The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-30
CAUSE OF THE AGITATION.


The Deseret News complains that an
effort is being made in Canada to
arouse public sentiment against the
Mormon church because of its attitude
toward secular affairs. The church or.
gan endeavors TO show that there is
no foundation in fact for the opposi-
ton which is shown by Christian min
listers. and rehearses its wellworn ex
prcssions concerning the industry and
peaceful disposition of Mormons gen
orally
1t is a notable truth that where
Mormons congregate in any considera
bic numbers spirit Of antagonism is
sooner or later provoked In the COM
munlty. OF no other Christian organi-
cation in the world is this true. They
all manage to live In peace with their
neighbors and with the governments
under which they happen TO have ex-
istence But they do not attempt TO
dominate politics; nor do they band
themselves together for the purpose
of forcing Objectionable practices upon
the community.
Probably the best explanation of the
cause for the opposition which Cana
dian Mormons arc meeting can be
found in the letter of John W. Tay-
lor, wherein he presents his view of
the Woodruff manifesto. The former
apostle declares that he is not offend
ing the law of the land when he prac-
tees polygamy outside of the jurisdic-
ton of this country. There are many
other Mormons who entertain similar
numbers in Canada. Some of these
have left their legal wives in Utah
and have gone to the Dominion to
marry into the plural state. The colo
MES of the church which have been
established In Canada and Mexico were
intended especially for this class. They
are moral outcasts from tho United
States, who are obliged to take up resi-
dence in a foreign land in order to. al
they say, olive their religion These
men are practically illustrating the die
tum of Apostle Smoot, when he said
that If the law Of the land prevented
him from living his religion he would
move to some other country where he
could practice it. That is what the
Canadian and Mexican colonizers have
done. Apostles Taylor and Cowley
have undoubtedly performed the plural
marriage ceremony for scores of these.
and very naturally the Christian peo-
pie who live in the vicinity of the Nor
mon settlements are becoming weary
of the growth of this class of lawless-
ness.
OF course, the Deseret News will DENY
that any such condition exists among
adherents of the Mormon church in the
colonies; but people who live here
abouts know OF too many cases of this
character, which have come under their
personal observation, to be deceived by
the protestations of the church organ.
They can point to individuals who have
been compelled to fee from this State
because Of their penchant for frequent
and numerous nuptials. And it is this
class of men who are responsible for
the agitation which has been provoked.
They are determined to be a law unto
themselves and 10 all others; and they
pursue precisely the same tactics in
Canada that their brethren do in Utah,
IN the effort to protect themselves in
their criminality. They must WELD po-
htlcal power so as to prevent prosecu-
tion for their polygamous practices.
They must Interfere with the affairs
of government that they may be able
to influence officials TO their own ad-
vantage. And it is because Of this in
trusion that the citizenship is finally
forced to actively oppose the church as
mere matter of self defense.
The Mormons would experience the
quletude which is vouchsafed TO other
religionlsts, if they subjected them
selves to the same rules of conduct
that govern other Christian people; but
their r-present determination to
PROSTATE the community TO their dom
ination, to break the law, and to idolize
lawlessness, is constantly getting them
into trouble. Before perfect peace can
come TO the saints they will be obliged
to realize that the rights of humanity
must be respected and that the law
must be obeyed.