Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-15
TELL THE TRUTH


We believe that the majority OF the
visitors who have favored this city
with their presence during the past few
days. will speak OF our people as they
found them. Many OF our friends who
came here for the first time In their
lives, were surprised to find the Nor
mons" not only white and civilized, but
kind and courteous and imbued with a
Christian spirit. A few. perhaps, VIII
60 away with incorrect ideas concern
ing the Saints, through listening to the
lurld stories and terrible tales with
which some designing persons delight to
deceive tourists.
Some ladies', conversing in a street
car the other evening were lamentlng
the awful condition Of the Mormon
women. who, they had been told were
left by their polygamous husbands TO
toll in abject poverty for themselves,
their children and their lords, and they
could be known by their sad and care
worn countenances. scsnty ralment ana
downtrodden appearance. Such OBJ
jects had been pointed out to them as
specimens OF Mormon" women, Side
by side with them on the car were Ia
dies, as smiling Of countenance and at
least as well attired as they, who were
"Mormons' IN the fullest sense of the
term. but who did not like to intrnde
their conversation and correct the
false Impressions which some contemp-
tIble enemies had made upon their
minds.
We viii say In this connection, that |
close scrutiny would disclose In this
city much less poverty, hardship and
real want than are to be found IN the
majority OF the cities and towns from
whence our visitors have come. Also
that any such objects of sympathy as
may have been pointed out TO them,
viii be found on inquiry n3t to be Nor
mons or connected With the Nor
mon PEOPLE. We are Of the opinion
that there are but few individuals now
IN this city. who make business of
mollrnlng the "Mormons,' and stufIng
travellers with the monstrous fabrica-
tions which were common q few years
ago But there are still professed
"christian preachers who deal in that
kind Of romance, nnd distribute II
through the pulpit and the press
A copy Of The Gospel Advocate has
been sent to US. containing correspon-
dence from one who signs himself f, s.
Favour. and who dates his letter from
this city. He speaks OF travelling
Through Utah valley north to Salt
Lake City and says; "rhe country
looks Ike a paradise; but the people, like 3.
those who inhabited the plain of Jor.
dan In Lots day, they are sinners be-
fore the Lord exceedingly He goes
on to remark:
'By experience | have learned that
most OF the people In Utah, and In Salt
Lake especially, are not civil towards
a stranger; much less are they Christ
like"
After telling story about a lady
who was said TO be "the granddaughter
Of a man who had seven wives" which
Of course was highly reprehensible in
The granddaughter. the writer states:
con July 10th I spoke in Salt Lake
City. We had very Interesting time
md the Mormons' threatened TO run {
ne out Of town. Nearly every nation
Is represented here and no one can help
ldmlrlng their zeal. il In impossible TO
ret any true history OF the Mormons. 4
The Tabernacle is the only place to |
which strangers are invited"
All that nonsense may be suitable to ,
he columns OF the Gospel Advocate" [
" other sectarian publication glad to '
ay anything unfavorable to the Lat s
er-day Saints but just people who I
ave visited our city know that his q
tatements are utterly false and pur. !
'osely misleading one Of the most 1
requent remarks OF many OF our visl. a
ors during this week has been. that {
hey never found people more willing !
0 give them information and to show Y
hem courtesies. than the "Mormons" Il
ihom they have met while here. We o
ope that they viii 60 away with \
etermination 20 speak the truth CON G
erning us wherever they meet inqulr- /,
y. ),
We are sure that our friends have .
'und II difficult to discern any differ. n
nee IN the appearance. manners. dress J I
other characteristics. between the J 9
Mormon and n-"Mormon" people | q
HON they have ris,. II there is any 4
Iherence they have found the former Il
Iore ready TO converse with them and n
'spond TO their queries than any other o
ass. The Elks and their associates
no have crowded our streets have be. =.
'Ned Ike ladies and gentlemen. with e,
~ very rare exceptions. and they n
III carry with them the good wishes :,
I'd high regards OF the people OF salt y
axe City. %
AN tNEIASTIC BOND.