Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-10
A FEW LEAVES OF HISTORY.

I
their history In the light OF truth, not
the carcaures offered by persons who
are best described IN the words OF the
Apostle Peter: some things hard to
be understood, which they that are I'M
4 learned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other Scriptures, unto their
own destruction" individuals who
sacrllegousiy "wrest' the Scriptures,
are no guides to history. nor to doc
tr!ne
Brigham Young, It has been alleged
aimed at the establishment 81 an inde-
pendent Kingdom. II Is therefore Of in
terest to recall that Gov Ford suggest
ed this plan to Brigham Young, after
the murder Of the Prophet and Patrt-
arch. Under date OF April S, lsi5, he
| advised the Saints to go TO California,
and added;
"Why should II not he a pretty opera
| ton for your people TO 80 out there
| take possession OF, and conquer a por-
| ton OF the vacant country, and esiab-
| lsh an Independent government OF your
own. subject only TO the laws Of ma
| tions?'
That governor with the heart OF a
coward suggested that the Saints sneak
| out of the United states, like thieves In
| the night, and steal portion OF Mex
| leo. and hold II against all corners. But
| the Saints were no traitors. They were
loyal citizens. They refused to so into
the trap. In petition to President
| Polk. asking for assistance against
their cruel enemies, they declared We
are members Of the same great confed-
eracy. our fathers, yea, some OF u.s.
have fought and bled for our country,
and we love her Constitution dearly
In a circular issued By the High
Council. Jan. 20, 1886 the same loyalty
was expressed After stating the in
| tentlon Of locating in the Rocky
| Mountain valleys, 1t says:
| I'VE also further declare, for the sat-
| isfaction OF some who have concluded
that our grievances have aliena'ed us
| from our country, that our patriotism
4
| sword. by daylight nor by midnight as
sassination which we have endured,
| neither have they allenated us from the
] institutions OF our country
The anti "Mormons" at that time set
up the cry that the Mormon" inten-
tlon was to join the enemy against the
| United states. This was a cruel charge
after they had expelled the Saints from
the confines OF civilization, hoping that
they would perish IN the desert. more
complete REPUTATION of this false acou-
sation cannot be imagined than the
entry In the diary OF President Young
shortly before the departure from
Sugar Greek:
"Our homes, gardens, orchards farms.
| streets. bridges. mills. public halls,
magnificent temple, and other public
| improvements we leave as monu-
| ment OF our patriotism, industry. econ
omy, uprightness Of purpose, and In
| tegrity of heart. and az a living test-
| mnny OF the falsehood and wlckedness
| Of those who charge US with disloyalty
| to the Constitution OF our country,
! idleness and dishonesty
This was President Brigham Youngs
entry In diary, not intended for the
public. Il expressed his true senti-
ments, and those of the exiled Saints
with him,
Colonel Kane testifies to the loyalty
OF the Saints. In letter OF introduce
ton he says OF Elder Little:
"This gentleman visits Washington
| with no other object than the laudable
one of desiring aid OF government for
| his people who, forced BY persecution
| TO found a new commonwealth IN tho
| Sacramento valley, still retain Ameri-
can hearts, and would not Willingly sell
| themselves to the foreigner or forget
! the old commonwealth they leave be-
| hind"
This testimony was fully justified.
When the Mormon Battalion was
being formed-an evidence of patriot
ism seldom, II ever, equalled in his
tory. President Brigham Young said
In a public address:
II want TO say 70 every man. the
| Constitution OF the United States as
| framed by our fathers. was dictated,
was revealed was put into their hearts
by the Almighty who sits enthroned
in the midst OF the heavens; although
unknown 10 them u was dictated by
the revelations OF Jesus Christ, and |
tell you, In the name OF Jesus Christ,
| IL Is AS good as ever | could ask for. /
say unto you, magnify the laws. There
is no law in the United States, or in
the Constitution. but ! am ready TO
make honorable"
These were the eloquent words Of
President Brigham Young, when an ex-
Gle and leader OF exiles. DO they ex-
press the sentiments Of traitor?
Less than two years after the arry-
al IN these valleys, the Pioneers PROV
ed iheir loyalty and love for the coun-
try BY petuoning for ADMISSION into
the Union This was In March lsis, On
the gath OF July the same year, a pub
Ne celebration was held, There were
! music firms Of guns, professions and
| public addresses one OF the features
Of this celebration was the presentation
b To President Young Of a copy Of the
Declaration OF Independence and OF the
Constitution OF the United States. This
I was done while the assembly cheered
and shoutcd May Il live foreyer"
Such were the sentiments Of the Pic.
neers-,ho same sentiment that is en-
tertalned by every true Mormon to-
day.
"Mormons' and -"Mormons' met
in those days OIL friendly terms. In
July, 1851. four federal officers arrived
In salt Lake city. President Young
J called special conference OF tho