The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-18
The Establishment of an Inde-
pendent Kingdom by Brig
ham Young.
THE MORMON BATTALION
NOT OPPRESSION, BUT HELP
Church Organs Historical Re-
view Is Badly Punctured
by Mr.. A. 7. Rankin.

| Editor Tribune:-An editorial I'm tho
Deseret Semi Weekly News, February IL.
1906, entitled "A Few Leaves Of History"
| aWakens a spirit of inquiry Plucking
| the first leaf and putting IL beside pres
| cnt oracles or orators one ls yellow and
| the other green. Says the News
| Brigham Young 1t has been alleged, aimed
| ut the establishment OF an Independent king
| that Gov. Ford suggested this plan TO Brig
ham Young. after the murder of the prophet
and patriarch Under date OF April 8, lSij, no
| advised the Saints to 40 to California, and
| added:
| why should 1t not bo pretty operation
| for your people to out there, take posses
| sion OF and conquer portion OF tho vacant
| country and establish IN Independent gov
| crnment OF your own subject only TO tho
| laws OF nntonE7
That Governor with tho heart OF a coward
| suggested that the Saints sneak out OF the
United States. like thieves in the night. and
| steal a portion OF Mexico. and hold It against
all comcrs But the Saints were no traitors.
| They were loyal citizens. They refused 10 80
| into tho trap
| How does a oath of July oratIon by the
| side OF this appear Brigham planted
| tho American nag on Mexican soil when
| the stars and stripes were unfurled on
Ensign peak"
Query LIST Did he steal n portion of
Mexico and hold 1t against all comers?'
Query End Is the fear OF q trap hcredi-
tary In the line of presidents OF the church
OF Jesus Christ Of L0tter-day Saints?
They refused TO go into the trap under
their greatest leader. Brigham Young.
Their present leader testified under oath
In fear OF n trap when before the Senate
committee and talked the platform
from which he speaks by inspiration. so
differently that u man TO whom God gave
some brains, and to whom the United
States gave an education, could not recon
cllc the two. Columns OF earnest effort
failed him.
The Mormon Battalion.
Then comes the admitted petition 10
President Polk, asking for assistance"
and Col. Knno testlnes to the loyalty OF
the Saints. In a letter OF Introduction he
says OF Elder Little:
This gentleman visits Washington. with
no other object than the laudoDlc one OF de-
string aid OF Government for his people, who,
forced by persecution to found new Com
monwcalth in the Sacramento valley, still re-
tain American hearts and would not willing
~ sell Themselves to the foreigner, or forget
the old Commonwealth they leave behind"
This testimony was fully justified. When
the Mormon Battalion" was being
formed-au evidence OF patriotism seldom
III ever. equnllcd in history-PTesdent
Brigham Young said In public address:
Il want TO say TO every man. the Consttu-
ton OF the United States as framed BY our
fathers was dictated was revealed put
into their hearts by the Almighty who sits
cnthroncd In the midst OF tho heavens. al
though unknown 10 them. II was dictated by
the revelations OF Jesus Christ. and tell
you. In the name OF Jesus Christ, IL is az
good ever l could ask Tor. say unto
the United States in the Constitution. but
/ am ready to make honorable
Query 3rd. In the light OF these things,
what becomes Of that old gag-The United
States prosecuting us by compelling US
To furnish a battalion" for the Mexican
war. 1t is time to quit calling kind
ness Il curse.
Query 4th. II they had taken Col. Kane's
advice and founded the commonwealth In
the Sacramento valley. would that have
"A MgNlCn''' Z
not. what Is the difference between Col.
kane's advice and the suggestion OF Gov.
Ford2
Take another leaf as late as 1851. -Four
Federal officers arrived in Salt Lake
city" Justice Brocchus took oc-
casion TO Insult the people. and especially
the ladies'" Some time later these OFF,
GERS left Utah. carrying with them $4,000
appropriated by Congress for expenses OF
the Legislature, and In a report to the
Government they stated that "polygamy
nonopolized all the women. which made
1t very inconvenient for the federal on
GERS to reside there History OF Salt
Lake by Edward W. Tuliidge. page 80
Query 9th. Not knowing what the Jus
tice said. Is ii probable men and women
from the States would have been Offend
ed? And is IT probable such men would
have made such report to such Gov.
crnment? Such report / think, would
have, and | know should have. blasted
all the political prospects of any four
men. j have read Tullidges History OF
Salt Lake. and | take that statement
with grain OF salt
A Disloyal Leaf.
Among these leaves of history are some
grumbling OF the editors heart. like
spears OF stripped grass among forest !
leaves Here is one.
The anti "Mormons'' at that time set up the
cry that the Mormon intention to join
the enemy against the United States. This
Il cruel charge, after they had expelled
the Saints from the confines Of civilization.
hoping that they would perish In the desert
Query 6th- Can a man write thus about |
the people OF these United States and be |
loyal to n Government by the people?
What kind of protection could be hoped |
for from people, dcbaSed and hard !
cncd that they would drive of n great |
company OF men, women and children
hoping that they would perish in the |
desert"
Shame on the man who could write thus |
about the American people All the laws |
customs and facts are against II. And as |
FOR the Mormon people uniting with Mcxi- |
co, the United States would not have |
cared any more than the OK did about the |
fly lighting on It's horn except the sorrow |
that comes from nfilcting summary pun
ishment upon the foolhardy.
Traitorous Acts.
Here is another editorial givc-aways
In tho awful strain upon tho people here
and moro especially upon tho leaders. when
fhrINt .1.tYI