Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-04
WILD RUMoRs.

Admiral Rojastvensky, who has not
Isan prominent in public view since the
day he lost his large fleet in the Straits
of Korea, has again come TO the front
This time he appears with a story to
the effect that the English commander
Of the Aslatic squadron had orders TO
annihilate his ships, In case the Jap
anese should fail TO do so. Somebody
has evidently taken advantage OF the
credulty OF the big Russian and Spun
yarn" which he has accepted as fact.
This Is not surprising. when It is re-
membered that he fired away al peace
full fishing boats in the North Sea,
where this kind Of craft Ia so numer-
Gus, In the belief that they were tor
pedo boatsl One who can make such
a childish mistake Is no authority on
the plans OF Great Britain. or any other
country. The English government
could have no object in attacking Ro-
Jestvensky, unless the intention was to
make war upon Russia. But Great
britain proved that she did not want
war, by accepting the improbable ex-
PLANTATION offered ms an excuse for the
North Sea blunder. II that country
had desired war that would have been
the time TO declare II. for n nlmsier ex-
cuse could hardly have been conceived
Of for such a grave mistake. But Eng
land did not want war with Russia.
The facility with which absurd ru-
mors can gain credence In Russia In
almost marvellous. Here Is another III
ustration: A short time ago a Russian
immigrant arrived In Boston. OF course
his opinion was asked concerning the
AFFAIRS In his country. He seriously
declared that the troubles OF the Cars
empire were caused by Jews who tor
nented the military into committing
outrages. He said also that the revoiu-
tion was simply an attempt Of the Jew
fish element 10 upset the imperial au-
thority in order that they themselves
might become masters OF Russia. In a.
country where such absurd rumors can
be circulated and considered truthful,
Rojestvensky' yarn" about Great
Brltain's hostility cannot fail TO find
ready circulation. Tho Russian Jews
oonspiring TO obtain control OF the Rus
sian government!
But. come 10 think OF IL, are such ru-
mors any more absurd than some Of
those that have been sent broadcast in
this country about the Latter-day
Saints? That the 'Mormons," though
they be but handful as compared to
the population Of the United States, as
plre to the control Of the government, liz
one OF the many ghost stories told, to
scare the big children In this country.
II Ia entirely on par with the Russian
story about the Jews Of that country,
and their aim at government control.
Only short time ago. a fanatic enter
tanned an Illinois audience nv saving
that the "Mormons" viii, in a short
time, hold the balance OF power In all
the Western states--w Wyoming. Mon
tana. Nevada, Oregon. Washington,
New Mexico. Arizona. California and
Colorado-an area OF Gl2,9s5 square
miles The Emporium In inperio," he
exclaimed. will be then no longer a
dream Of fanatical sect but thing
realized" As long as American, in
telligent audiences can receive such
tales with fear and trembling, and be-
come almost historical. we must cease
wondering at the effect of similar false
hoods upon the Russian masses. Here
in this country education is more gem
eral. There should be less credulty
and more common sense.