The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-19
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THE REIGN OF TERROR.

The abuse by the Mormon priests and
press of the Salt Lake Tribune, for the
free comment by this paper upon condi-
tions in this State, is nothing to the
abuse which a Mormon and his paper
must suffer from the same quarter If
he dare to utter any sentiment not Gu"
tircly in accord with the wish of the
hierarchs
Not long ago the Richtield (Sevier
County, Reaper commented with some
breadth upon the political situation
here, expressing the opinion that cccle-
siasts should refrain from political ac-
tivity. The Tribune rcpublished the
article as hopeful indication of prog
ress in the public sentiment of the COM
monwealth, But sad to relate, the hope
was shattered and the congratulation
was proved to be premature. The Logan
Journal viewed the Reaper s article in
the same light as The Tribune did, and
editorially endorsed the proposition; but
the Journal, like The Tribune, was too
early with it's happy pronouncement.
The Reaper in lengthy editorial ex-
plains to its readers that it has been
seriously criticized, that its subscribers
have visited the office and expressed
their displeasure, and that the Reaper
is accused Of fomenting discord among
the people Of Zion. There was nothing
in the original article of the Reaper
that justified the rcbuke from the local
Aa rol l,, ~
the Reaper in his subsequent explana-
ton:
The substance Of our remarks was that
there is bad condition OF affairs existing
In Utah. and we suggested a remedy
which we thought practical solution of
the yexlng problem. We declared that if
some remedy was not applied now this
condition of affairs would go on inden-
nitely.
Every honorable and intelligent man
in the State should have been willing
to endorse the Reaper s plea for an alb
stention from priestly interference in
political matters. But that paper re-
ceived its warning, and no doubt for
the immediate future will be compelled
to subdue its expressions TO accord with
the purpose OF the bogus prophets. If
the Reaper were 10 dare to maintain
the argument, not merely few sub
scribcrS would visit the Office and re-
monstrate, but an edict of boycott
would 60 forth against the sheet
The Tribune is in receipt of iufor-
nation from the former publisher of n
country paper in this State who says;
When started TO comment on the sit
uation here with some freedom | was
warned by stockholders In the little con-
Germ TO cease or they would withdraw
their support. The little local banker told
me that he had no use for an anti Nor
mon paper and would not advance moneys
TO enable me 10 meet my bills, although
Important advertisers and leading sub-
scribers stated to me that II ] had any
opinions on the improDriety Of the run
ming Of politics by the church must
keep them 10 myself or they would not
support the paper another day. And all
! had done was to urge for the peace and
prosperity of Utah and for the benefit OF
the church Itself that the prominent men
among the brethren should not interfere
In political affairs, That was the sum
total OF my offending. And for this I
ruin OF my business. l sold out to other
people and vacated the field because II
was hopeless for me TO try TO run an
honest and straightforward paper In that
bred and the brethren said that IL / did
not care TO render obedience without
question l was worse than a Gentle
The Richtield Reaper and every other
paper published in Mormon COM
munity is compelled to support the
priests in their tyranny, to remain
silent, or to suffer the boycott. No
wonder the Mormon masses are IN the
shackles Of superstition. The individual
who has the courage to resist must re-
alize that he is invoking business as
sassination, social ostracism, and de
cree for his eternal damnation.