The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-30
4 MORMON TO cnRIsTIANs.
Defence Of President smith by DauEh'
ter OF brigham Young.


To THE EDIT6H or Tns SuN Sir: It's quite
the thing TO lin scornful eyes when the name
Of an honest poygamist Is mentioned; but
when another sort Of polygamlst goes 70 the
Mothers Congress, he IL hailed 40 the defender
Of home and the spotless knight who Is 10 cast
his lance for the purity Of babes and women
Ne gods
Joseph + Smith IA tho leader Of a despised
and misunderstood people. His life Is On open
book, into which God, angels and men may
look without shame or regret, Not one sug'
gestion Of anything but the deepest integrity
the highest morality was developed In his
lnQuisition a year 20 at Washington; not one
word Of accusation was raised against him.
except that he had married FIVE wives, and
had honOrably acknowlee ged them and their
children. Come gentleman men and brethren
Ia this great country Of ours. come, and cast
your stones! Comet Oh. no should be dis
graced. dishonored and destroyed; for 10. be
has dared 70 do an unpopular thing. which he
thought was right
Yes ladies and miDAters, he thought II was
right No matter what the ladies may say,
no matter what the ministers might think;
husbands think their poly gainy TiGhtl
What Is the essence OF sinl j. y pot We
motive which underles the actl Could self;
ISL. wicked man face the popular clamor and
refuse to bend when It would be so much
easier TO turn on a few helpless women7
In sr h ' aBd hEs sRS 5
hatred and revenge. this attack has been 70,
cussed on the son and nephew Of the murdered
Smith. These two we're hated, reyiled and
finally slain by mob az Carthage, III In iat
ity Of wives had ever been published 70 the
world And now, this same spirit 10 rampant
here in this beautiful city. founded and built
by The very men men and man whom these mobo'
VIII the American people be content forever
70 accept the statement Of our enemies about
When we org yS out to be heard. we are answered
with shouts OF deTision Our whole Church
Is put on trial And yet why notl VIII truth
But OH. do you wonder that the poor. hated
Mormons cling closer and closer together
DO YOU wonder that they ask whether II be
Christian women and Christian mi nsters who
thus inCite and infame an already terrible
preludicey Do you wonder that they ask
themselves why those who would lead them
into "the whittier light. the "purer way" do
not come with outstretched, meTcitul hands,
instead OF piercing the soul with ridicule and
depressing the heart with scoTn and hatTed2
And can you wonder that Mormons love their
brave leader and prophet, whose whole llie
and splendid character is and always has been
lived out honestly before the people,
II you Christians" would teach us. II you
would convert US, bring with you the law Of
love and tender kindness. Generosity and
frank. brotherly dealing. these are the weap-
ons which ever disarm error and destroy i'm
popSt rg5o, D9 y you aGeoT S Us these =, v.,h
ington that he had not talked face 20 face with
God, although he had received many reyela-
tons In his heart And how truly he spoke
thousands Of Mormons can testify And does
he know, through revelation, that this is the
Church Of Christ, and that Joseph Smith was
q prophet OF GodS He does he does, for ]
have heard him say 80 time and gain. And
do know itt Yes, ] know IL as Peter knew
that Jesus was the Christ; and on that rock
Father TO the inncTmost heart OF Peter, Christ
b4llded His Church, both in that day and In
all days And do | know that my Redeemer
iivesl Yes, better than ! know any visible
aud tangible thing. For this living burning
testimony H. like a flame within me, glowing
gle and toll. And have ! had personal reye-
latIOn that Joseph Smith was prophet OF
God aud ID t9 t9t be saw in oPSa VISION the
yes know it, as know that live. And do
J know that polygamy. is q true principle
lation. that the Manifesto was given By God,
and that IL is now the law OF the Church and
OF the Lord And would ! break that law3
passionate love for my reli gion that am con-
strained 70 live 1t at whatever cost TO me.
! have had personal revelations TO guide
public affairs have had the gift OF prophecy
and the gift OF tongues: and in all the whisper
honor and love my noble and pure husband,
90 seek his happiness and 70 rear his children
20 respect and revere him, while they worship
God and adore their native country, And when
God has any revelation 70 give 70 the Church,
lie will not give it TO me nor to my husband
good and noble as he Is: il will come through
President Joseph J. Smith, and him only
God bless Joseph ! SMITH DO | know,
through revelation, that he is a prophet OF God3
Yes, ! do have known him these many years
a my own brother, and juster, nobler
cleaner. greater man have never known on
this earth. unless it were my own beloved
and houOred father Brigham Young
| may be mistaken. President Smith may
be mistaken. We Mormons may he mistaken
But We are not corrupt we are not vile we are
Un 10 ar n a
how TO be- DO you teach Ne how to be better!
We are men and women, like yourselves; and
we are American citizens. DO not fan the
flames Of prejudice against VA until murder
aud mObOCraCy again stalk abroad in our
midst Let us work ont the problem Of our
existence. with schools. collie ges, libraries
aud churches 10 aid aud deliver us. II we are
in error.
/ cannot be silent when the voice OF the
assassin is heard in the land
SUsA YoUN0 GATES.
SAIL LAKE CITY. March 20