The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-23

Editor Tribune:-.Just as I was start
Ing home last evening bought copy
OF the Deseret Evening News TO read on
the car, Among other things. ! read n
| very fair outline OF the interesting ad-
| dress at the Presbyterian church on Mon
| day evening on THE Solution OF the
Mormon Problem" by Rev. n. p. Glenn
enson, pastor Of the Presbyterian
church at Logan Mr. Clemenson had
also delivered an address TO the teach
ers' convention in the afternoon on The
Problem OF Mormonism.' On turning TO
The editorial page, found that the
chief editorial occupied nearly column
with a disgraceful and abusive attack
upon Mr.. Clemenson personally. In this
editorial the News fairly foams at the
mouth in its rage. and must have nanrly
exhausted its mud singing vocabulary
TO find abusive epithets 10 apply 10 MI
Clemenson. II accuses him of being a
libeller and falsifer" of being guilty OF
''willful mendacty" and OF "unabashed
impudence"; OF being one of the vilest
contributors OF publication that -four
ishes on falsehood", Of "hesitatlng al no
! untruth." and Of being a person Without
decent character" Take the follow
ing quotations as illustrations of the
shamefulness Of this attack on MIR, Glenn
cnson. and also upon the Presbyterian
denomination:
Presbyterian convention, particularly in
Utah, without an attack on "MormoniSm
would be somewhat like the play Of Hamlet
pecting to hear something on the perennial
topic from some member of the body CON
vened in this city but did not anticipate a
TRADE from so notorious n liballcr and fal.
sGcr as y f Clemenson Common decency
might have suggested the selection OF
speaker OF some character and reputation; In.
stead of person despiscd and contemned by
people of all classes and faiths where he lives
and is known for willful mcndaci,y mingled
with unabnshed impudcnce.
AS the correspondent Of publication that
vindicitive and ribnld scurriity, he has
gained the distinction of being one Of its
7ilest contributors, hesitating ~ no untruth;
and deligh,ina in the work OF distortiDg md
burlesquing the remarks OF Mormon spenk-
ers, relating unsavory stories sometimes
without any foundation in truth, nisrepre,,
poisoning the public mind at every oppor.
tunity.
II this person were Of decent character
mp his assertions about Mormonism,' seri-
atm md show ther fnllacy and their intcn.
uonal misrepresentation.
The purpose in view Of such blatant as
sailauts OF the Mormon faith and tho
Mormon people is to attract the attention
and draw the funds of religious folks in the
East
son personally, with whom I have been
we'll acquainted for many years He is
a man of noble character and worthy
Christian life. commanding the respect
and confidence OF the Christian people
OF all denominations-who are acquaint-
ed with him. The Presbyterian denom
nation is proud Of hts ability, efficiency
and uprightness. Yet the News calls
him a "falsifer." person OF "wilful
mendacity." Why, # would be Just as
impossible for Mr.. Clemenson to DELHI
erately and willfully make Il false state
ment. in order TO deceive and inJure
others. as IT would be for the editor of
the subject OF polygamy. | never knew
MIR Clemenson 10 make a statement of
fact which he did not believe to be true.
Nor did any one else.
In the second place. the News is whol
ly mistaken in regard TO the character
of the two addresses delivered by Mr..
Clemenson before the Presbyterian
Teachers association on Monday after
noon and evening. AS one who was pres
ent and heard them both, ] can testify
that Mr.. Clemenson was kindly and cour-
teous, as he always is, on such occa-
sions. and that there was nothing In
either address calculated TO give Of
fcnse to Mormon hearers. The outline
of the evening address. as published in
the News, shows that it was free from
offensive expressions, however one
might differ from il.
The afternoon address was not "tt-
rade" at all, as the News calls II. but
a clear, logical summary Of the Mormon
system. ! have heard President Taylor.
Bishop Whitney. Elder B. II. Roberts
and other prominent Mormon officials
attempt the same thing, but / never
heard 1t half as we'll done as il was by
Mr.. Clemenson He grew up in the sys-
lem, and has studied IL most systematic
ally since he got free from 1t. / do
no. suppose there ls a Mormon official
In Utah who understands the whole sys-
tenn better, and can state il more clearly
and accurately than he. This is why he is
so frequently called on in the West and
In the East TO speak on some phase of
the subject
In the third place. it Is quite evident
that the News is full OF hatred and bit
terness against the Presbyterians. Well,
that is not a very good example for a
Journal that is edited by an apostle
Should not an apostle lay aside all AN
ger and ciaror. and evil speaking with
all malice? i cannot discover. how
ever that the Presbyterians have any |
special illwill toward the News. They |
rather look upon its vindictive and |
abusive attacks as part OF life in Utah; |
as sort OF mysterious inhictIon of Di-
vine Providence, like the boils OF the
suffering Job, and the carbuncIe OF the |
afflicted Hezekiah. The Presbyterians |
seem to be quite happy and prosperous,
the persistent abuse OF |
he News. Their schools, and churches, |
ind educational work are prospering |
Tiye them ten years more. in connection |
With the grand work of other Christian |
and they will build up
moral sentiment here which will make
t practically impossible for any red