeated drivings, fur
nishe d them no capital save a ter
rible experience with which to
begin again. But they shrank not be-
fore obstacles, and set to work courageously
on the bank of the mighty Father of Wa
tiers. Nauvoo grew as if by magic 1t was
beautiful beyond any town in all the re
gion. There was no brawling, no violence,
no disturbance of any kind to hinder the
progress of business or the enjoyment of
the favors which kindly Providence sup
piled in recompense of honest toll. But if
peace reigned within, it was not because
| the old hostility without was dead. If the
crime of minding their own business made
the people exclusive, the same heinous
charge could still be brought against them.
If it was fanaticism to believe in the reve-
lations of heaven, leaving others to believe
what they chose, they were still fanatical.
But these alone were slight pretexts for
| further atrocities. The word abolitionism
had not such terrors in Illinois as in Mis-
souri,. A new objection must be sought
against the prosperous community, and, as
usual, one was quickly found. The mem
bers believed that in union there is
strength. They carried the theory into
practice-not only in religion, but in COM
merce and politics. 1t was great STUN
bling block to their neighbors. The indie
pendence which made them free to select
the best candidates, and the good sense
which caused them to cast a
united vote for them, gave their
enemies a weapon which has
ever been readily used against them. The
politicians Of the neighborhood, offended at
the course they took in this matter seized
this pretext and magnified its dangers in
every possible way. OF course when men
seek excuses they will always find them.
Having started out to give the Mormons a
bad name, it was easy to charge them with
the prevailing crimes of horse-stealing,
counterfeiting, harboring vile characters,
and of living, as a community, by a system
of plumber. Lawless persons from up and
down the river found it to their advantage
to shield their own practices and divert
suspicion from themselves by attaching it
to the unpopular citizens. The world is
always ready to believe the most unreason-
able falsehoods against those who already,
WuSOuCi NCuly VI uOO, nave ISCClNSu
a bad name. An absurd charge of riot, of
which the participants had been legally
acquitted, was magnified into the crime of
resisting the process of law, and hence,
by long stride in sophistry, to rebellion
One pretext now followed another in quick
succession, and it seemed that nothing but
blood would satisfy the enmity which was
raging on every side The threats made
against the leaders of the people, but
especially against the prophet Joseph
Smith, were of the most murderous kind.
His surr.-utit4r Was demanded, not so much
to s&55fyJ Le Law re clamors of blood
thirsty mob. Joseph foretold what would
be his fate should he fall into their hands
But to save the people, and to comply with