Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-02
THE FOLLY OF PERSECUTION.


The folly as well as wrong OF trying
10 suppress supposed error by physical
force, and TO oppose Innovations in re-
llgion, science or philosophy by blood
shed or any kind OF personal violence,
has been demonstrated In the history
OF the world both ancient and modern.
This IS fastening itself on the minds
OF the best thinkers Of the age and
should be impressed upon all rational
people. There Is yet, however, much Of
the savage In the makeup Of so-called
civilized individuals, and rage often
takes the place OF reason, when COM
monty accepted theories and practices
are brought in question or disturbed by
something different whether It be APP
parently new or an old cult or custom
revived. The outbursts thus occa-
stoned are not only wrong per Sc but
they usually defeat their own purpose
We are somewhat surprised to see IN
the Troy Press OF June q, an editorial
that conveys this lesson. That paper
is such an unfair and venomous anti
Mormon" publication that It is rather
remarkable II gives place to the ex-
presslons to which we refer We copy
the entire article as follows;
sixty years ago today Joseph Smith,
the founder Of Mormonsm and his
brother Hyrum were murdered by n
mob at Carthage, Ill., They were In
jail, and to characterize the incident az
"a damnable outrage would be to keep
well within the truth. Joseph was less
than forty years old at the time, and
IN his last hours, during his ignomin-
GUS Incarceration, he probably little
dreamed that HIS church would become
prosperous and powerful, and give him
n large measure of fame--or Ill fame
More than sixteen hundred years ago
Tertnllian came to the sage conclusion
that the blood OF the martyrs Is the
seed Of the church and there has been
an abundant yeriication Of his discern
ment since his time, as there was before
IT, Those who seek 10 destroy any re-
ligous, political or social movement by
killing IT'S deyotees are short-slghted as
well az iniqultous for nothing IL surer
10 Intensity the zeal and self-sacrlhce Of
Its surviving followers II Is as futile
and foolish ms the effort 10 prevent muir
ders by capital punishment, ignorant Of
the principle that one wrong never
rights another, BY numbering Smith.
the insane enemies Of Mormonlsm gave
that immoral institution a more dam
gerous and devilsh leader than any
Smith that ever lived, and one with
great executive abillty-somethng no
torlousy wanting In the Smiths. No
other event was equal In solidifying
and strengthening the Mormons TO the
dastardy double murder Of sixty years
ago"
The lesson conveyed In the foregoing
IL valuable although the language used
exhibits the anlmus and lack of knowl-
edge on the Mormon" question COM
mon TO that paper, If the public ut
terances and published predictions OF
the Prophet Joseph Smith were taken
into account by the Press editor he
would probably have refralned from
stating that the Prophet little dreamed
that his Church would become prosper
Gus and powerful and give him a large
measure OF fame-or III fame" Jo-
seph Smith announced at the very
opening of his mission that the divine
messenger who revealed the ancient
record OF this continent told
him that Ibis name should be known
for good or evil among all nations"
This has been familiar saying
among the Latter-day Saints for more
than seventy years. The magnitude OF
the work accomplished by "Mormon-
ISM" its power and prosperity" were
foretold by the Prophet, and ii has
not yet reached anything near the
acme Of its influence on the worlds
affairs that he predicted He prophe-
sled of the coming of the Saints to the
Rocky Mountains where they should
become mighty people. He depicted
the growth and spread of the church
until It should gather to it people of
every nation under heaven, and fulfil
all that the prophets of old declared
concerning the might and glory OF the
Iatter-day Kingdom, 10 which the
King of kings should come.
AS to the great man who succeeded
him, the Troy Press Ia equally In the
dark. Brigham Young was public
henefactor, wise leader spiritual
and profound teacher and devoted
follower Of the Prophet whose policy
and executive" principles and exam
pie he was ever eager to carry out
The Press editor says these were mo-
toriously wanting In the Smiths" which
shows that he either does not know
what he is talking about, or is so dense
ly preJurlced that he must say some
thing evil, even while ondeayorlng to
show up an important truth.
The martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum
Smith did have the effect of "solidify-
ing and strengthening the 'Mormons
though the cruel and unjustlnable deed
was intended TO scatter and destroy
them. It viii be so with every scheme
devised for their injury and the over
throw OF that which is called Nor
monism.' Its success depends upon
no man. It's destruction cannot he
effected by human force or human
cunning. And the history OF the ages
VIII be repeated In the present cen-
tury for every outrage and injustice
perpetrated against the Latter-day
Saints Will but accelerate the divine
work in which they are engaged, and
rebound I'm combustion ana fafluro ,ro,,