Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-10-01
A UTAH COMMISSIONERS PER-
VERSIONS.

Robertson, OF the Utah Commission.
The newspaper 'interview" is 50
often deceptive and misleading that
little confidence can be placed in If.
Prominent persons are alleged 10
have said things which they never
thought Of, sometimesthey have not
been seen at all by the veraciOus 90
reporter, and at Others their views
are so incorrectly stated tlfat the
public are deluded when they place
ami dependence upon the report.
However, in this "interview''
there are some remarks which were
evidently made by the Commits
sioner, and We will therefore treat
them rs genuine. He endeavors to
throw cold water on the declaration
published by President MILFORD
Woodruff, and in a roundabout way
attempts 70 meet the emphatic de-
nial in that document of the asser-
ton in the Commissioner report
as 10 resent plural marriages. Much
Of the interview, rs reported, Is
wide OF the mark, and amounts to a
very ungentlemanly and coarse in
situation concerning President
WOodruiT's veracity. A. to that
We are perfectly willing to have the
reputation Of the two individuals
for truth and honesty compared,
and have no fears for the result, 50
far as President Woodruff is con-
cerned. We do not believe there Is
an anti Mormon Of any promi-
hence in Utah who believes that he
would publish anything he believed
to be untrue.
Passing this by, with the simple
comment that such low reflections
indicate the sort Of person who cast
them, we repro luce some Of the
closing remarks Of the Commits
sioner as reported in the Globe
Democrat:
"'It has been shrewdly snggsstei'to
President Woodruff concluded Com
missioner Robertson, that It would be
exceedingly profitable for him to have
anot her revelation, declaring that the
doctrine Of polygamy should be no
longer adhered to by the Saints. Snch
a revelation would greatly assist his
case and put him in the light of one
willing 10 abide by the law that seeks
the extinction Of the horrid crime OF
which he is the chief aPologis;. But
no rev. lation has as yet been forth
coming, probably because without the
institution OF polySamy the Mormon
leaders might lose tho power which
make object subjects out OF thousands
Of ignorant and bigotei persons. and
the vast revenues Of the Church
might then be expended in directions
no: calculated TO upbuild the mon
strous institution Of which Woodruff
is the inspired head. Plural mar
riages are YET entered into beyond a
doubs, and the Mormons continue 10
hold their conferences and hurl de-
fianos al the government and lis
agents.
The suggestion which tine Com
missioner thinks l. "shrewd'' i
neither original nor sensible. Ithas
been offered maRy times for several
years. Ii is an evidence Of the
thouShtless aud nippant mlnuer ia
which anti-"Mormons" attempt to
regulate the creed OF the Lltter-Gay
Saints. a quotation here from the
New Testament ought not to be
considered cut Of place, especially 10y
persons vino profess respect for
Christianity. 1t is this:
"For the prophecy came no: in cid
time by the will Of man; but holy men
Of God spake as they wers moved by
the Holy Ghost"
Revelation, whether Il relates 70
the past, present or future, Is not at
the command Of men. II Col.
Robertson knows OF any msaus
whereby the Almighty can be com
PEELED 70 reveal somsthing that will
suit him and other persons who
make this demand, we would like
him 10 use them without DELAY.
Disbelievers have the right TO
reject anything purpor;ins to be
revelation that does not appeal to
their reason or THAR faith. But
they have Mt tn right to expect a
revelation to Orde-. uor t. find fault
because such an ab iurdity is not
forthcoming. On the o'her hand,
believers have the RICH to their con-
viclions anil 10 believe that which
comments itself TO their judgment
or evokes their faith. They should
be protected in tina. right, and not
be subjected 10 the sneers and ri
baldry comprehended in Col. Rob
ertsOn's stale wit and cheap pla-
giarism.
Whea President Woodruff re-
ceives anything from a Divine
source FOR the Church over which he
presides, he will be sure to deliver
the message. AMI there is no
power on earth that can compel him
ID make a Counterfeit, or prelenl to
anything which to him is not as
genuine as the pure light OF heaven.
As TO what would lie profitable"
in the sense which seems 10 appeal
b the soul Of Col. Robertson, We
know, and 50 do the whole
boiy Of Lltter-day Saints, that
such considerations have not
the slightest weight with our
venerable Pnesid mt. His whole
life is proof OF his disinteres'ed and
unselfish nature and motives. And
before he would put his name to
anything untrue, nr descend to such
Misrepresentation as appear to be
INDUCED in by some Of the Utah |
Commission, he would endure the
bitterest pangs Of poverty aud drain |
the cup Of aiversity to the dregs.
Five thousand or five hundred thou
sand dollars a year would not tempt
him 70 malign any people or person,
and to retain a ''prodiable'' posi-
ton he would never pander for an
instant 10 the prejulices OF the
times.
The ';alject subjec.," which |
exist in the minds eye OF Colonel |
Robertson, or rather in the words Of
his lips, are not to be found else