The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-05-25

by their church author
tiles, ss binding upon the conscience.
They deny the authority of any church
or state, except their own, to administer
an oath. This is one of the cardinal
doctrines of the church, and the priests
take especial care to strongly impress
it upon their fanatical followers.
The Mormon church is secret soci-
ETY., and has code of signs and pass
words by which the members recognize
each other in any part of the world. a
purely religious denomination does not
require this. Such an organization, SO
closely united, and composed mainly Of
ignorant fanatics, is a menace to our
Fanaticism is the worst
feature, for it does not listen to reason,
and seeks to convert the world to its
own darkness, or exterminate the ssun-
believers" This is the Mormon ''code,
and it has not been changed since the
false prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., pub
lished the Mormon Bible" The lead
ers of the Church of the Latter Day
Saints have generally been designing
men, who left the states charged with
crimes, and naturally they hated our
government, and have SO taught their
dupes. When they were driven from
Nauvoo, ILL.,, this oath of hatred to the
government was added to their creed.
Driven from civilization, the Mormon
leaders resolved to get as far from it as
possible. where they would be isolated
from the world, and could build up
government of church and state, with
polygamy as its basis. Here they
thought they could in time be sufficient
ly powerful to defy the United States
government, and for this purpose all
men capable of bearing arms were en-
rolled in the militia, known as the
Brothers of Gideon" or "Danites."
Here they sought to carry out the most
degrading social experiment that ever
poisoned the human mind. But for
tunately, again, the discovery OF gold in
California prevented the threatened
danger of the rising rebellious govern
ment. The great Salt Lake valley was
on the direct route to California, and
the country swarmed with Gentiles
The immigrants stopped at Salt Lake
City for supplies, and many wfntered
there, some being compelled to labor
for means to enable them to proceed to
the gold fields. 1t wa.s the industry OF
these immigrants mainly which gave to
that country it's rapid growth, and not
that of the Mormons, as they SO proudly
boast. Then came the trans-continen.
tai railroad, and the Mormons found
themselves hemmed in by civilization.
While the contact with civilization
checked the growth of poiygamy, rail.
road facilities have aided the mission.
aries in gathering "saintr" from all
parts of the world. Immigration has
greatly increased and is still increasing.
At each semiannual conference, held
in April and October, missionaries are
sent to new fields, selecting those where
the greater degree of Ignorance pre-
walls. The immigrants brought to Utah
by the Mormon church authorities are
mainly from the overcrowded cities OF
Europe, and are usually of the most
ignorant and degraded classes, whose
minds are clouded by the grossest sn-
perstition. They are not the class who,
in time, become loyal citizens, for they
are too deeply imbued with fanaticism.
They know nothing of the principles OF
republican government, for the priests
teach only loyalty to the Mormon the
ocracy, which is opposed to both re-
ligious and political freedom.
The object in bringing these: immi.
grants to Utah is to control them In ths
interests of the church government:
otherwise, they would be advised to re.
main where they are. Other mission-
aries do not believe it necessary to
transplant their converts to American
soil. The Mormons, however, are car-
rying out their system of Concentration
which gives them despotic power.
Elections are apparently fair, but those
who have abided with the saints any
length of time know that the church
nominees are invariably elected, ex-
cept in few districts where the
Gentiles are in the majority.
"disobedience to counsel" and VIOLA
ton of the initiatory oath. A Mormon.
whether polygamist or not, always
votes for q Mormon, as against Gen.
tile. and he uses the same prejudice on
juries.
Deception has ever been the practice
of Mormon officials in their dealings
with oar government, and their state
nlent that polygamy has been ahan-
doned should not be relied on. How
ever, it may be in the most populous dis.
tricts, but the power Of this theocracy
is steadily growing stronger, and will,
no doubt, in time, become more trouble
some to this government.
j. II. sCANLAND
Duslneas. e
II have called, Mr.. Billiwink, to tell
you love. your daughter, Miss Fanny,
! and want to marry her. y