Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-01
MORMON ELDERS DEFENSE.
Nephi Anderson Of brigham city
Writes to Noted New York Daily.

Ntnn Anu'T-on VI nIlGnhn wy
Writes TO Noted New York Daily.
The following well written article
appeared In the columns of tho Ncw
York Evening Post N february Goth.
II has been jcerlngly commented upon
by the antl-"Mormon" sheet In this
city. II win be read with Interest by
fair-mlndcd people. and viii rccom-
mend itself by It's candor and evident
sincerity.
To the Editor OF the Evening Posti
Strive "Morinons' ntc In for II
again. After the Few yrufu ~ peace
and good win In which Wo have lived
with our feliow-citizcns of the Rupuh-
lie. there IL ngain u Misunderstanding
and evil reports have gone out over the
land until there II now % vcritablo
storm ~ Indignation nrninst us.
DO you believe In fair piny3 DO your
readers believe that thcfn Ira two sides
even to question pertaining to the
"MormunHf' " 30. plrnro hear "a word
of explanation.
what ~ II all about9 -. 49, Roberts.
an alleged poiygamiHt, has been elected
to Congress- by the Democratic party
- the state. The Salt Lake Tribune.
n Republican newHpapor.slid the Nor
mon" church nominated and elected u
law breaker ~ deliberate insult tu
the nation. by of repeating this
statement. nidcd by some NJ the anti
Mormon" ministers or ttr State. the
report has gone out e. tie nation. tho
newspapers have taken the matter M.
until now the "MormonH have again
become. In THE eyes 81 many people.
all that ~ vile. low. and 1ishonnfnble.
STR. Editor. NJ u Mormon" ! protest.
n the Democratic party did wrong In
"lcctinE Mr.. Roberts. let that PARTY he
blamed and not the Mormon" church.
Sit. Roberts was nominated ~ "a rrifu-
larry convened Democratic convention.
composed " "MofmonH" aud non Nor
mons" The Republican convention was
also composed of the same kinds or
voters. The "Mnruunp' are nearly
evenly divided between these two par
ties. although the majority 81 tho
church leaders are supposed 10 be- Roe
publlcnns. The usual political agitn-
tion took place. ana one N tho most
prominent Mormon" leaders. Apostle
John Henry Smith. atumpcd the state
| IN favor of the Republican nominee.
l Mr. Rohcrta'r greatest mnjoritlea often
came from the mining towns whore tho
voters are mostly nou."M Mormon In
many Mormon" communities. he was
either defeated or elected by very small
mnioritioa. In View Of these facts. how
I II ~ possible that the "Mormons." nH u
church. had anything To do with his
| election?
The Mormon" Church has often
/ been accused OF controlling elections.
/ n II has that power now II certainly
/ might have used II 90 prevent Mr.
| Rohcris'a election. Many prominent
/ "MnrmonH" foreanw tho storm which II
now raging, and deprecated SIR. Rob.
/ oriH'H nomination aud election. The
] "Mnrmons" do not court persecution,
. 4 III a. A..
! politics II would have nvcrtod this agi.
tatinn against ~. but the church LEFT
the matter completely alone. and would
rather Huffer the result than have II
again rnid thnr II was modelling IN poli.
ties. The Democratic party especially
me, therefore, that II n n question ol
''you'll b. damned n you do and your
be damned " you don't" I know ol
| one Mormon preacher who SAID
he would vote Tor Roberts just 10 brlnf
on this trouble. Aud this brings me /,
the religious phase of the matter.
The election Of Mr. Roberts N not tn
chief reason for the existence Of IN,
present intense feeling. The innnm
mahio material has been literally scat,
tered broadcast throughout the Ian,
Tor long time rnst. ana Mr.. llohefts'i
election was merely seized upon NJ Q
| lucky moment In which Ia apply tn
Goals 81 IRE" am sorry Go say have
been the ministers ~ the various chris
tan denominations operating In utal
for the conversion of "MormonH." Thi
i'rcsbytcrinnr. especially. have cnnsid
cred this their mission. and once In
while IT, ministers send out puhliHhrt
Statements" regarding the situation n
Utah. In October last these gentlemen
sent out tu thousands ~ persons
number ~ statements, among whlcl
are these
"rhe Mormon church has rcturne,
10 politics" ''rho church has dotor
mined 60 take control Of the stat
schools. IN most % the towns ana VII
lagos ~ the commonwealth only Nor
mons are elected 90 serve ns trustee
and teachers IN the public schools,
'rho people nro advised 10 live thoi
religion which means polygnmy
'Mormonism' In reaching out and 80
inr Into other states. and itH preacher
travel without purse or scrip"
NJ II easy Co Imagine the effect Hucl
"infOrinntion' would have on thusl
who are eagerly waiting FOR u; an'
coming from such seemingly good nu
thority. many not otherwise unfair PEG
Pile are deceived
VIII you hear our side? !, also. nm
| minister of the Guapel-for every Eide
In our church has ministerial power
ana I can get ten thousand Of M
! hfcihfTn in near Nitn'Hh WIN me Una
what ! say u true,
The church n not IN politics. Rccen
events fully establish that. as I hnV
shown. i'olygumy was abolished bl
President Moodrun'H manifesto MIN
years ago. and this law ~ the churcl
IN as binding on It's members az
solemn declaration from It's head AM
the acceptance ~ IL by a vote nf m
| Church can make II. Isolated case
have occurred where men who con
tracted plural marriage relations year
ago have continued TO live with thei
wives as such. and this II the onil
point of attack that our acctnrlal
friends have. There are no more plura
marriages. ana Il II only a matter 81
short time under tho present state ~
things when all traces VI tho system
viii be obllterated.
Why In some sections, are there non
but "Mormon" trustees and teachers
Because those districts are compose,