The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-06-05
A PLEA FOR JUSTICE.
Why Enlightened Public Senti-
ment" Really Means
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.
Daniel, Luther, the Puritans and
the Quakers.

IUSCON, Arizona, May -, lSSU.-EulUor
Gdzette-"Society has perfect right to
prohibit offences against an enlightened
public sentiment" The foregoing is an
extract from the late decision of the su-
preme court of the United States, in the
appeal of the Latter-day Saints from de-
cision of the supreme court of Utah which
justified confscating the property of the
Mormon church. Let US see what this
means. BY an ''enlightened public senti-
ment," is doubtless meant the public opin-
ion of the majority of any nation or people.
This principle certainly has the sanction OF
antiquity in its favor. As far back as his
tory can take us it has been in force; and
it seems strange, very strange, that the
misguided Mormons should object to it.
To show how universal has been the ap-
piication of this principle in all ages, and
how unreasonable the Mormons are in OPP
posing it, we present few examples from
sacred and profane history, promising, how
ever, that they are not 1.-THE OF those we
might produce. Going back no farther
than Noah, we find he predicted food, and
warned people to prepare for 1t. But pub
lie opinion at once voted him a fool, or in
sane. How could such q thing bel 1t was
simply absurd. So the public went on in
its regulation manner, while poor Noah
drank to its dregs the cup of unpopularity.
But somehow il came about that Noah was
right after all. We cannot at this date tell
exactly how it was that public opinion was
so mistaken in this matter, as none OF Its
advocates lived to give to the world their
side of the question.
But of one thing we are certain; public
opinion was universally against Noah, and
as good loyal citizen he should have given
o-,l la.,rr 10
named Daniel, once got into bad position
through venturing to brave public opinion.
1t had been made a law of the land tnat no
one should pray to any God except the one
adopted and patroniZed by the ''elilghtened
public sentiment of the nation. With bra
zen effrontery Daniel prayed to the God OF
his fathers, thus showing an unpardonaole
contempt for public opinion, and an open
disobedience to the law! Such hardihood-
such evident treason, merited the severest
punishment, something worse than disfran
chisment or confscation of worldly gear,
and he got it; he was thrown to the lions as
It'd bit, sentence fully endorsed by $50
ciety." To cap the climax of offense, the
CPD to whom Daniel prayed actually deliv.
cred him from death! Was ever before
such disregard shown to the dictum Of ar
s'enlightened public sentiments"
In later times we find that Jesus OF NaZ-
areth was put to death by the power Of
public opinion; true. PLATE, the Roman
governor, in giving him to death, said be
could find no evil in him, but the wealth anC
enlightenment of his nation were unequlv
ocally against him; and according to th'
decision of the supreme court his execution
was perfectly iustifiaole, as it officially al
nounces that society has perfect right Il
prohibit offences against an enlightened
public sentiment AS to the means to d.
this, it is immauerial; as we are led to sup
pose, anything will do; 1.-The end iustlfie
the means,n as the Jesuits proved to thei
own satisfaction at least. long ago.
Strange as it may appear, although Jesu
was put to death with the full sanction o
s.society,'' there were some who would no
take warning by his fate, and although s'so
cietyn endeavored to remove so foul bio
by hanging, burning, saving asunder an
by other means equally efficient, those igno
rant, misguided people, who had no stat,l
whatever in society, but were unanimousl
voted its offscourings, steadily continue
to grow in number until the Roman empir
was obliged to take the matter in hand
Undeniably the Roman empire at this tim
was the most enlightened on earth
1t contained within itself all Their
was of enlightened government, of Iii
erature, and Of art, and under sue
circumstances had an undeniable right
prohibit so grave an offense against ''publi
sentiment as the religious belief of thes
Christians.
So in the name of morality, religion an
an enlightened public sentiment" variou
emperors employed all their power to pu
an end to the heresy. Hundreds of thor
sands of these pernicious wretches wer
killed with every torment society could In
vent; not only were the fagot, the rack, an
the more merciful ak employed, but tender
refined maiders were thrown naked int
the Coliseum, to be chased shriekin
around the arena pursued by Dloody-fange
wolves and tigers, and finally torn in piece
before an admiring audience OF the mo!
enlightened society in the then know
world
But alas! all this persistent effort of s
ciety was in vain. The blot would NJ
be washed off by blood, however abun'
antly used-it only fixed the blot more il
delible. Strange, that people so profes
edly meek as the early Christians shoul
be so obstinate, and regardless of IL
wishes of society.
During the following centuries men col
tinually brayed public sentiment" beir
called sometimes HusSites, WaldenSes, A
bigenses and Wickliffites; but death /
fire. the rack, and torture inflicted by 6
outraged public opinion conclusively prove
these hereticS wrong; a conclusion di:
pUted by none except the few remainiI
brethren of the dead, who as much as pc!
sible-and very properly-withdrew fro
society and lived in caves and forests /;
outcasts, their property confiscated and
price set upon their heads.
Let no one say that this was cruel al
unjust. These people had voluntarial
outraged the ''enlight sned public sent
ment'' of the age, and severe measures mu
be employed against them. If they SUI
fered, twas their own fault. All they hs
to do to save their lives was to give l
their notions and be in accord with publ
opinion. If they chose to brave it on Il
paltry plea that their manhood was at stall
let them suffer-be made examples
deter others from like folly or self-will.
Among such peace disturbers Mart
Luther gained a notoriety very unenviab
In the estimation of society, in his da
He certainly was very contumacious, al
had no regard for ''public sentiment'' viii,
was almost unanimous that he should
burned alive-the prevalent method of co
vincing heretics-but unfortunately for S
ciety he was able to die in his bed. TIL
was sad, but seems that we can't have evel
thing our way in this world.
The Puritans must have been bad
in England, for we find that they, too, dar
think for themselves and oppose pub
opinion. But they had to suffer for
many Of them dying as exiles on the drea
coast of New England. Served them RICH
they should have been like other people
But they got even by prosecuting the fe
Quakers among them who were so insa
as to dissent from the established pub
sentiment of Massachusetts. They we
promptly banished. under pain of death
they ever returned. A few did return
Boston, but public opinion made she
work of them upon the gallows, and so
ciety yindicated itself.
And now descendants of these Purita
would prosecute the Mormons, just as tn
themselves had been in England. The !
,nnr.nraf Mnrrnnrae clnirn that the com ~