The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-08
THOSE IMPIoUs SLURS.

The Tribune issues TO Joseph +.
Smith Oh its front page this day a
challenge in behalf Of tho American
people whom he has charged with cast
ing ''impious smrs at him and his
people. The following was his lam
guage:
do not. care and don want to pay any
heed 10 the ridiculous nonsense aud the
foolish twsddle, and to tho impious slurs
that are being cast az ue and my people. by
imPious hearts aud wicked minds. Let God
deal with them seemotb him good. Don {
you allow yourselves 10 be troubled over
these things In the least
The American people have right to
know something of the black ingrati-
tude and something of the braZen
effrontcry OF this man Smith, and The
Tribune desires to give TO Smith q
hint of what il purposes TO make as
its case against him before the Ma
tion if he shall accept the challenge.
10 December, 1891, the first presi.
depcy and quorum Of the twelve aPos.
jies of the Mormon church OF which
Joseph E. Smitb was one and speaking
IN behalf OF the whole of the Mormon
people, besought the President Of the
United States Of America for amnesty
and uttered this humble prayer: "As
shepherds of a. patient aud suffering
people we ask amnesty for them aud
pledge our faith aud honor for their
future, President Joseph I, Smith
after be mas made brazen boast of mis-
violation OF shat faith aud honor which
he pledged, stands in his Tabernacle
and calls American criticism of ms
crimes ridiculous nonsense aud
foolish twsdde' aud ''impious
slursD
When the shepherds Of patient aud
suffering people asked for amnesty, the
great President of the United States,
Benjamin Harrison, replied TO them in
these moving terms: Now. therefore,
l. Benjamin Harrison. President Of the
Uuited States, by virtue Of the power
in me vested, do hereby declare and
grant full amnesty and pardon TO all
persons liable TO the penalties of said
act by reason Of UNLAWFUL CO.
HABlTATION II under the color OF poly.
gamous or plural marriage, who have,
since November !, 1890. abstaiped from
such UNLAWFUL COHABlTATION;
but upon The express condition that
they shall in the future faithfully obey
the laws OF the United States heroin.
before named, aud not otherwise.
Those who shall fail 30 avail them
selves of the cicmency hereby offered
VIII be vigorously prosecuted. -
President Joseph f. Smith said to
all the American people on Friday
last: ''I do not care and don { want
to heed any criticism for my violation
of ny pledge 20 the country This
prophet thinks it is foolish twaddleN
for the Nation to demaud of him that
he keep his faith He calls it an "'im,
pious slur' upon himself that the at
teution of the Mormon people shall be
brought TO his insolent and outrageous
attitude ss their leader
On September %. 1890, President
Wilford Woodruff issued the mani.
festo prohibiting polygamy. On Ooto-
Der 10 and 20, 1891, Joseph T. Smith
testified before the master in chancery,
his testimony being az 10 his iuterpre-
tation of the manifesto. When asked if
be construed that document to prohibit
unlawful cohabitatiop, Joseph T. Smith
81 don { sec how the effect
Of it can be otherwise
Is IT an impious slur 10 call The at.
tention of Joseph +. Smith aud the
Mormon people TO that statement
At Washington, in Morch, 1904,
Senator Bailey Gin the smoot iuvesti-
gaticul asked Joseph r. Smith:
. Then, as ! understand YOU, both
plural marriage and unlawful cohabi.
tation are forbidden by the statutes
of Utah and by the revelation OF God.
Is that true! And Joseph F. Smith
answered; THAT is the spirit ot il.
sir.
Is 1t wicked TO call the attention
of Joseph T. Smith and the Mormon
people to this contession2
Joseph F. Smith would have The
Mormon people believe, as usual. that
all is we'll III Zion, urging them
to defend him and protect him from
the consequences Of his crimes by tell.
ing them 10 not ''be troubled over
these things in the least
Let God deal with them as seem
eth him good. God and the United
States will take care of Joseph i.
Smith 6 case-aud then, as before, he
will cringe and vail and supplicate
for mercy.