Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-01-20

stand today precisely where they have
.'sgays stoodY'
answer: There have been no changes
..s..o."
Question: "If that Is so. why has the
Mormon church repudiated the princi-
pie Of polygamy as witnessed In the
manifesto of 1902"
Answer: "You are under misappre-
hension. The Mormon church has not
repudiatcd the principle of polygamy.
II never will repudiate polygamy. I'm
der the manifesto the Mormon church
merely set aside temporarily the prac-
dee Of plural marriage laid IL ON the
shelf for the time being-ln obedience
10 the law of the land"
Question: Then you mean to say as
q member of the apostolate that polyg-
amy Is just as much a cardinal prin-
ciple of Mormonism as II ever wasT
Answer: Yes, sir. And speak from
an experience of fifty years in the
church
Could any testimony be more con-
elusive that the Mormon church stands
today In NIL its principles just where 1t
stood In brigham Young's time? Now,
let us begin TO examine more In detail
what this leprous social organism Is
reaching out for In this twentieth cen
fury.
First, the Mormon church unblush-
ingly stands for graft" II represents
financial plumber. II is Boss Tweed
ism parading about the streets In the
mud despatched garments of ecclesi-
asticism. II Is the Tripoli pirates de-
handing blood immunity pay from all
those who come under Its churchly
shadow. II Is the holdup call of the
highwayman. demanding that the
stages passengers empty their pocket
books at It's affairs. II was conceived
with the idea OF financial graft, de-
veloped with the idea OF graft, and II Is
perpctuated with the idea of graft.
The members of the hierarchy are no
more philanthropists than the bucca-
neers Of old were philanthropists or
that Captain Kidd was philanthropist
when he raised his black flag over the
Adventurer on the Madagascar coast
In the latter part OF the seventeenth
century.
Brigham Young did not elect himself
as head of the Mormon church for the
benefit OF his followers any more than
Boss Tweed ruled New York for the
benefit OF its people. He was finan-
cial robber. pure and simple. He at
once commenced TO levy his taxes. This
tithing system grew and grew until out
of the Ubiquitous system Brigham Young
became one Of the wealthicst men In
America. The world marvels at the
few hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
which members Of the Ubiquitous po-
litical rings OF New York and Philadel-
phia We're able to steal Why. these
men were only babes In the art of finan-
cial graft compared 10 this monstrous
adventurer Some years ago. with the
governor OF what was then Utah terri
tory. was driven about Salt Lake
City. Almost everywhere could see
the results OF Brigham Young's finan-
cial depredations Two years after his
death the Salt Lake Tribune declared
that Young had secured from the tith-
Ing system OF Utah over $l3.OO0.O0
dered on his family; 100000 he left
TO be fought over by his heirs. have
been told that at his death he owned
one-tenth OF all the wealth OF Utah.
Can any man read an account of such
financial dealings and not declare that
he was the king OF grafters?
King of Grafters.
What the Mormon church stood for
In Its financial dealings fifty years ago
II stands for today. BY its tithing sys-
TEN the Mormon church has now an In
come of ut least $2.OO0.0OO. Where is
II going to? For what means Is all
this vast amount OF money being used?
For the spread OF the Mormon gospel?
Oh. yes. Some OF II IL spent In that
way. just as some of the money OF the
Infamous Louisiana lottery was used
for advertising the lottery tickets all
over the world but. without doubt. a
vast percentage of that income goes
into the pockets Of the Mormon leaders.
But" says some one. you should
not condemn the Mormon leaders like
that. They do not compel the men,
bers OF the church to stand and de
liver as hlghwayman gruHiy orders
his victims to do. These church men,
bers do not have 10 surrender their
tithes any more than the members OF
your church have to give into the col
lection plates unless they wish TO do
so. II the Mormon people give to Jo-
seph T. Smith they give OF their own
free Will" All. my friends. that Is one
OF the biggest decisions ever sent
broadcast over this land. The Mormon
victims do not give willingly. They
are compelled 10 give. whether they are
willing or not. by the thumbscrews OF
the boycott and financial ostracism. II
you want proof OF what | say read to-
day the marvellous Investigations OF
"Mormonlsm Unveiled" by Irving Say
ford. already quoted. Not only does he
cite facts seen with his own eyes. but
he corroborates with names and dates
this one fact-that Mormon eXcOm-