The record-union., 1896-01-03
Sacramento, Jan. l, 1896.

times and under all circumstances.
AMERICAN MECHANIC.
Sacramento, Jan. l. 1896.
South African Gold Fields.
Eds. Record Union": The tempo
rary embarrassment and depression of
trade, which undoubtedly the past year
has bequeathed us signal proof of.
seems to have somewhat naturally ere
ated spirit of unrest and desire for i'm
provement of the conditions that be.
and hence owing to the sophisticated
reports that from time to time we are
prey to from the South African gold
fields, it is with the conviction that I
may deter my fellowman from engag-
ing on this fools errand that 1 am
prompted to put some plain figures be-
fore your readers.
The Transvaal to-day is what it was
some ten years ago, the cynosure of the
English moneyed world with but one
centrifugal point, London, and has
been steadily breeding a pestilence in
its inflated stock system, the enormity
and iniquity of which must inevitably
be demonstrated ere long; in short, a
calamity that can but incur a national
reflection on the gigantic colossus of
Threadneedle street, substituting for
confidence and strength a feeling of op-
probrium and contempt
That to-day the Transvaal or main
reef is producing a return of some 200,-
600 ounces of gold per month is true;
that johannesburg Is and has been for
the past few years a Mecca for every
ones woes and has attracted a no
madic population of enormous dimen-
sions, far out-rivalling its require
ments, is equally true, and apart from
war cloud which is fast gathering on
its horizon, the Randi" to-day pre-
sents a sorry spectacle in many re-
spects, and certainly not in any way a
safe harbor for the eager and ambitious.
For skilled laborers and mechanics of
a high order there is a limited demand
and wages are good, but the main back
bone and muscle, which after all is the
nucleus Of a country's strength, is fur
nished solely by the native element, to
wit, the KaffirS, Zulus, Basutos, etc,
and other tribes. Of agriculture there
is absolutely not a trace, the mining
industry alone absorbing all other pos
sible interests, and in my judgment,
based upon some years experience ~
that country, when we have once
merged, as we are slowly but surely
doing from our present trouble, a pro-
found cynie, indeed, is he who would
not embrace the possibilities of this
grand Pacific Slope in preference to the
much vaunted, tinsel-plated Johannes
burg. CREIGHTON SMITH.
Sacramento, January 2 1896.
The Book of Mormon.
Eds. Record -Union' Please permit
the following from one of your sub
scribers, to be published under your
.Everybody's Column: Religion is
matter of general interest, and the Con-
stitution of the United States guaran
tees the right to every person to worship
God in the individuals own way, pro-
viding such way does not conflict with
the laws of the land Deception in re-
ligion is wrong, and should be uncov-
cred wherever found.
Your correspondent noticed an ar
ticle entitled the Book of Mormon" in
your issue of December S1st, being re-
Port of a sermon delivered on that sub
1ect last Sunday afternoon by an officer
Of the Salt Lake, Utah, church. In the
article the speaker is credited with say
ing that the Book of Mormon contains
the Gospel in its fullness and sim
plicity." This is true, but the man who
makes the assertion is a representative
of the Salt Lake, Utah, people, who
have practiced although they claim
they do not now practiceO polygamy,
which is prohibited by the law of the
United States. In the Book of Jacob,
which is a portion OF the Book of Nor
mon, Chap. 2, paragraph 6, reads:
Wherefore, /, the Lord God. viii not
suffer that this people shall do like unto
them of old. Wherefore, my brethren.
hear Me. and hearkea to the Word Of
the Lord; for there shall not any mar
among you have save it be cne wife;
and concubines he shall have none. for
I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chas-
tity of women" This passage has al
ways been in the Book Of Mormon, but
the Utah people by reading a little fur
ther. and changing the punctuation, try
to make it appear that the paragraph
sanctions polygamy. Also same chap
ter. portion of paragraph 8, reads:
They should have. save it were one
wife, and concubines they should have
none" So the general reader can
readily see that if the Book Of Mormon
curtains NtAC COS5Ci IL It's AUHuSsS dIle
simplicity" polyganly is no portion of
the Gospel. and is sinful and an abomi-
nation in the sight Of God. The people
your correspondent is a representative
Of, revere, respect and love the Book Of
Mormon, and know that it is true and
Of God and so bear our testimony to the
world. and we are prepared to defend
the book. and to prove that polygan1y or
s a. Il.
and practiced by the Utah people are
rot sanctioned or taught by the Bible
Book Of Mormon or the Doctrine and
Covenants. G. W HARLOW.
President Sacramento branch Of Reor-
ganized Church Of Latter Day Saints.
Sacramento, Jan. /, 1896.