The Washington times., 1901-06-30
SAINTS IN MEXICO.
Mormons Arranging Colonization
Plans Across the Rio Grande.

Plans Across the Rio Grnnde.
John Henry Smith, the President of the
| Mexican Agricultural and Colonization
Company, Mormon institution organized
under the laws of the State Of Colorado,
arrived in. the city few days ago. ac-
companied by number of his assistants.
Among those who are with Mr.. Smith on
| his Mexico trip are Henry Eyring, the
Vice President of the company, and A.
| NJ Tinney, who will remain in this city
as the representative of the organization.
| The Mexican Agricultural and Coloniza-
tion Company has no colonists except
! Mormons. Mr.. Smith is a Mormon
preacher and his home is In Salt Lake
City, Utah The Mormons have already
about 5000 people in colonies in the
States of Chihuahua and Sonora. and Mr..
| Smith said the other evening that a great
many of the Mexican Indians were MEM
| bers of the Mormon Church, although few
| of them enjoyed the church rights 5nd
conveniences in this country.
The colonization company has been op-
Grating in Mexico for the past eight years
and it owns about 1900 acres of land in
the northern part of the republic secured
under special concession from the Gov
ernment with different improvement priv
lileges The object of Mr.. Smiths visit to
| the City of Mexico at this time is TO ar
range some matters relating to the con-
cession with the Minister of Fomento.
/ The audience with Mr.. Fernandez has al
| ready been secured and the affairs salts
factorily arranged Mr.. Smith said last
! evening that Mr.. Fernandez extended his
wishes for their success and happiness in
this country, and Mr.. Smith in turn pre-
| seuted the compliments of the Mormon
| Church to the Mexican Government.
| Mormons who are settled in Mexico all
become citizens of the country, and their
record shows that they become excellent
| citizens and improve their property in a
| permanent and profitable w>Sy. 1t is said
| although Mr. Smith did not admit it last
evening, that the Mormons are negotiat-
! ing for about 5000 acres more of Mexican
land nearer the City of Mexico.
| The Mormon church has long followed
! the colonization idea said Mr.. Smith
! Companies are operated in the United
| States. Canada. and Mexico. When a
Mormon wishes to change his place of
| living he seeks advice from those of US
who have had charge of that branch of
the work for many years. The advant-
ages and opportunities of the different
countries are shown to him just as they
are and he makes his choice. The Nor
mon church is a great believer in the ul-
| innate destiny of the American Indian,
and by the American Indian mean the
! entire Indian race of this continent. The
| Book of Mormon gives a complete histo-
! ry OF the American Indians and we be-
! lieve that events viii finally show that
Jesus Christ actually visited this conti-
nent in His own day. Evidences of this
J belief are scattered throughout the conti-
nent. Mexico not excepted In view of
this fact, we expect to take special in
terest In the Indians and educate them
and give them religious advantages to be
derived from cur church government.
I'VE are making no claims. We slowly
ingratiate ourselves into the favor of the
people among whom we live. We abide
| by the laws OF the country, and our pee
! pie being industrious. thrifty, and honest,
the territory inhabited by Mormon colo
nists becomes valuable in a short time.
/ The question of plurality of wives has
] never presented itself in this country
/ Polygamy is unlawful In Mexico and so
far i am aware it is not practieed
among the MormonS who are already
/ here To involve oneself by entering into
marriage contracts through the civil cere-
mony with more than one woman would
probably eventually land one in a misun-
dc rstanding with the authorities. AT any
| rate marriage or polygamy is secondary
matter with the true Mormon. The idea
] which prevails that IN order 10 be good
/ Mormon a man must surround himself
! withself with harem ot wives is erro-
/ neouS.
| THE Mormons. as well as other churches
and other societies. encourage matrimony,
| but il is optional with a man how many
4 wives he shall possess at the same time.
| IL is impossible, however, for q custom of
| that nature to be abolished In short
| time. If poygamy has been in existence
among a class of people and a man with
! a number of wives and children is caught
| up by tho law, it is natural to suppose
/ that in the name of humanity the man, If
! he be an honest and true member of the
human race will support those who are
| dependent upon him.
1.-The Mormons have been whipped many
| times hut they have never been beaten.
| We combine the spiritual with the mate
rial things of life and this practically ap~
peeIs to the common sense of mankind.
| The leaders of the Mormon Church look
| after the bread and meat foe their follow
/ ers as well as their immortal soals. The
! Mexican Herald