The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-10-16

John Henry Smith the apostle, and
John Henry Smith the politician. The
people reasoned logically. Said they
IF Apostle John Henry Smith is in
spired in his religious teachings, he
must possess more than mortal knowl-
edge Of that which is best politically
for this people. "They were not, nor is
any man competent to tell where the
divine end and the purely secular
begins. Thousands were converted by
the iresistable teachings-and their faith
in inspiration. No democratic apostle
took the stump and followed up the
republican apostle with arguments for
just and equitable tariff taxation, and
eloquent pleas for personal freedom
and the diffusion of wealth and power.
When ApOatle Moses Thatcher broke
the dead silence in favor of democracy
great portion of the harm had been
done. His address in Ogden in May,
1892, was calm and digniied. As that
man Of men stood before the conyen-
ton and sentences fairly loaded with
logic fell from his lips in language OF
lofty and touching eloquence, every
nerve in that large audience gave
back a responsive thrill. Each one of
Mr.. Thatcher's hearers knew the nan
was inspired, because they knew he
was speaking the truth, Yet, with e
knowledge of his influence with the
people, Mr.. Thatcher's keen sense OF
the eternal fitness of things" i'm
pelled him TO decline all oyertures to
take part in the campaign.
Mr. Thatcher's address was severely
criticised by President Josph F. Smith
and Apostle John Henry Smith. Fig
uratiyely speaking, they jumped onto
it with their four feet.
More than three Yeers have elapsed
since that Ogden convention. During
those three years, the Messrs. Smith
have been active and in many in
stances bitterly partisan. We all re-
member the incident of the famous
and Infamous Gibbs letter wherein he
stated that it was the wish of the first
presidency that Cache county go re-
publican that year because of the ben
efcial influence it would have on Utah
affairs. All knowledge of Mr.. Gibbs
letter was disclsimed by the hrst
presidency. Mr.. Gibbs was then, and
we believe he is now, the confidential
secretary of the First Presidency. Yet,
George f. Gibbs was never publicly
disciplined" We all wildly remem-
Der how Frank j. Cannon's campaign
was run under the inspiration of the
Nuggets of TRUTH and a bishops
recommend" secured by Joseph F.
Smith. and how copies of that same
recommend were scattered broadcast,
Some of us have seen personal letters
to bishops and Others from a high
churchman, who shall be nameless,
rebuking stories that were ahoat al
| fecting the moral character of Frank
j. Cannon. The letters referred to
contained an appeal that Frank might
not be destroyed" In the attempt to
''save' him a hundred were destroyed.
Democrats also remember how the
aged president of the Mormon church
was induced TO be present at repub.
lican iellifcation at Saltair, and how
the Tribune with glarlng headlines
recounted the fact that the president
occupied conspicuous seat on the
platform. We all remember how, on
that fateful election morning of last
November, that aged man voted, as it
was inferred, the republican ticket,
and how the inference was telegraphed
and bulletined as fact for the ex-
press purpose of winning votes for the
republican party. When Mormon dem
ocrats think over the history of that
grand old man and venerated prophet
and leader of The Mormon church, and
then reflect on the way he has been
dragged before the public and made to
do duty as a republican vote winner,
every heart sweIls with hot indigna
ton at the party leaders, aiders and
abettors in that most infamous method
of carrying elections. For those mis-
ereants that lent their aid and infu- |
ence to such dsmnable political trick
cry, there is loathing and contempt in
the hearts of thousands of Mormon |
democrats today, and try as hard as
they may, they cannot divest them
selves of it. Yet, ia those same hearts
there is naught but love, respect and
deep yeneration for that man who
stood by the side of the Prophet Jos.
sph Smith during the dark days and
,errible trials Of faith in the early
vears OF the Mormon church.
a repetition of the account of the in
'ldent is almost unnecessary. In the
presence of the Mormon priesthood,
.athered from every part of Utah, a
of Apostle Moses Thatcher
nd B. H. Roberts was made by re-
'ublican high churchmen because they
lad accepted positions on the demo-
ratio ticket without first gaining the
onsent of their superiors in the
hurch-superiors in no other sense of {
he word. The rebuke came in the /
middle of the campaign, and as if, at 9
be dictation of the Salt Lake Tri- !
une which first ennunoiated L
hat practically new doctrine of t
emocrats getting the consent of re- u
ublicans before they can become can.
idates for Office. From the far south d
ent q letter. also 10 the Trihnra Fl