Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-22
RUSSIAN REFUGEES AND TIE
"IORMONs."

VIfE naf-h ueuturts lnhuluteu "
The Russian Government against the
Hebrews has excited the indignation
Of the whole civilized world. The Car
u denounced, aud sympathy Is aroused
for the unfortunate Jews who have
been made tho victims Of imperial
wrath. There Il another side TO the
subject, Of course, and apoiogi5ts are
not wanting Tor the Muscovto edicts.
We do not propose now to discuss the
merits Of this question. But asugges-
ton has been made which attracts
some public attention and that boHrs
come relation to Utah, and we therefore
give Il passing notice.
Iii proposed to send to this Terri.
tory body Of refugees from the land
Of tho Ctar, that by their influence
and example may be brought about "a
reformation or adjustment Of the pfin'
oiplcs and practices inculcated by the
Book OF Mormon" The polygamOus
tendencies Of "Mormonl-m" would,
1t Il asserted, bc thus coun'
teractcd. This, to people acquain'
ed with the "Mormous" and the
Book from which their nick.
namo has been derived, Is really
Iaughablc. IL seems there are stu
editors In the United States who do not
know that polygAmoua marriages have
ceased for some years In Utah. And
II Is very certain that few II any or
them know anything about the Book
Of Mormon. "rhe principles anu
practicos inculcated" IN that volume
cannot be objected to on moral grounds
By Christian OF Hebrew. As to polyg'
amy, that was forbidden to the ancient
people whose history and religion the
book Of Mormon contains. II Ia n
great pity that writers for the press, a.
we'll M preachers la the pulpit, VIII not
examine the book about which they
are 20 often seriously exercised.
II the accounts we have read Of the
condition Of those Russian refugees are
anything near correct, reformation In
most respects Is what they sadly need
themselves. II the object In view was
the Improvement ofthe eNpatristed He
brews, there might be- some good rca-
sons for locating them IN Utah, whore
they would be surrounded by inhu'
.ncrs aud examples OF an elevatlng
character. But the proposition TO use
them NJ reforming agency among
tho "AIormons' IL as absurd as most VI
the absurdiiles uttered by saplent writ.
orson the "Mormon" question, who
need nothing NO much rs q little correct
information themselves.
The New York Mail and ETpross
takes up tho subject and, In criticising
the suggestion, displays IA much igno-
rance and nonsense Us the authors Of
the proposition. 1t says "rhe Jews are
proyerbially pure In their family lie,
tho Msrmons are not" II IL
afraid that the refugees, II colon.
lied In Utah, might Imagine that the
"Aiormons" are "typical model CID.
zons, worthy Of imitation" And
concludes that, at lisa duty TO ace that
the Mormons are not allowed the op.
portunity Of communicating them.p
We have nothing 10 say about the
lives OF the jews In general. We hav,
many reputable Hebrews in Utah who
are Justly esteemed by their "Alormon'
fellow.cltizens. Occasionally we hav,
others whose purity IL nothing 10 boast
o. There are good and bad among al
races and religions. But neither jew
nor Gsntiles who tell the truth, will
say anything about the purity o
"AIormonD family life In general bu
TINT which is In commentator. Som,
of our most viyorou. opponents hav,
conceded thIs. While prosecutin,
persons charged with polygsmy ,oflloer
OF the government have acknowledge,
the fact that the "Alormon', people ar,
compntatiyely free from the common
vices and sexual crimes Of the age.
Inthe duties Of citizenship, us a rule
the "AlormonD paople set AS good "A,
example a. can be found In the coun
try. What do the writers In the Ma
and Erpyess know about this? And d
thev ne,n In sav that tina elias. nj nan