Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-29
AS TO LOYALTY.


purpose of contradicting facts ana
twisting history out of shape, and DO
ing sundry similar feats, In the inter-
est OF it's lord and master. Hence II
hastened to contradict, to the best OF
its ability. the historical quotations re-
Gently presented In an address by Elder
Ben e. Rich, published in an Atlanta
paper The contradiction Is this time
spread over three columns. That In
dicates the serious nature of the wound
inflicted by the word of truth.
1t is with considerable satisfaction
that we notice the utter failure of the
professional denier Of facts to prove
the disloyalty of the Latter-day Saints,
Even Its friends must be struck with
the weakness of the attempt.
| The denial embodies two PROPOSE
| tons. First, that the teachings of the
Latter-day Saints concerning the divine
| origin of our government institutions
were prompted by their hope to main
| tain the institution of plural marriage;
and. second, that the Saints have not
obeyed the laws but proved their dis
| loyalty In deeds.
As to the first of these propositions
| 1t Is only necessary 10 say that 1t Is a
falsehood pure and simple. 1t has no
more force In an argument than any
OF the other wilful SANDERS originated
In the Tribune office. The leaders OF
the Church preached loyalty to the gov
eminent as a Christian duty, long be-
| fore the revelation on the marriage
covenants was given. They continue
the teachings long after the practice
of plural marriage has been discontln-
ued by the Church.
The following testimony by the late
President George @. Cannon represents
the Mormon" sentiment as it is and
always has been. 1t should be satisfac-
tory even to the Tribune;
Early in my life l was taught that
| the founders of our government were
raised up by the Almighty to perform
the work which they accomplished. l
was taught to look upon the experience
which the colonies underwent in sut-
| fering Of wrongs, In the endurance of
oppression, in the struggles for religious
and political liberty. as preparatory
| AIAlnlltE
tend for and achieve independence. /
| was taught that firmness. valor and UNI
| daunted cheerfulness, hope and conf
| dence of Washington, and the heroic
men who shared with him the perils or
| the battle-fields of the Revolution, the
wisdom and skill and moral courage In
council of the Adamses Franklin, JEFF
| ferson and Madison, and the mighty
patriots. their compeers, were due to
| the direct blessing and inspiration OF
| heaven bestowed upon them. l was
| taught to view the Declaration of INDIE
pendence and the Constitution OF the
| United States as instruments designed
by the Almighty for the establishment
ana protection upon this land of the
most perfect and happy liberty TO which
mankind could attain In this mortal
existence. In stating in this manner
that which | was taught, / but state
| that which oil OF my religionlsts who
| have been brought up in our faith
have been taught. l only state, also,
that which Is a cherished belief with
them and myself to this day.
President Cannon states correctly the
belief of the Latter-day Saints on
this question. and shows that they have
proved their sincerity by teaching their
children loyalty as a duty TO God. Can
loyalty be established on any sounder
and frmer basis than that2
Az TO the other proposition, that the
Saints opposed legislation against
polygamN what are The facts9
The "Mormons" were thoroughly
convinced that such legislation was
unconstitutional. And they were so
advised by able lawyers. not only in
Utah but IN the cast They knew that
the prosecutions for polygamy were, in
the flrst instance, inspired by the same
spirit that actuated the mobs IA Mis-
souri, ana Illinois, Leading anti-"Mor-
mons at that time, hoping that the
Saints would never abandon polygamy.
saw In such legislation means Of ut
terly crushing tho Church and proflting
! by the wreck. That was clear to the
| "Mormons.' "Recede from polygamyi"
was ,he hypocrltlCal shout Of those who
were bitterly disappointed when the
! Church did recede, The "Mormons"
were convinced that the charge Of
polygamy would be followed quickly
| by some other charge Hence their
| reluctance 10 retreat. They would
have acted differently had they been
confronted by honest and honorable