Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-09-23

that is something that neither they
nor any other body or person can
prove, and It has been made with
malicious intent that is, to injure
the law-sbeying 'Mormon" people
and deceive the American press and
public.
The statement that the leaders OF
the Church "rule as so many auto
cratsn and that .sthey recognize no
law except those which they per
sona1y make or dictate" is grossly
untrue and absurd, and can only
be excused by the evident ignor-
ance Of the writer. Such n rule,
II il existed, would be the
very antipcdes OF ''Morm0nism-"
II would be destructive Of the
system. Tbs s'edicts Of the priest
hoodv have no existence" except in
the Imagination Of persons who are
too prejudiced to look into the facts,
and the s'AIormon' leaders are to-
day more strictly observant Of every
law Of the land than ninety-nine
hundredths Of their accusers-
That OF predicted ''revolt against
ecclesiastical tyranny, Of which
there are emo signs" has never
come because there's no such tyran-
ny TO revolt from, All things In
the "Mormon'' Church are and
must be done ''by common con-
sent.D The priesthood" is com
posed Of nearly all the adult male
members. Women as well - men
vote on all Church questions and
officer, and the "Oecupation Of the
priesthood" is beyond the legitimate
reach ofany secular power.
OF course in the attempt TO solve
''the Mormon perplexity" there is
something lacking" and there al
ways will he. What Is IL? IL : n
failure to 81, at the truth. Ip or
ponents are figuring, and thrusting,
and plunging in the dark. They
do not know what they are fight
ing. It is not these formidable
leaders that stand in the way, as
supposed. II the viniictive beings
who desire their extinction could
kill every one Of these leaders or
immune them for life in dungeons
the "perplexity" would remain anu
the problem would remain I'M
solved.
The abatement Of the evil, the
GJo5e- Democrat says, in the opinion
OF the Commission depends upon
the Pronunciation" of a certain part
Of the Mormon creed.'' And does
any one who is sane believe that
can he accomplished by "more
stringent legislation Does not the
GIo5e-DemOcras understand that
drastic laws against a beliefare more
likely to confirm than destroy that
belief? And IL the belief Of the
I.atter-iay Saints is the real root Of
the trouble, why not try to reach it
by relson instead Of seeking to
crush it out by force?
We submit for the consideration
Of the rejecting that n more rational
and Christian method Of combating
''MormOnism, "wOuld be first 10 find
out what it is, and 10 overcome the
power Of its Priesthood. 20 ascertain
in what 1t consists. Then instead Of
misrepnessnting and abusing and
maltreating the "Mormons," show
them ga more excellont way"
They are n good, honest, Industrious,
temperate and cheerful people, able
TO comprehend an Argument and
highly sppreciative Of kindness.
They have convictions which are
personal, aud FOR these they have
suffered much. They will nevtr be
coerced into renunciation OF their
belief, and while filsehOoI and force
continue to be the means employed,
the ''Mormon" perplexity will re-
main 20 vex ssctarians and puzzle
politicians.