Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-26
AN INToLERANT SPIRIT.


paper published IN independence, Ore
gon, called The West Side, In which ap-
pears an account OF the visit Of Nor
mons" to the city. This refers to FL
ders b. W. winward, Of Whitney.
Idaho. and Peter Nielsen, Of Cleveland
Iduho. Friends Of these gentlemen sent
us the extract requesting that we
would pay some attention TO II. 1t Is on
that account that we do So
The editor Of The West Side mentions
a call made upon him by the two FL
ders. and when he learned who and
what they were, he had no desire to
hold conversation with them or hear
their side Of the Mormon question
He says;
These WORTHLESS (?) Informed us that
they were ministers OF the Church OF
Christ, usually known as Latter"day
Saints. That settled II with us. our
business with them ended then ana
there. even before II began, and we SO
Informed them. We have noticed IN
the public prints OF the day that when
eyer these wretched cankers on society
make their appearance In the Southern
States they are notified TO leave imme-
diately. and IL they refuse or neglect 10
depart without ceremony, are promptly
swung to the first limb that VIII hold
them.
IF the southern people would conilne
all their lynchlngs TO these miserable
excrescences upon the religious world
these worse than leprous wolves IN
sheep's clothing--the civilized world
would find less fault with their hang
ingH.
I'VE unhesltatingly advise the COM
munity to kick these lecherous outlaws
out Of their houses"
This Is followed, Of course. with some
Of the s,ercotyped newspaper denuncla-
,ions OF the ''The twin relic Of barbar-
ism" which are as much out Of place
today as would be an attack upon the
other so.called twin relie"--slavery in
the South For the ignorance displayed
by the writer Of the paragraphs we
have quoted. he may probably be ex-
oused. For the spirit manifested In his
remarks, he must be held responsible
and IL any lawlessness results there
from he should be held accountable.
The misunderstanding that prevails
concerning the Elders Of the Church
who are laborlng in the mission field
and Of the doctrines which they are
promulgating. Is largely due TO the eff
forts OF anti. Mormon" preachers and
writer's, who have diligently distributed
literature published for the purpose OF
binding the eyes Of the public and STIR
ring up prejudice, to the extent OF clos.
ing the ears Of the people 80 that the
Elders shall have no opportunity Of de-
clarlng their message
The bigotry and blood-thlrstiness ex'
hibited by the editor Of The West side
however, are something deeper and more
to be deplored than his lack OF correct
Information on the subject about which
he writes. lie was not willing 20 hear
what the two visitors who respectfully
desired a hearing had to say for them.
selves and their cause He admits, In
fact, he boasts, that his business with
them "ended even before It began.
without knowing anything concerning
them as individuals and depending en-
tirely upon report as TO information
concerning their doctrine he proceeded
10 assail them with vile spithets, and
10 invite his fellow citizens TO violate
the law and commit personal assaults
upon the two gentlemen who had treat
ed him only with courtesy. We viii
not express the opinion that viii nat
urally be entertained concerning him by
every falr-minded American citizen who
learns OF his course.
1t is to be hoped that the Elders who
encounter receptions similar TO that OF
our friends In oregon, will exercise as
much charity as possible, and win also
keep down any feeling Of resentment
which might be occasioned by that kind
Of treatment. The probability is that
there are some good people In that
place. who will receive their testimony
and treat them with proper considera.
ton 1t Is usually the case that when
q Satanic spirit Is manifested, there are
some Of the seed Of Israel In the neigh
borhood. These should be sought for
diligently, while the efforts OF the ad'
yersary to hedge up the way. are en-
dured with patience and forbearance
II Is also possible that even the writer
OF the scurrllous remarks we have
copied, on cooling down and after a 1T
tie reflection, may perceive his own i'm
prophecies and be willing TO listen e
reason, instead OF exploding In bllnt
folly.
The Latter.day Saints form as good
a body OF worshipplng Christians, and
as loyal a community OF American clu.
gems. as can be found IN any part OF
the State Of oregon, and the Elders
who represent them. are. as rule hon.
est, Intelligent, temperate, and virtuou'
gentlemen who. while having a mission
10 perform In the world in the presenta'
tion of principles revealed from HEAVIER
in the nineteenth century. are ready e
treat with respec, the views and opin'
ions OF others and 70 recognize tru'
worth wherever It IS found However
people may differ from them IN doctrine
or In custom. they are at least entitled
10 the amenities Of society and to de
cent treatment while they are found &
be honoring, obeylng and sustaining tn
law.