The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-24

L, L
ed TO go to Salt Lake and try q mining
case. While there I was retained by
Brigham Young for the defence of-htnl-
self and other Mormon leaders who
were accused of murder, polygamy,
adultery, and other kindred offences,
Brigham being the most conspicuously
married man in Utah was shining
target for the arrows of the reformers.
He was accused in one Indictment OF
having committed during the preceding
twenty years one hundred and thirty
eight thousand seven hundred and sew
.enty-two offences against "the statute
in such cases made and provided, and
the peace and dignity of the Territory
of Utah.
My employment was doubtless sug-
gested by the fact that while mem
Der of Congress from Nevada I had.
with other Pacific Coast representa-
tives, opposed the passage of the Gull
lom bill-a drastic and injudicious
measure which, while aimed only at the
destruction of polygamy, would have
resulted in driving the Mormons south
into Mexico and given their lands and
houses either to condscation or desola-
ton.
With the peculiar Mormon institution
of polygamy it is needless to say had
no sympathy. It was not to be denied
that Mormonism had taken many of its
converts from the slums and garrets Oh
England and America. 1t had taken
them from class of people to whom
any system of religion was moral
growth and any system of marriage
social advance. 1t had transported
these outcasts of civilization to Utah.
1t had given to each of them piece of
land, an adobe cabin and an opportu-
nifty to work so that he could in a short
fine possess as many pigs, and cows,
and fowls, and wives as he could pro-
vide for 1t had made him temperate,
frugal, truthful, honest industrious and
self-supporting-
Yet it was also true that the Saxon
home, the pride and bulwark of ou1
modern civilization, was desecrated by
a system of Phalhc worship, and on its
affairs were never lit the fires of that
sacred passion which no man can en-
tertain but for one woman, which no
woman can entertain for him she does
not believe to be exclusively her own.
AAA
PoIygamy was, however, almost the
only crime of a people who linked with
it a thousand virtues. Before the Cen
tile advent to Salt Lake City, which
succeeded the discovery of mines in
Cottonwood Canon in 1853, there was
not a bagnio or a gambling hell and
hardly a drinking saloon in that town,
and the Jail keepers cared only for
empty cells.
At first was not in the least inclined
to like Brigham Young. I regarded
him then as a philosophical infidel who
had promoted Mormonism as means
of gaining wealth and power. But as
the relations of counsel and client, and
the necessity for almost daily inter-
views engendered closer intimacy, |
soon same to revise my first opinion
eand to believe in him as sincere man,
as devoted to his strange faith as any
Christian Bishop to his orthodoxy.
AAA
Brigham did not seek to make a con-
vert of me. Indeed he would / think
have been disgusted with me If L had
been inclined to conversion, certainly L
would have been disguised with myseiI'
hut he was fond of polemical discussion
and would entrap Inc into controversies
on theological grounds in which ms
knowledge of the scriptures and OF the
history of creeds gave him an adVan-
tage.
AAA
do not know that Jared any worse
an debate because of my technical ig-
norance. for Rev. j. p. Newman VINO
went out to Salt Lake. from Washing
ton. taking with him six Hebrew roots
as weapons with which he proposed TO
overthrow the Mormon theology, came
ITO grief when he encountered IN Orsou
Pratt an educated fanatic, a Iearheu
lfnguist who knew every tongue from
Sanscrit to Shoshone, and who coula
have talked Hebrew with Moses ana
given him points.
AAA
Brigham Young loved a candid oppo-
nent provided his antagonist was not
a Mormon. for from his own people he
brooked no opposition.
How does our Mormon religion ap-
pear to you?" said he to me one day.
do Won want an honest answers?
Always" replied he.
well, it appears to me as supreme
nonsense was my reply, land the
inexplainable, the puzzling fact to me
is that a man of your great inteld-
eyence. reading, and experience, should
Relieve in il sincerely, as I know you
what, featureN of our faith seems
so incredible and nonsensical? SAID
1.-The whole of it," I answered;
..+ba foundation of it, the discovery or
Golden tablets inscribed with the Nor
mon gospel" ,s
You think the story incredible, sald
-Rr;gbays,. .syet all you Gentiles believe
in the tablets of stone on which Were
inscribed commandments given to Moses
ON Mount Sinai. and 50 do l believe II.
them. Now the witnesses in favor Oh
the tablets of gold are more numerous,
- ..Aoor,t and inair reputation fOr