The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-27
Spanish Fork. Utah. \

Spanish Fork. Utah. Nov. 25.
Editor Trbunc:--I Wish TO return
thanks to YOU for the publication of my
communication OF the 18th inst, have
no fault 10 find with the criticism OF The
Tribune. because from It's point OF View
II was 10 be expected There is one sen
tence. however, II YOU will allow mo, that
| must resist il is this. we believe
that if either Joseph r. Smith or Reed
Smoot should show Mr. SaXey their de-
sire that he should vote q certain way
he would vote that way, without the least
hesitation or dcmur,
When The Tribune was supporting the
Republican party, ] wrote an article 10
the Provo Enquirer, stating that 7 be
for the State that the leading authorities
OF the Mormon church should absolutely
keep cut Of politics believe that now.
l do not believe that becaus" ono may
hold Il leading ecclesiastical position. that
he would be authority on economies,
cvics and the many intricacles that arise
I'm the government OF nations Before |
would follow any one in matters Of this
character, would have to know that his
education, his methods Of thought. hts
experience, We're such that he could as
sumo the position OF leader. I do not
consider Joseph +. Smith to be such an
one. and | do not think be claims To be.
There arc leaders that | have followed.
On the repeal OF the Missouri compromise.
the Kansas -NcbrasSa bill, the Drcd Scott
decision. and squatter sovereignty. /
followed Lincoln. ] followed Blaine oil
reconstruction and reciprocity. | followed
MCk!niey's theory ot tariff, etc. My vote
will always be guided, as IL always has
been, ny the platform of principles that
my party may adopt. If my spiritual
or material salvation depended on my be-
ing the SlaVish dupc OF any one, l would
sumo the authority TO sonsign me TO the
doom OF the damned, L have never been
approached, and | hope / never shall be.
In the manner YOU have indicated.
Ii Won Will allow me. and | hope yplI
will, TO say that while I have been writ
ing | have been reminded that today Is
tho anniversary OF the charge UP Mis-
sonary Ridge. y short time before Pap"
Thomas and the army o: the Cumberland,
OF which some Kansas troops formed
part, had passed through the valley OF
the shadow OF death at Chickamauga
The Kansas regiment, rallyiug around the
Rock of Chicamausa,' lost 40 per cent
OF the number engaged. Retiring to Chat
tonooga, on the 25th OF November, 1863
the army Of the Cumberland. forming al
the base OF Missionary Ridge. and facing
determined foe. charged the ridge. went
20 the top, carried the works. drove out
the foe and there planted "Old Glory.
where it has remained floating in the
breeze 10 the present time.
AS an old Sansan, these 10 me are
sacred memories. This day is q holy
day. a, SANkiY.
Mr.. Saxey is certainly on solid
ground where he contends that ''the
leading authorities of the Mormon
church should absolutely keep out OF
politics, II they would do that, and
so in fact and not IN mere pretense,
keep their pledge; and if they would
square their conduct with the law 50
as TO be law-obeyers instead of law.
defiers; if they would keep their
pledges of honor instead of breaking
them; then there would soon be seen
the dawn of a brighter and happier day
for Utah,
But Mr.. Saxey is in deep error when
he imagines that Joseph L. Smith does