Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-17

Wv hAtIlDutrs u tucbe women,
we do not believe that they have ever
corrected a alsstatement that has been
made concerning the people that they
live among. The fact Of the matter is,
some OF the women In Salt Lake have
encouraged and endorsed wilful misrep-
resentation against the Mormon people.
They have supported women lecturers
and ministers, who have gone from one
END or the country to the other, spread
ing falsehoods and stirring up the peo-
pie to anger against them. Money has
been solicited under false pretenses. TO
continue this everlasting agitation and
these women have been at the back
Of It.
We ask again, have the Mormons
ever wronged them7 Have they ever
been molested or interfered with in any
way? In what respect have they suf-
Tered from these desplsed neighbors I?
has the Mormon religion been Haunted
IN their faces? Have their homes been
invaded. or their churches desecrated?
Have they ever been nsulted on
abused? Do not Mormon homes COM
pare favoIably with their own? Is not
their conduct just as exemplary? Are
they not as Industrious, as temperate.
as purey Let them show cause for their
support OF this unholy crusade.
This Tribune considers II perfectly
legitimate, to pour out its vile false
mood, day after day, to Islander the best
men IN the community, and heap re-
preach upon an innocent people. II
supports the Salt Lake ministers and
women referred to, in doing the same
thing. To lie about the Mormons is per-
iectly honorable according to It's stan
dard OF morals. But let one OF this un.
popular sect lit his voice or pen In de-.
Tense OF his people. let him but ques-
ton the motives of those engaged In
tnis anti-Mormon campaign, and he be-
comes "a vile 'wretch," "a leprous crea-
lure and other choice epithets that
could be coined only In the Tribune Of
fee.
The Mormons are not going to be
dumb driven cattle, who will COVER
and crinBe beneath the whip OF their
maiigners. They are not low grovel-
ing things, fit only to lick the dust from
the feet OF those who trample their
rights In the earth. They are men ana
women, with rights that they propose to
maintain. We undertand perfectly well
the purpose Of these agitators. They
seek to deprive the Latter-day Saints
OF their rights as American citizens
They propose TO disfranchise them. and
make them dependent on their wills
and wishes.
we won't stand for It. Our fathers
hrst planted the standard Of liberty In
this western country. Through indus
try and hard labor, they have redeemed
and made It fruitful. They were never
found wanting In their devotion and
loyalty 10 their country both In peace
and in war. Most OF them have now
gone to their rest. The flag that they
unfurled here floats over their graves.
But before they passed away. they Inn
pressed upon their children q concep-
tion OF the liberty that 1t represents
II has greeted our eyes from our eari-
est infancy. We know our country's
history, and what IL cost to give Il
birth. Every Fourth OF July we have
listened to the story OF independence.
Freedom is our heritage; and we will
never willingly submit for our rights to
be invaded by the hungry horde who
are seeking to trample them under their
feet and destroy them
is II 10 be expected that we will sit
calmly by, and smile at our detractors?
Pat them on the back and tell them TO
go ahead? Shall we keep silent because
womanhood is sacred, and the ministry
Is holy? Shall we hesitate to show UP
lhe hypocricy and deceit that is behind
this movement? No. When woman
endorses SANDER. and encourages re-
ligious persecution, the halo that glorl-
fled her brow departs. She loses the
sanctifying beauty OF truth and we are
at liberty to resent her actions, and
protest against her course. When min
listers give themselves TO falsehood,
their pulpits are holy no more. their
churches cease to be God's sanctuaries.
THE Tribune rails at us and our pa
per for supporting the Mormon HER
archy.' We are not supporting any HER
archy; at least not In the sense the
Tribune uses the term. But VIC have
defended the Mormon people. and pro-
pose continuing 10 do so. We are not
ashamed of our action In this matter.
They are our people. Their interests
are our interests; their feeGom our free
dom. When they suffer we suffer. And
we shall contend for their rights so long
as we have voice and pen to do Il.
The Mormon people are not slaves
or cravens, who have no feelings. They
are as sensitive 10 wrong as other peo-
pie, They smart under insults and
abuse as quickly as anyone. They want
to he thought well OF by their fellows
There !s no pleasure for them In the re-
proach and odium that is heaped upon
them. At the same time. they don't
propose to purchase the good opinion
OF men al the price OF their faith and
honor, Conscious as they are of the
rectitude OF their intentions, and the
honesty OF their motives, they can af-
ford TO wait for their vindlcation. Time
VIII do them justice"