Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-08
THE WEAPONS AGAINST Us,

It Is o remarkable fact, which has
been patent all along IN the history OF
"Mormonlsm." that It's enemies have
been compelled. in order to fight it with
any hope OF success, to resort to the
weapons Of faseho0d and misrepresen-
tatlon. There is not so-called history
Of the Church, outside Of that which II
has published, which oontain) even a
semblance Of the truth.
Incidents are related that never oc-
cured. Actual events are so distorted
and glaringly colored as TO be equal 10
untruths. The personal conduct en-
deavors and intentions Of the leaders
OF the Church and also Of their fol-
lowers, have been brutally and inten-
tionally misrepresented. The doctrines
and ordinances Of the Church have
been burlesqued. The most sacred
principles and ceremonies OF the Church
have been rldiculed and lampooned.
And the most horrible tales Of crime
and bloodshed and treason have been
told about the "Mormons' in every
civilized country on earth.
The chief promoters Of these attacks
have. betn religious preachers and
2 writers. The same class are doing the
same kind Of work today Pretending
Ia act the role Of investigators, they
take the part Of collectors OF anti
Mormon" literature and lurid ro-
mances, which they deal out 10 the
public whose appetites are whetted for
that kind Of pabulum by newspaper re-
marks. when they give what they
call the mormon" side Of the question
It is SO stated as to convey the very
reverse OF that which the Latter-day
Saints believe and practice.
This course taken by the religious
world, or It's most prominent people Is
paralleled to some extent by the pro-
cedure Of political antagonists Of the
church and It's members They In
variably either step outside Of the Con-
stllution Of our country, or so stretch
its provisions and depart from lie spirit
as to render It's influence and protec-
ton without force. The action taken
at Washington on Tuesday, no matter
how much 1t may be defended by the
multtudes who desire the suppression
Of "Mormonism' or who think It viii
have some bearing on the extinction
Of polygamy. was nevertheless a depar-
ture from the plain provisions of both
the supreme law Of the land and the
congressional laws In pursuance there
Of, and also from the established rules
of procedure Of the body In which 1t
occurred. This IS recognized by people
who have not lost their senses during
the present uproar, and by many in
fiuen,ial papers in different parts Of the
country.
All that. while very unpleasant has
this much consolation 60 the Latter
day Saints: 1t is good evidence TO
them that the principles which they
have embraced and TO which many Of
them have devoted their lives and their
best energies, are true. Falsehood Is
invoked agains, them because truth
will not answer the purpose OF the op-
position. Truth never clashes with IT,
self. Also the course they have pur-
sued and intend 60 pursue is within the
strict boundaries Of the Constitution OF
our country. That they are required
10 support. That by the grace Of God
they intend TO maintain. Unless that
instrument be violated and placed In
jeopardy, the work marked out for
them by divine Providence would fail
Of accomplishment The servants of
God will yet have 20 rally round that
palladium OF human rights and save
It from destruction II must first be In
danger; that It will be, the trend Of
events distinctly foreshadows.
The Latter-day Saints may rest their
souls In patience and watch the signs
OF the times IN comparative peace In
diViduals may suffer and wrongs viii
have 90 be endured. But all that is
intended Tor evil win De overrued for
good, The triumph Of the truth Is as
sured, And the system now assalled
by falsehood ana methods that are in
defensble from The standpoint Of JUS
tice and constitutional right, will prove
the salvation Of the nation, the pre-
server Of liberty and the harbinger Of
the millennlal dawn. We can afford to
watch and 20 wait.