Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-08-20
AxTI.MORMOSIsN IN CANADA.

THE accompanying paragraph Is
going the rounds Of the press, after
the common fashion Of anti-'Mor-
NOM news, and Is receiving the
usual rabid and senseless comments.
1t started as a press dispatch, but
has found it, way into several papers
as editorial matter:
The people Of the Canadian North
ives. are taking a decided stand
against allowing Mormon settlers 10
come into the country, and threaten
TO take the law in their own hands
and run them out unless the govern
meut takes some active means 20 pre-
vent the country from being pOpulat-
ed with these undesirable people. II
3 said that the government mas been
deceived, and not only is polyEamy
prac.ised in it, worst form, but owing
TO the close proximity OF the Mormon
settlement al Lees Creek, with the
Blackfoot Indian reserve. their influ-
ence upon the Indian population has
been most demoralizing- Arrange
ments are being made At the present
moment, Tor the arrival OF several
hundred M0rmons from Utah. and
there promises 20 be serious trouble
II this sort Of immigration continues.
There is not the slightest reason
for the excitement which some fan
arical persous, backed by q few self
ish individuals, are trying to raise
against the handful Of "Nyrmons''
who have settled in Alberta, Car
ada. Il is not true that "several
hundred MormOns'' are moving in-
TO that region. Neither is it true
that those who reside there are
practicing or teaching polygamy OF
that they are "demoralizing'' the
Indians.
Some papers have gone 50 far A.
10 state that our friends in Canada
have been persuading the Indians
to take more wives than one, and
that this is contrary to the policy Of
tie Canadian government which
seeks to teach the Indians the
beauties OF monogamy.
The simple truth i that a few
Latter-day saints have colonizei a
place in Alberta which they found
suitable for farming purposes,
and they have improved and
beautificd il in the manner
usual with our people in opening up
new settlements. They have started
a cooperative institution, and that
has aroused the Jealousy Of some Of
the business men in the towns
adjacent, who fear that it means a
monopoly Of trade or something that
may bedetrimental to theirmaterial
interests.
Then thereare seclarilu influences
a. work in hostility b the religion Of
the new settlers, the promoters Of
which know nothing Of Mormon
ISM and are imbuei with the mis-
taken idea that It mans p1lygamy.
ami these tg0 forces are IN opera
tiDn, working up the minds Of IN, |
ignorant ana threatening 10 make a |
disturbance that wou3Ibe very dis
graceful to the province. and 10 the
Canadian g3verument-ir 1t per-
mits this lawless spirit to prevail |
and effect it. purpose.
This matter should be Officially
investigated. Fair and thorough iu-
quiry viii demonstrate these fact:
That the .sAIormons'' in Alberta
are Industrious, P-acclble and thrift
y; good citizens in every sense. anu
ohsiient to the laws Of the land in
which they live. That they hav,
bat one wife each, If married. Thai
they Do MT iuculcate plural family
relations That If they come int
con act with the Indians in any
way, their influence will be- in thu
direction Of order, honesty. sobriety
and peace. That the Indians will
become more law-abidiug and les-
savage, and be LED to settle down a.
tillerS OF the sill ami raisers Of stock
That the cooperation OF the Nor
mons" Is merely union OF interests.
labor aud capital, frr mutual benefit
and the distribution Of wealth. ana
that il can in NJ wise be injurious b.
other people. That no considerabl,
number OF their co-rrlisionists ar,
swelling the number Of .sAIormous,.
in Canada.
Such an investigation as will
reach the facts ought t. he ordered
Aud meanwhile the Canaiian an
th1rities ought % prevent auy such
lawlessness a. certain designing
persons seem determined, If possible
l. provoke. While the "NI1rmon.,,
obey the laws they should d. Do
tect-i 10y the laws. AMI We ar
confident that proper official in
qui-y will dem1nstrlte the fact. thai
there j. not the slightest ground for
any alarm among the Cana iiau
people, ami that the Mormon SCI
tiers are TO be- cla7ssi with lhe best
best citizens that dwell within the
hJlniaries Of the Dlmininn.