Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-28
sLANDERNG THE DEAD.


those journals that remain in the dark
ness OF the past. IN reference TO Brig
ham Young and the "Mormons."
draws its information CD concerning
them from literature long since cas-
aside by people who are posted, AM
from a paper published here whicl
takes every opportunity that opens {,
defams the departed Pioneer and rldi
Guile the religion which he expounded.
For these reasons the Pioneer Pres
moves along in the old anti-"Mormon'
ruts. and INDUCES in the ancient in
vectives which once served for argu'
ments, against the people Of Utah and
their leading men. That paper has re-
Gently become aroused over the en-
dorsement by the st. Louis Globe
Democrat, OF the eulogy passed upon
the late President Brigham Young on
the celebration Of his birthday. by Hon
Thos. Fitch.
The glowing words Of just apprecIa.
ton in which the famed orator referred
to the departed colonizer and states
man, enraged the local slanderer and
have stirred up the bile Of It's follower
in ct. Paul The annexed sentences
from the Pioneer Press viii be recog-
nlzed here as echoes Of Salt Lake libels:
"Youngs chief title to distinction lay
In the circumstance that he was con-
scienoeless, INSCRIPTIONS defiant law
breaker; his hands red with the blood
Of countless murders. his Golfers en-
riched not only by levles made upon his
deluded followers IN the name Of re-
ligion' but by the proceeds Of num-
erous open robberies perpetrated upon
Genules OF upon members OF the Nor
mon Church who had dared 10 cross his
purposes. He was the organizer and
head Of the 'Dantes, a body sworn 20
carry out. no matter by what means,
the edicts OF the Church-that Is, Of
Young himself He planned and directed
the Mountain Meadow massacre. and
then, 10 secure his own safety, delivered
up his lieutenant Lee, to be executed
for the crime. And long before thls
when the stories Of his earlier crimes
and those OF his associates had reused
the United States government 10 ac-
tlon, he deded President Buchanan and
compelled the sending Of a considerable
military force TO Utah, under Gen. AL
bert Sidney Johnston, before even a
eemblQnce OF obedience could be secured
to the edicts Of the United States
courts"
This TRADE reads like q paragraph
from one OF the yellow-covered ro-
mances, that once attracted public at
tentlon, but which now will not fetch a
nickel copy on any old bookstand IN
the country. There is not one truth IN
the whole collection OF exploded SLAM
ders, repeated by the Pioneer Press.
The 'only trace OF fact in the entire
boulder OF fiction, Ia the alluson 10
Johnstons army which was intercepted
before reaching Utah. and which was
sent here under pretence OF subduing
the "Mormons" but really to withdraw
troops from the East that they might
not be available In he then contem-
plated rebellion IN the South The gov
eminent records Of the case prove. be-
yond doubt, that the stories which !
formed the excuse FOR sending that |
army 20 Utah were baseless, and Of no |
more account than the similar rubbish |
which the Pioneer Press has collected |
from the refuse heaps Of mouldy anti |
Mormon" literature.
The estimate Of the true character Of
Brigham Young which formed the
theme o. the distinguished orator at
saltalr on June ], was made on the
facts Of history The stories told by his
enemies and invented chiefly by his re-
llglous opponents, perish like noxlous
things In the light OF his real life ana
character As with other great men who
have been reyled and misunderstood by
contemporaries who knew Of them only
by report, posierity win do him Justice.
Already a monument 10 his memory
and his good works has been reared by
those who knew him best. including
many contributors who were not Of his
religious faith II Is too late IN the day
Tor newspaper writer's who gather
scraps for sensational publications. to
rehash the kind of pabulum that the
Pioneer Press has served up IN its edl-
torlal columns.
The true character of President
Young has stamped out the false repu-
ta'ion formed for him by his foes. ana
The Impress Of his master mind upon
The state which he founded and the
"orks that 1--we after him and are TO Dee
seen By an beholders within its bor-
iers proclaim his worth and the false.
hood Of his maligners The Pioneer
Press ought to be Iu better business
han that OF echo.ug ISLANDERS against