The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30
THE TRIUMPH MUST COME.

Can any Mormon, even Joseph r.
Smith himself. entertain doubt that in
! the end American sentiment will prevail
in the controversy which is now on in
| Utah'
Experience has demonstrated two
! things. The leadership of the Nor
mon church has always seemed to place
| itself in an attitude OF antagonism to
! community sentiment and practice in
the United States, and has provoked the
! country to the last possible limit of en-.
| durance When that point was reached
the vast majority spirit Of the Nation
asserted itself and the leaders drag
ging the followers after them) were,
in the earlier stages Of Mormon eX-
perienee, compelled 10 Zee. At a
later period, when flight had become
impossible, they were compelled to
yield those practices which offended the
sensibilities Of the country,
When the leaders attempted TO cstab-
lish their people in Ohio the disposition
to isolate their community life from
that Of the other citizenship of the
country, to set themselves completely
apart from other humanity, to become
law unto themselves and for them
selves. aroused the resentment of their
neighbors. Maintaining their antago-
nistic attitude TO the last ditch,
and the controversy coming to the
point where there was a demand for
one of two specific conclusions, the
leaders refused to yield, and they were
compelled to fee, dragging their fol-
lowers with them.
Going to Missouri, the experience was
repeated and second fight ensued,
the leaders refusing TO yield and the
followers faithfully sustaining them.
In Illinois the same determined atti-
tude of antagonism toward the country
brought down upon the heads of the
people the wrath that twice before
had driven them from their homes;
but this time the fury engeudered e1.
pressed itself In hercer reprisal, aud
much suffering ensued. The leaders,
here as before, refused TO yield, and
they fed, dragging their followers with
them.
Coming to Utah, and here being far
removed from the established civiliza-
tion Of the country, a longer period Of
peace was experienced. The leaders
had more time and better opportunity
to tx their peculiar beliefs aud Prac-
tices in the lives of the people, who
were taught that these things were
virtues in the sight Of God, and the
physical expression Of obedience Of
divine command. Here they became
more strongly entrenched-in fact, the
leaders declared that in these noun
tain Businesses the Mormon pco-
pie were impregnabie against the
whole world. When advancing West
ern civilization brought to the
community citizenship which
was in accord with the rest OF the
Nation, renewal OF the controversy
began. The same old resistance to Ma
tionaI sentiment aud community custom
asserted itself, but now with greater
arrogance because Of the larger
strength of the people. As before, the
conflict continued until it reached the
alternative point. Flight was now i'm.
possible because Of the large material
| interests of the church which had be-
come fixtures here, and because there
was no other place to flee to, and the
leaders were compelled to yield to the
| overwhe Ginning strength Of the Nation.
Peace came TO Utah for a while, The
! price of this quietude being a covenant
on the part Of the leaders of the Nor
mon church that they and their people
would come within tho law which gov
erns and the community practices
which prevail all over this broad land.
Almost Immediately upon acceptance by
the Nation Of these pledges Of the
Ncrmon leaders generously seconded
in deed and word by the local Cen
esteem of the country, Statehood waa
granted and prosperity began her
benefcent reign.
| Then came the time when the
pledges were disregarded, the State
hood compact was broken and the
whole Mormon people were again pre-
cipitated into strife as dangerous
TO them as it was ungrateful to the
Nation which had extended its merciful
clemency. So that now, instead Of
esteem, there is disbonor; instead OF
peace, there is strife; instead Of respect
for law, there is resistance to it; in
stead of a free political community,
there is a priest-ridden State; instead
of harmony with National sentiment,
there is antagonisrn to it,; instead Of