Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-04-09
PATRIOTISM AND LOYALTY.

states and the American government
3n terms OF Eeryld patriotism and loyal
~. This is IN perfect harmony WITH
the spirit Of the Gospel. According 20
the revelations given TO the l'attet-day
Saints this continent was the cradle
OF the human race and OF civilization
IL Is made sacred by the appearance
here of our FIRST parents. and the
TRANSFORMATION of the events that result
I'd in a Paradise lost" and called
forth the first prophecies of a Para
disc rcgalned." This is land of Zion
II Is Joseph's land The government
OF this Republic was founded by the
Almighty for the fttrtherauCe of His
plans and purposes with the children
OF men. IN the various ages He has
had chosen nations to take the lead
In the progress of humanity toward the
complete restoration Of All things TO
more than pristine perfection and glo-
ry, and this position OF honor belongs
In o1r age 10 The United States II Is
a favored nation II is nation with
a mission. Such are the sentiments
entertained by the Latter-day Saints.
Such is the basis OF their loyalty.
It IL true that at Various periods in
the history OF the Church the Saints
have been sorely tried. But, no matter
what their conditions have been, they
have remembered that neither the Ma
tton nor the government Is responsible
for the eruelties OF mobs OF the per-
ndy OF officials They have suffered
wrongs. they have been turned away
from The seat OF the government when
they came as supplicants for justice
and mercy, but nothing has caused
them to abandon the firm belief tbat
the time would come when their rights
as American citizens would be fully
respected and recognized. In spite or
the cIaInor OF blgots and traitors
The loyal attitude OF the i-atter-day
Saints was We'll reflected In the dark
est hour OF their history, When the
Prophet and Patriarch had been slain
by assassins under circumstances that
made it highly probable that state au-
thorities were implicated In the crime
when the Saints were threatened with
expulsion and death In a desert land
when scores OF the Saints had been
runssacred and hundreds had died pt
want and exposure, they sent memoir
ial to the President of the United
states and every governor, except the
chief executive OF Missouri In this
remarkable document they proved their
innocence OF crime and protested their
LOYALTY, Is there amy other people In
this country that has stood the test
more gloriously than the Latter-day
saintss The memorial is we'll worth
quoting in part;
.'And we further testify that, as a
people. we are law abiding, peaceaDle
and without crime; and We challenge
the world to prove to the contrary,
In the name of Israol's God,
and by virtue OF multiplied ties OF coun-
try and kindred, We ask your friendly
lnterposltlon in our favor VIII II be
too much foT us to ask you 10 convene
special session OF Congress. and furnish
us an asylum. where we can enjoy our
rights and religion Nnmolested2 Or VIII
YOU, in a special message to that body
when convened. recommend a remon-
STRANGE against such unhallowed acts
of oppression and eXpatrtattOn as this
people have continued 10 receive from
the States OF Missouri and Illinois, or
Will you favor us by your personal in
tuence and by your Official rank7 Or
viii YOU express your views concerning
what is called the great Western Meas
ure' of colOnizing the 1-asser-day Saints
in oregon. the NORTHWESTERN Terri
tory, or some location remote from the
States, where the hand OF oppression
shall not crush every noble principle
and eNtingulsh every patriotic focling2
"And now. honored sir, having reach
ca out our tmploTing hands 10 you. with
deep solennity, VIC would importune
YOU as "A father, a friend, u patriot
and the head of mighty nation, by
the constitution OF American liberty, by
the blood Of oar fathers who have
fought, tor the Independence OF this re-
public, by the blood OF the martyrs
which has been shed IN our midst, by
she Mailings Of widows and orphans,
that YOU VIII lend your irnmc-
diate aid 40 quell the violence of mObO.
crrAcy. and exert your influence 70 es-
tablish as as people In our ciyIl and
religious rights"
The spirit OF patriotism that perrne-
ates this memorial at time when the
Latter-d9y Saints were brought to tho
very verge OF destructlon aus far AS
human eye could see, speaks volumes
for their attitude as citizens. Compare
this appeal 20 the Chief Executive with
the radical utteranccs OF anarchists or
even some labor leaders who believe
they have grievance. Only a short
time ago radical ugllators IN California
are said 20 have cursed the Flag In a
public meeting, The i-atJer-day Saints
clung to that emblem of freedom oven
when they We're exIled because they
knew that Il meant liberty 70 them and
all who are oppressed.
Some pesslntsts are predicting dIsas-
ter to tho United States, They are
afraid that trusts will forge the chains
OF slavery for Tho misses, or mat am
Erchy wlll render the GOV ernmontut
structure unsafe. Rut we have no such
fear As long as the country remains
true TO the principles embodied In the
Constitution, 1t win stand nrm and
grow and progress as il has done hlth-
eric And We furthermore believe that
he Almighty Slll raise up msn and
Numep-mshiy spirits and brilliant In.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO defend The mslltn.
,aoNh Of The country Whenever thoy are
pelhs asaalled This the Lord did ia me
hlsanlie struggle Tor The maintenance
rs tNs Constitution IN The recent case
psipf' me Senate ana the LORD WIN do
Va again. Whenever necessary rho
Il