Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-21
SPEAKS WELL Of
THE "M0RM0NS. "

Mr.. Robert L, C. Wilson, a gentle
man who has spent some time recently
In Salt Lake and who was instrumental
In attracting eastern capital to Utah
oil fields, has just returned to his home
in Houston, Texas, and gives the fol.
lowing interview to the Chronicle, his
home paper:
"The pride OF Salt Lake City Ia her
crop of children" states Mr.. Robert
Il. G. Wilson OF Houston, who has re-
turned from a six months visit in the
land OF Morm0nlsm.
They are rosy checked, bright-eyed
roundly developed children, such as
one does not meet with elsewhere. The
streets are thronged with them, and
they are admired and petted. one In
need finds many helping hands"
Mr.. Wilson was seen by a Chronicle
reporter and consented to give brief
resume Of his observations In the gar
den spot OF Utah.
He has words Of praise for Reed
Smoot whom he pronounces one OF
Natures noblemen.
He enthusiastically pays the highest
tributes OF respect TO the characters
Of the "Mormons" Of today.
THE world has been misguided In
the consideration OF these people, II
has looked at them from a distance
through a lens that has magnified un-
justly, as part of the world once looked
at slavery Of the south and was de-
ceIved. They have been maligned and
their characters wrongfully traduced."
This is the tribute Mr.. Wilson pays
TO the "Mormons" OF today: They are
an honest, God-fearing people, who
pay their debts, love their neighbors
and practise what they preach"
THE PASSING OF POLYGAMY.
Just as slavery passed from the
south, so has polygamy passed from
Utah 1t has not entirely vanished In
practise, but II is forever dead as a
cult and forever relinquished as a
teaching Of the Mormon doctrine, There
are some OF the old time polygamists
who still maintain their plural wives,
and there Is no civil law powerful
enough 10 put them asunder.
''The old time polygamist VIII argue,
They are my wives; why should cast
any Of them off, and II | am to retain
any, which should I keep? In the
name of humanity ! will still protect
and provide for them
THE Mormon Church no longer
teaches polygamy. II Is no longer de-
sired by 1t any more than the south
again desires slavery. But you VIII not
find true Mormon who will condemn
the former practise OF II, any more
than you will find true southerner
who will say, We sinned when we held
slaves.
1.-THE young generations OF the faith
are particularly antagonlstic to the
plural wife doctrine, and, In fact, II has
few advocates, Those old timers who
have plural wives take on no more,
and as stated, maintain those they
have for humanitarian reasons.
There In an element, as Is found IN
all communities, that hide under meath
the cloak Of the church for the perpe-
tratlon of diabolism. A limited class
Of this sort, under the pretence OF be-
lieying In polygamy, have INDUCED In
RIGHTEOUSNESS, but they are quickly
found out and Stunned.
"A Mormon girl IL held In the Hight
of an earthly saint. Let a stranger,
who Is inclined to be n 'masher, enter
the city and attempt Irritation. He
may succeed with some of the Gentle
maldens, but II he tries his wies on
rosy-cheeked Mormon girl. some one
who knows her is likely to touch him
on the arm and give him this tip, She
Is Mormon That is equivalent to
saying. You are wasting your time,
and making fool OF yourself
A REMARKABLE VILLAGE,
zone little village nesting at the