Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-26
TWO WEAPONS OF FALSEHOoD.

TWO WEAPONS OF FALSEH00D.
The Pioneer, published at Magrath,
Alberta, CANADA, has an excellent ar
ticle. with fine photograph Of the late
Elder Charles o, Card. giving partic-
ulars OF his life and death The his
torical portion OF II was taken from
the Alberta Star, and shows how highly
The deceased pioneer Of Alberta was es-
teemed by the people Of that region.
The Pioneer also copies from a CAL
gary paper called the Eye opener, an
editorial "Apent the Mormons," most Of
which We think worthy Of reproduction
in our columns. as follows.
ut Is a mistake for the Mormons
OF the great settlement 10 the south
Of MS to be constantly defending their
position as q sect. They need no de-
Tending either by themselves or any
one else. AZ an industrious. lav-abid-
Ing people, they stand very near the
top. The pecullaritles Of their belief
are no more curious or odd than some
OF our own. Polygamy IL non-exist-
ent; except. perhaps, among few Of
the old stagers who had a plurality OF
wives when the polygamy law came
Into force. and did not think Il fair TO
the ladies 10 discard them altogether
Their town Is Cardston. not Discards-
ton. There has not been q single
Instance Of a man wedding more than
one wife I'm this settlement since II
was founded. The Mormons are Roose-
veltian in their scorn Of race suicide
In this respect being more true TO ma
ture and "a their God than the Cen
lilies who decry them. Their industry
has made 2 garden on, ~ far.southern
Alberta. Crime Is almost unknown
and that new court house they are go
Ing 10 have at Cardston viii most like
" he used for dances. They are n
great people and those who stu per-
eist IN assooiating Mormonism with
polygamy are merely victims OF their
nwn ignorance and doors Of a grave
Injustice 10 a prosperous colony Of good
men and women
We regard the foregoing as apple
able TO conditions In Southern Idaho.
our friends there need not feel under
The necessity of noticing the vile at
tacks made upon them by the polit'
lcal defamers Of their religion and their
moral status. The defense Of the Al
heria "Mormons" by the Calgary pa
per FITS the case Of the Idaho Saints
This IL pretty well understood by the
great body Of their fellow-citizens 10
that State. but there are some people
no doubt, who are deceived as to their
true character by the infamous untruths
promulgated from the political stump
by the DuboIsites. who seek to obtain
political advantage by beratlng and II
possible DISTINGUISHING the Mormon"
people.
Coupled with the "polygamy" pre-
tense is the alarm raised about the
danger Of Mormon domination
through the alleged dlctation in po-
lltIcal matters, Of their Church leaders.
This string has been harped upon so
long that Notwithstanding II has been
proved utterly discordant with the
truth. It strikes a chord IN the minds
OF some uniformed individuals, and
they are led TO look upon their Nor
mon" neighbors With aversion. II not
with fear. n the constant din on this
subject was ignored by sensible peo'
nile. for il is without any foundation
IN fact. Il would soon die away or
n people affected by II would invesu-
gate fully. they would find It's utter
stupidity. or vinainy, or both, ana the
disturbance would ultimately cease.
The two weapons Of attack upon the
"Mornons" are old and dull-cdecd.
They are hrandished increasingly it Is
true. but they only glitter IN the sun
shine o. CLEAN Ia the dark. without
striking anything IN particular The
FIRST was Of some force before the
church adopted the rule against fur
ther plural marriages. hut since then
Il has only been beating away at the
air. The other is entirely without a.
feet. except 10 deceive That which 81
IS supposed TO aim at has no actual cx-
istence. II never did have IN the form
pretended by its assailants. Al the
present time Il is a matter OF mere &C.
ton.
Assuming that the leading authori-
ties Of the Church direct the rank
and fie." as their opponents please 70
call them, as 10 how they should vote
there appears to be some ground FOR
the attacks verbally made against the
minglIng Of religious authority and po-
litlcal action. But that assumption Is
altogether vain and hascess and un-
supported by anything in the nature %
proof. The argument Il that ~ an
Individual or individuals, by virtue Of
Ecclesiastical position presume 10 die
tate IN civil affairs, - IS 10 doml-
nate the minds and actions az citizens
m the exercise Of the elective fran
chlss. that power should be stricken
from the hands OF those prssily mas
tors. or the slaves who submit TO such
tyranny should be deprived q the
rights tina, belong TO free citizens
That n very spscious bat turns en-
tirsly upon The "lf' o. the argument