Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-13
NO COMPROMISE WITH ERROR.

We received today the following let
ter from an esteemed friend, and as 1t
voices the sentiments of a host Of other
valiant defenders Of the truth we give
place to 1t In these columns:
February 10, 1900
My Dear Brother Penrose.
Have just finished reading for the
second time your leading editorial in
this evenings News" The Conflict
Inevitable, AS o self-respedtlng mem
Der Of the Church OF Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints want 20 thank you
for that editorial; for the manliness OF
u, for Us strength, for It's plainness,
for It's noble spirit Of independence, for
us assertion Of the rights to religious
freedom for 'Mormons' as well as peO-
pie OF other religious faiths and last.
but not least. for lis absolute truth as
to the ineyitableness of the conflict be-
tween the truth which God has revealed
and the errors Astounding in this world
II warns ones heart to read what Is
al once a brave yet conservative setting
forth OF the rights OF the Latter-day
Saints under the laws Of our country
! am tired TO the soul Of me OF the
tame. enervaung suggestions OF the
goody, goOdy peace crieis who would
yield and yield for the sake OF peace
until not a yestige of that noble sys-
TEN OF truth which God has revealed
Was left 90 bear witness that IL ever
had an existence on the earth. No one.
| think. IS more impressed with the
fact that ours Is message OF peace
on earth and good will TO man than |
am; that we are To raise u standard of
peace TO all men Is part of Gods spe-
cial revelation to us. but II is not a
message Of peace at any price. II is
not 10 be peace at the sacrifice Of the
truth OF God committed TO our trust
Il is not TO be peace purchased 10y COW
ardice. Il Is not to be the establish
ment Of peace through fear; but u Is
to be peace through the triumph OF
truth. an important part OF which Is
the recognition OF the religious rights
OF the Latter-day Saints In common
with the religious rights Of all men, The
right OF the Mormon" 10 religious
freedom Is scarcely recognized. II
never has been from the foundation Of
the Church IN 1880 until now.
IL is in vain that our enemies will
plead that they have only opposed
"Mormunism' when the practice Of It's
principles involved a violation OF law
When il endured its severest opposition
and the most cruel violence. plural
marriage was not taught or practiced
And now when plural mar
rlages are not permitted un-
der the sanction OF the Church;
and when the Church does not coun-
sci or encourage infringement upon
the laws prohibiting p0lygamous Nv
Ing (unlawful cohabltation though
the infringement Of such laws should
come TO pass through on endeavor 20
mlhn moral obligations which were
contracted In pursuance Of what was
believed 10 be. ana was. divine sanction
even under these circumstances pre-
texts are not wanting for making war
upon the Saints and the Church which
is az once the teacher and guardian Of
the faith they profess, When IL Is not
"polygamy." then Il is "dlsloyalty." be-
cause Of our belief in an inspired
Priesthood. When 1t Is neither Of these
then it is "fanaticism," because OF our
belief In immediate revelation from God
and In HIS power through the ordl-
nanccs OF the GOSPEL to heal the sick
and confer ugon men now all the sDir-
ltual and temporal blessings they ever
possessed.
OF course. every truth. and especially
every religious truth. has It's struggle
Tor existence. II must be prepared %
endure severe analysis, II must SUBJ
nit 10 measurement BY the recognized