The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-26
CARRIED BY FRAUD"

Its on our recent municipal election, and
the editor thoroughly believes that the
Liberal majority was secured by the prac-
tlce of the grossest frauds. The article is
so frank in tone that one is surprised to
lind it in paper outside of Utah; sur
prised that one editor has the courage to
say what he believes to be true regarding
the Mormons. There are many editors
who are more or less familiar with the facts
regarding the majority of the people of this
territory, but there are mighty few of them
who dare publish those facts in their news
papers, so unreasonable and so bitter is
the popular prejudice against the Saints
But read what the Blade editor says:
We have not the slightest doubt but what
glarlng, vlllalnous, shameful frauds and ras-
calities were resorted to by the anti-Mormon
element This is what they went to that coun-
try for; TO deSpoil the pioneers of their possess
sions. To again drive them the fourth time
from their chosen homeS-this time from a
home selected in a desert, and fifteen hundred
miles from civilization. And what is most de-
plorable is the approval of the robbery by the
leading Republican newspapers of the country
Is there no pity, no sympathy, no justice in the
heart OF the politician? 1t seems not. Are not
these Mormon people sincere in their avowal
ana adherence TO their religious professions?
What better evidence of this could there be
than the tenacity with which they have chung to
it during the fifty years of its founding? Watch
them as they fled from New York to Ohio.
From thence to Missouri, to Illinois, to
Salt Lake! Scourged and robbed in each
instance by fierce and angry rabble, set
on by the devotees of other religions. Men and
women and children, driven like brutes before
an unreasoning, unsympathetic murderous mobl
And they the prosecuted blind and ignorant
followers of new prophet; worshipers at afalse
shrine. A second Hebrew race fleeing from the
vengeance of Pharaoh, peacefully, uncom-
plalnngly submitting to al, SteadfaSt IN the be-
lief that 1t was the will of GoD-that s'whomso-
ever He loveth He chastiseth'' Hoping, pray
lng-Hrmly believing that some day their tribu.
latons would have an ending and peace happi
ness and prosperity would prevail; sunshine and
gentle zephyrs be substituted for the clouds and
storms they were undergoing Such thoughts
were engaging the minds of the little Mormon
army as it reached the range of mountains that
surround and look down upon the Great Salt
Lake valley, and which led the brave leader to
exclaim with emphasis and emotion, Here will
we fix our habitatioa." Here will be our home
for future time. Yonder lake viii be the Dead
Sea Of Judea and yonder silvery stream will be
the river Jordan. Truly GOD is with us, as He was
with MOSES in the burning sands of Egypt. He
Is our dellverer. Here we can live and enjoy our
rehglon IN peace-the religion of ABRAHAM,
ISAAC, JACOB; CHRIST, and His prophet, the Mar
Tyr JOSEPH SMITH. Far away from our persecu-
Tors, a terrible desert intervening on the east
and impossible mountain ranges on the west.
iS nr1rS hH-,.i rrl,+
will possess and enjoy it, for ourselves and Dos
terity. 1T aoas desert''-they the Mormons
made.it what it is, paradise" Their indus
try, their economy, their religion, their courage
their bravery, destroyed the sage brush and the
cactus; sowed fields aud planted Trees built
churches and school houses, and cities Yes
and reared temple to JEHOVAH, that is not
only the pride of these people, but is THE WON
DER of the age. There are some surprising SINH
larities between the country of the Mormons
and the chosen land of the Hebrews; the ex-
periences of the followers of SMITH and
the experiences of the Mosaic flock AS an
Onset TO the Dead sea of Judea is Salt Lake
Into each flows large river and smaller
streams, yet do they not overflow nor have they
visible outlets. Both countries were uninviting
TO the agrlculturist at the time of their advent
Each had It's desert waste, its hills, valleys
plains. And not the least striking is the relg
lous enthusiasm, so akin to each other that
possessed both and made them supremelv hated
by other peoples. Their prosecutions were
very similar and their fight caused by identical
reasons "But o! those terrible Mormons !
they believe in and practice polygamy! The
horrible. wretches!' Is there no excuse. nothing
to palate this offensive conduct against modern
society: Nothing to excite the sympathy of the
forgiving: How many Mormon haters know
the true history of polygamy among the Nor
mons! Not more than one in thousand. And
Of the one, but few are willing to give it honest
thought and sympathetic shape
AS the Mormon party were about to start on
their per1lous journey over the red hot plains in
search of western home demand was made
upon them for regimont of soldiers to go 10
Mexico. This number they could not furnish.
ana compromised on five hundred. These went,
after bidding adieu TO wives, lovers and friends,
and gave their lives to their country, and for the
extension of slavery. For such was the motive
that led to the Mexican war They were not to
blame for this motive however. Already, and
before this draft was made, a preponderance of
women over men existed in the camp of the
prophet, and this made the preponderance much
greater. Who would look after this excess of
women! Where were their husbands to come
from! Who would give them homes
and offspring? Was not the holy
name of mother as dear, as sacred to
one as another: The modern Herod
may say kill them" but the sagacious prophet
OF the Mormon church devised q scheme more
IN accord with humanity. He took the Bible as
his guide. Bethought himself Of the patriarchs
OF old VINO had had a similar problem TO solve.
he Inought OF GOD revealing His will to them in
visions and he prayed for similar enlightenment
and II came! We as much believe that SMITH
received from the Almighty permission to
estaplsh polygamy as spiritual institution as
that any vision ever went forth from GOD We
believe he was sincere in promulgating, and that
they who practiced believed it to be right. IT
constitutes part of their religion, Just as much
as does the belief in JESUS CHRIST or GOD. and
that they have the constitution of the United
States, when honestly interpreted, to protect
them.
AS 1t was an emergency case that called for
the revelation to establish polygamy so will a
dissolve it when the emergency ceases
10 exist. That time may have come, and the
revelation already been made Who knows
Polygamy is greatly on the decline Not because
Oh Inc law fathered by that cold-blooded, unfeel.
ing unsympathetic, callous hearted, stiff and
arrogant arlstocrat, EDMUNDS, whose name the
law pears, but from natural causes, the best,
lne soltest and purest method, in all chimes, of
vice.
we look upon the 'Gentiles' who are cele-
praung their victory in Salt Lake as intruders;
as robbers; as the destroyers of the peace and
happiness Of better people than they. Their
sVmnahnlzers in the stata are religious hier-