The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-19
MoBBING THE MORMONS.

The telegram in this issue from Blrmlng-
ham Alabama, will be read with interest
nv TIE HERALD subscribers. 1t says thaU
in CLAW County, in the state named, thefe
has existed a fiourishing branch OF the
Mormon church, which has just been
broken up by citizens Of the county. Inc
elders have been warned to leave the
neighborhood. and most OF them nave
obeyed while others will follow, taxing
their converts with them. We understand
there are no Mormon elders from Utah IN
that section of the country; it is, therefore,
nrobable that the parties driven out are
members of the Josephite church, as there
are branches of that organization IN several
of the southern states.
II is creditable to no community, |
in this age, TO persecute relglohlsts'
whatever faith the latter may pro
fess. The day for combating beliefs win
violence has passed among intelligent, edu-
Gated people in all parts of the globe The
arguments of the thumbscrew, the rack, OF
mis- and switches, Of tar and feathers and
of shotguns, are no longer employed, eX-
cept by the ignorant and vulgar. Civilized
neople recognize the fact that there Is moth
ING convincing in brute force, hence they
do not resort to it when they want to com
hat a faith or overcome religious belief.
Whenever fauaticism assumes the form of
violence. it is conclusive evidence that the
fanatics are ignorant, and are far behind
the times in intellectual development.
It is most astonishing that in the United
States. the most enlightened nation on
earth. and one which protests loudest in its
laws and theories and institutions against
interference with religion, a community
can be found which tolceItcs and practices
religious persecution. To say nothing of
the Injustice to individuals, of the viola
tions of law. and the brutality towards per
sons. il is surprising to find any consider
able number Of men VINO have so misread
history as TO think that faiths can be
DESTROYED by mobs, and religious beliefs
shaken by brutal and inhuman persecu-
tions. Through all time the blood Of the
martyrs has been the seed of the church.
The most ridiculous of religions will thrive
when opposed by arguments other than
those Of rea on and intelligence, and a
faith that is the raukest fanaticism i'm
aginable will grow and prosper under the
fostering care of mob brutalities and blood
shed. Intelligent men understand this, and
they are compelled to prosecute only with
words, and to employ only reason to lead
from error those they regard as misguided
and followers of 9 false faith.
The Alabama incident told about else
where in this impression is d sad reflection
ON the character and Intelligence of the
4 NJ y
euce who the elders are who have beer
driven away, nor what the nature OF tho
doctrines they taught. They may be Nor
mons orIJosephites or believers in any othel
faith. and the case will stand the same
the Clay county mob is made up of ignor
ant men, incapable of reasoning, and de
void of the common knowledge Of human
nature which teaches that religious belle
fattens on violent opposition and grow
fastest when fought with other weapon
than those which are recognized by civil
cation as Legitimate in religious warfare
namely: reason and intelligence. Tn
persecution of the elders will attrac
friends among the enlightened every
where, while the prosecutors will b
looked upon as ignorant and semi-bal
DarOuS, emlnenLly worse menoei9 VI ~
ciety than the men who have been drive
out, no matter how offensive the doctrine
taught by the latter may be.
It grieves an American to read of sue
proceedings. 1t tells him of things whic
he does not like to know. 1t forces int
his mind the conviction that in this Ian
of freedom and religious liberty ther
are whole communities where ie
norance is supreme, and intoleranc
exists which would shame the pee
pie of the so-called dark ages. On
wishes that if such things must occur, the
would happen in other countries an
among people that we call benighted an
semi-civilized, and not in the great republi
which processes to give light to the Who'll
world, and boasts of the liberality and to
o,.au.a of SIC naonlp in pelipiOuS matters