The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-05
ASPERSING COURAGE.

AS was expected when j. +. Gibbs
wrote his letter to Tho Tribune in
which he announced his devotion to
the American party, an insidious attack
is being made upon him by the secret
service Of the Mormon church. He has
been charged with turning his back
upon the religion of his parents, with
having cast aspersion upon the priest
hood OF his church, with having vio-
lated the sacred covenant of secrecy
which he voiced in some sacred place.
1t is insinuated against him that he
was unworthy of membership in the
church and that he should have been
cast out from its communion long ago.
AS final, conclusive and utterly an
initiating argument against him the
inquiry is made: "Do you want to fol.
low an utterly unknown, unimportant
and useless creature like Gibbs or the
prophet of Almighty God7'
1t is noticeable that in these various
assaults upon Mr.. Gibbs there is no
successful attempt TO controvert any
one Of his statements of fact nor is
there any logical escape from his ar
gument and his terrific arraignment Of
the faIsifying, w-breaking priests of
the church, nor is there any real an
swer to his sublime appeal for honor
and integrity in political and commu-
nifty affairs. He stands beyond the
reach of his detractors, but tho coward
ly whisper goes out just the same. And
what does it amount to?
First, the charge that Mr.. Gibbs has
departed from the religion of his pa
rents-the Mormon faith-by joining
the American party, is a distinct adj.
mission that in the Mormon church
view politics and religion are one, with
the creed as the one. The very asser-
ton, authoritatively made, that man
cannot exercise his political freedom
without religious apostacy is proof of
the entire charge made against the
hierarchy. Furthermore, if it be rep
rehensible to depart from the faith of
ones parents, what shall be said Of
the founders and many of the shining
the churches in which their parents
held membership, but Immediately
turned on those churches and announced
them as being the machinery of the
devil-apostate from God and His
truth-and destined, with all the people
who belong TO them: TO meet the eter.
nal fate of the wicked1 II it were not
such n sorrowful evidence of imbe-
cility, it would be amusing to hear
some Of the Mormon priests advising
the young people that common decency
and loyalty require them to stand by
the religion of their parents-right or
wrong-when: in many instances, these
same priests have deserted the religion
have devoted their lives to abuse of the
churches and the faiths TO which their
parents had given years of devotion.
Mr.. Gibbs is not the originator Of the
aspersion upon the priesthood Of the
church. He has simply denounced the
chiefs Of the hierarchy with violation.
of the law and their covenant, and in
doing so he has but to quote the sworn
testimony of Joseph +. Smith and
others. Neither he nor any one else
fanny or aspersion TO the boasts and
confessions of the prophets, secrs, and
revelators themselves. Think Of this
kind of confession from a pretended
prophet, and then ask yourself, intelh
gent reader, If any one could asperse
such a creature!
In the Smoot investigation at Wash
ington, when Joseph f. Smith was on
the witness stand under oath, tho fol
lowing eolloquy occurred, as shown by
the official report:
Mr.. Tayler-But do you mean to say
you, at your pleasure. obey or odsobey
Joseph r Smith-Yes. sir.
MIR. Tayler-Communicat to you?
Joseph f. Smith, obey or disobey at
my VIII.
MIR. Tayler-Just as you please?
Joseph f. Smlth-Just as l please,
That is the nice, self sacrificing, gen
tie Christian whom Gibbs is charged
with aspersing.
As to the insinuation that Mr.. Gibbs
has betrayed condolences reposed in him,
there is not the slightest evidence of
the fact, so far as the public has
learned. What makes the priests so
fearful that some man from within
the church will tell what he knows?
Mr. Gibbs has too much self respect to
violate his own word of honor and
there can be no reflection upon him for
anything he has said ii the deeds and
words Of the priests have been so dark
and wicked that it Injuries them to have
the world know of their uttcrance and
action. surely the fault is not with
Mr.. Gibbs-for he has been protest
ant against evil done under religious