Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-22
MoBs NOT AMERICAN.

whenever reference is made to the
prosecutions by which the Lattcr-day
Saints were deprived OF their homes,
their property. and many uf them
even Of then lives. the leaders of the
forlorn anti-"Mormon' cause affect to
feel horror stricken at the alleged
comparison Of the American people
to prosecuting mob. This Is one OF
the tricks by which leaders Of nobs
hope TO Inspire prejudices against tho
Saints.
Let IL therefore be said and under
Nood. that the members of the
Church have never held the American
people, on the American government,
responsible for any OF the sufarings
the mobs have inflicted upon Them.
II Is true that the state of Missouri
might at the dime of the anarchy
that prevailed in parts of the state
have maintained the laws and extend
cd protection to the Saints against
the lawless mob; the State of Illinois
might, in the same manner. have pre-
vented the assassination OF Innocent
men at Carthage; but even In the
most trying hours of persecution, the
Saints looked with confidence 10 the
American people for final yindication.
and justice.
We do not admit that the ruifians
who drove the people from their
farms and homes in Missouri were
the American people, We do not adj
NIT that the murderers who stained
the soil of Illinois with blood were
the American people. We do not adj
nit that the prohlgntes who from time
To time have harrassed the Saints in
Utah and endeavored to array the Ma
ton against them. are the American
people We do not admit that they,
In any manner whatever. represent
the American people. rhe leaders OF
prosecutors have always been the re-
fuse of the nation. the scum of the
earth. They have been liars and
hypocrites proiligates thieves, and
many of them have been murderers-
Their attacks upon the "Mormons'
have been made bus for the purpose
their traitorous plans and schemes. to
rob their fellowmen. To represent
such as the american people. as the
mobocrats always do. is blaspheniy
The Latter-dny Saints never had |
any quarrel with the American peo- |
pie. They do maintain that 1t was the |
duty of the governors and officials OF |
the states in which the mobbings took
place, to protect the citizens in all |
their rights. They hoped that the |
general government would have of.
fered some redress for the wrongs in
fiicted upon them. when the states
failed to do ghair duty At the same
time they understand the political |
considerations that operated adversely. |
And though at times they felt as if |
the administration of national affairs |
had fallen into feeble, or incompetent.
hands, yet they never lost faith in the
government itsolf. They have ever |
remained loyal and true to the in
stituticns of .hsr country. while their
assailants have rallied against the
President and Congress and every
one who has refused IN bow down to |
the anti"Mormon" idol The views
and feelings of the Saints in regard
to the American Republic and gov
ernment were well expressed in an
early order issued by Daniel II. Wells.
then Lieutenant General to celebrate
the Nations natal day. Monday the
Fourth" the order said. will be the
elghty-third anniversary Of the birth
of American freedom. II is the duty
OF every American citizen to COM
memorate the great event; not in
boisterous revelry. but with hearts
full OF gratitude to Almighty God. tho
Great Father of our rights" tWhit-
ney's History, Vol. l, page 71s). That
does not sound like luminosity toward
the country. or the government.