Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-23
THE POOR CREATURES

A number OF ladies in this city, fol-
lowing the lead Of some protested
ministers Of the Gospel and rampant
newspaper without principle ana ut
terly regardless Of the truth, have for
muated resolutions which have al
ready been published ana which were
telegraphed TO the committee OF IN
vestigaton at Washington This was
for the purpose OF increasing prejudice
against the Mormon Church and on
setting the evidence recently adduced
ms to the lndlspositlon OF the nom
"Momons' here TO stir UP trouble and
as to the absence OF interference by
the Church In political affairs. The
STRAIGHTFORWARD testimony which has
been introduced seems TO have set the
rabid anti~"Mormon' faction perfect
ly wild.
The ladies' who signed the resolu-
lions prepared for them, based their
addresses In their mass meeting up
on a recent editorial IN the Salt Lake
Tribune, and they became almost hys-
terlcal over the idea that any Cen
tiles" In this city had either Con
doned" or Tolerated the continuance
Of plural family relations by men who
entered that status previous TO the
manifesto OF 1890. The utter absurdity
OF their excitement and their attesta-
lions is patent TO the great body of
our citizens, who know very well that
the recent testimony ~ "Gentiles' nc
Washington ON the matter Is abso-
lutely true. For the benefit OF the
signers OF the dispatch to Senator Bur
rows we win quote a little from the
paper which has stirred them up TO
their present fury. The following eX-
cerpt ia from the Salt Lake Tribune
OF December 20, 1904:
"The Gentllos In Utah had fought
long enough; and they were grateful
for peace. They deplored anything
that looked like renewal OF the old
strife For years they kept their
mouths closed and their eyes shut,
permitting mon TO go on living with
their plural wives, showing neighborly
respect and consideration, and believ-
ing that, without special conformation
Of what was known aa unlawful CO.
habitation, they could very well leave
the situation for time TO remedy"
This Us lust what the witnesses who
have been so abused and held up TO
obloquy by that same paper testified
before the committee orousing the
mock indignation and simulated fury
Of the Tribune, the ministers and the
women who have bllndly followed
them into the folly exhibited I'm their
meeting and I'm their telegram. II we
had any disposition to turn the tables
on some Of these terribly scandulized
people over Mormon conditions, we
could few tales unfold which would
make their incorporate avowals look
mighty ridiculous ana cnuso q shaking
among the dry bones OF local society,
But never mind
One outrageous assertion IN the dis
patch which the ladies' sent TO Wosh-
ngton needs further notice, They say,
utah is ruled absolutely by the
Mormon hierarchy which deGes law,
directs legislation, controls courts
frighteus Witnesses, and works its yen-
geance upon those who resist"
Every assertion IN that paragraph is
absolutely and wickodly untrue. The
women who signed it may believe IT,
but they have 60 depend entirely upon
runor, chiefly the base fahrlcatons Of
wIlful and intentional llbeers, who
have never been able to adduce any
thing which would be considered proof
by court on pass muster IN q fair
inquiry conducted ON the lines or law
or logic It is but % repetition Of the
bowling Of ministerial wolves, echoed
by subsidized or parrot-like papers,
that pandcr TO the popular desire for
sensation and ure ready TO swallow
lpthug that reflects upon the Nor
mons
Those women have put themselves on
record as endorsing wicked and ground
less falschoods on matters OF which
they have no personal knowledge, and
only exhibit q disposition 70 osslil
Church and a people who have done
them no harm, There Is as much
Christianity in their course as there
IS solid substance lon % vacuum IL Is
q pity that they have not home AFFAIRS
enough TO better engage their atten-
ton, but mercy that some of them arc
blind TO their own surroundings, But
for consistency and harmony OF senti-
ment and assertion with It's own ut!er-
onces, commend us TO the ratified and
raving anu-"Mormon' organ In this
city