Evening journal., 1899-10-23
MONDAY. oCr. 90. 1899
THE MoRMoNs STRIKE BACK.


mightiest secular supremacy did Rome
secure such implicit and faithful obedi-
ence as Mormons accord their spiritual
leaders in secular matters. The Nor
mon leaders have determined TO be
represented in Congress by polyg-
amist They declare that polygamy
Is part Of their religion, and that the
Constitution guarantees them freedom
In their religion. They deny the power
OF Congress to legislate against their
perfect freedom in that respect, and
cry persecution. There is no such re-
bellion and defiance on the part Of the
Hebrews, the Adventists, Seyenth-Day
Baptists and others who hold the sew
enth day OF the week sacred and OBJ
serve 1t, although the laws compel them
to suspend business on the first day
of the week, which, to them, is in mol
way a sacred day.
The Mormons announce that they
will make a business war upon the
Gentiles, now. in retaliation for opposi-
ton to Roberts. The Denver Times,
which Is we'll informed In the matter,
says:
The recent Mormon conference. Just
closed. was the largest attended OF any
conference In the history OF Utah. Sol
large was the attendance that there
was an 'overfow session, which wasI
itself an assembly OF about 5000. The
tabernacle will seat $4,000, and the
huge oven-shaped building was crowd
ed to Its utmost capacity, extra seats
being provided and hundreds standing
in the aisles. This increased zeal on the
part OF the Mormons is due mainly tol
the recent alleged prosecutions OF someI
OF their leaders who were arrested on
the charge Of bigamy, and another
cause is political, national and local.
The apostles and elders who are underl
arrest on the charge Of bigamy are
crying persecution" and. of course
that rallies the faithful to the standard
Of the church.
Polygamists hold that they are
peacefully living their religion. asl
they understand IT, and that the Gen
tiles have no moral right 10 interfere
though they may have a legal right.
They also hold that they have as much
right to political representation as the
Gentiles have. and for that reason have
elected a polygamist to Congress. and
propose to stand, firmly upon that
ground. AS elsewhere, the few leaders
control the masses, and they do not
propose to compromise by sending al
Mormon non-polygamist. They have
elected full-hedged polygamist and
will make the fight on the issue
whether or not mans religion dis
Qualities him from holding an Office.
The Constitution OF the United States
says that Il shall not, but the Gentiles
hold that Mormonism, or rather polye-
amy, Is not a religion"
Mormons ask: what is religion qn
They want Congress to define N The
mouse may refuse to seat Roberts on
the grounds OF his convictions for this
crime but the Mormons will then send
another polygamist who has not been
convicted. However, they believe that
Roberts will be seated.
In the local campaign the lines are
more strictly drawn in CONSEQUENCE of
the national political troubles and
tnese are the main reasons why the
conference was so largely attended
The masses come to receive polificai
instruction as well as spiritual advice
They are told to "live your religion {"
and obey counsel" The counsel is 70
vote the straight ticket lust AS we 40
IN our political parties. generally
They propose to carry the war farther
ny Withholding patronage from the
GENTLE rings" who are urging on
these attacks upon the walls Of zion
They have counseled the faithful 70
patronize only the stores kent nv Nor
mons. This win be seriously felt NOT
50 much in Salt Lake CITY. as i'm the
interior towns, for In every town or viii
lage there is one or more large denart-
ment stores kept by Mormons. known
as lions Cooperative Mercantile In
stitution." -
At these stores the Mormons do their
principal buying Ordinarily there ie
considerable competition in these
growing towns from the Gentle stores
Mhlle the MormOns are expected IA
give preference to merchants OF their
own Iaith. the rule is not strictly oh.
served, especially when the Gentiles
put up new cheap cash stores" But
when there is war on. or the Gentiles
renew their prosecutions" then the
cnlef priests and elders throughout the
hngdom strictly enforce therule They
notify their congregations not To trade
at the stores OF the enemy. and il thew
persist in doing so, they are "cut on
from the church. At the recent con.
ference this order was issued by one OF
the apostles as coming from the head
OF the church, and il is now helms
preached in every district in Utah
That II will be strictly obeyed there is
no question. Mormons are strict adj
herents to church policy. and any order
foming from the president OF the
fnurch is obeyed without question. Tc
pe cut on from the church" is to he
damned for eternity. and the offender
e also socially ostracised. No Nor.
mon VIII give him employment or pa.
tronize him He must join the Gentiles
pr remain isolated. And the "cut OF
Mormon usually receives cold indiffer.
ence from the Gentiles. He is with.
out a creed and without friends
gespised by one party and mistrustef
by the other.
1his Is one Of the causes why the churel
has such a strong hold upon its mem
bers, and why they obey counsel with.
out questioning p Many who feel a "Gen.
MIa 9Uirifi within tho~o -