The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-08
RUSSIA NAY RETALIATE.


that Chairman HILL of the committee on
foreign affairs, reported the following res
olution to the House OF Representatives at
Washington, expressing sympathy with
the Jews of Russia:
Resolved, That the members of the United
States have heard, with profound sorrow, the
reports OF the sufferings of the Jews in Russia
and their sorrow is intensified by the fact that
such an occurrence should happen in 4 country
which is, and long has beer, the friend of the
United States, and which emancipated millions
OF it's people from serfdom, and which defended
The helpless Christians in the east from perse-
cution for their religion; and we earnestly hope
that the humane and enlightened spirit then so
strilingly shown by his imperial majesty will
now DE manifested il checking and mitigating
the severe measures directed against the jew
ish religion.
1t is satisfaction TO see such resolu-
ton presented to the national Congress. II
is TO be hoped that 1t will pass, receive the
signature of the President and at last
reach the hand of ALEXAN DER, that he may
know that the great republic of America
protests against his inhuman treatment of
a large and not unworthy body of his sub
jects A century ago such an action might
have been regarded as an unwarranted in
reference with the affairs of another
nation, if not positive insult;
but the ties between the ma
lions are strengthening; steam and
the electric telegraph have made the great
nations which have hitherto been afar off
immediate neighbors. If the old Hebrew
prophet who predicted that the islands and
Of ba lno tod
meant that they would be brought near to-
gether. united, let him awake now and be-
hold his predicted miracle living fact.
During the last century, the theory a.
least, of universal civil and religious lib
erty has made such rapid strides forward,
and is now so generally approved that
wherever oppression for religious opinions
shall rear its hated front, all the nations of
the earth should protest against it.
This resolution in behalf of the Jews
marks progress even in our own great re-
public on the subject of religious freedom
Over fifty years ago in the state of Mis-
souri, a great religious persecution was
waged against a people called Mormons.
They believed that GoD had given a new
revelation and claimed thai faithful, right
eous Christians might enjoy the same
miraculous gifts that the primitive Chris
tians possessed, all of which was consid-
cred ''derogatory to GoD and subversive
of true religion" by their neighbors; so
they rose en- masse and drove twelve hun
dred OF them from the county by the light
OF four hundred of their burning
homes; and some of them they murdered.
The exiles founded new county In the
same state, and their persever1ng industry
soon conquered the wilderness. The old
settlers, content to live on the timber lands
fringing the water courses, saw the miracle
of cultivated farms, respectable homes and
tiourshing city springing into existence
in an incredibly short time. Their envy
was excited; their jealousy aroused: the re-
Egion of the Mormons had furnished a pre-
text for driving them from jackson county:
why should it not serve as an excuse to ex-
pei them from their new possessions? 1t
did. The red right hand of relentless per
secution was armed again to plague them.
A religious war was inaugurated
first by moDs, which, by the governor of
the state,-who, in their first persecution.
was identified with the mob which drove
1IOu1 EuSlE lOEl6S ana burned their
houses-were converted into militia and
armed with an DISCRIMINATING order from
his eXcellency. Twelve thousand citizens
OF the United States were banished from
the state of Missouri under circumstances
of the dlrest cruelty and scores of them
were killed. The Jews in Russia at no
time hare been treated more cruelty than
were these Mormons; nor could they be
reduced TO more distressing circumstances.
Before their Punishment they were com
polled at the muzzle of the musket to sign
away their claims to the lands purchased
from the general government. Could
highway robbery do holder thing than
thatg
All these circumstances were brought to
the attention of Congress by direct peti-
tions from the sufferers themselves: and
that body, in the plentitude of its tender
mercies, referred them to the uapnani-
nous state of Missouri for redress of their
wrongs. Not even resolution could they
pass expressing their profound sorrow,
al the suffering inflicted upon the Nor
mons The matter was brought to the at
tention of the President and his cabinet and
AOSASINhb ny ASOhEN NCAl 50 lar as
TO acknowledge that the cause of the exiles
was just, but he could do nothing for them.
he could not adopt even resolution ex-
pressing profound sorrow at the reports
of the suferings and injustice entailed
upon the Mormons by one of the states of
the union.
But now rumors have reached our land
that the Hebrews are suffering from re-
Ggious persecution in Russia, and a resolu-
ton is introduced into the House of Repre-
sentatives to the effect that the members
have heard with profound sorrow, the re-
ports of the sufferings of the Jews. and
their sorrow is intensified by the fact that
such an occurrence should happen in
country which is, and long has been, the
friend of the United States.'
Who can say after that that we are not
making progress in regard to religious
liberty! Who can deny that our great re-
public is not ready to champion the cause of
those oppressed for their religion? If anv
such there be, give him the lie as deep as to
the lungs; and in proof of his damninp
falsehood shake this late resolution of SYM
pathy Tor the Jews of Russia in his face
What though our great government has
lately bounced upon the Mormon church