The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-11
THE CASE is CLEAR.

count OF the organization OF the secret
society which planned the assassina-
tion of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith.
This account was ono recitcd by a Nor
mon bishop, recorded by Mormon elder
and published in Mormon periodical.
1t plainly set forth the undcniablc
truth that Joseph Smith and Hyrum
Smith were murdered by their own
Mormon brethren. But the Dcscrct
News sees ct TO deny the truths con
tanned in that recital. even though 1T
comes from source to which, ordinar.
lily. that paper would appeal for yeri-
dcation of any proposition which it had
set up or endcavorcd TO maintain. As
against the testimony of its own breth-
rem and co-workcrs, the Dcscrct News
/ produces the comment of Governor Ford
upon tho prcliIniuarics TO the wicked
assassination of the Smiths
But the News is absolutely scnllc.
! After repeating what Governor Ford
had TO say in the matter, it calmly
and most iunoceutly observes that
" some of the names of The Nsuyo con-
spirators arc found in the very article
quoted by Tho Tribune Certainly;
and all Of those names were of men
who were members of the Mormon
church II is true that ono is referred
| to as Justice of the peace (mcau-
/ ing Francis Higbcc); but he was also
high priest of the Mormon church
/ in good standing. lie was, we believe,
IN apostle.
Nevertheless. Let MS compare accounts
with the News:
Governor Ford (vhom the church or
gan quotes with fcrvcnt approyaD says
that "a system of excitement and agi-
tatiou was ARTFULBY PLANNED
/ AND EXECUTED WITH TASTE. -
( Bishop Dcusou l.. Harris says that
Early in the spring Of 1871 very
strong and bitter feeling was aroused
brethren in and around Nauvoo; aud
some who held high positions in the
church and were supposed to be his best
! friends. turned against him and sought
( 10 do him injury. in which il is
easily seen that tho condition described
by Governor Ford is said by Bishop
| Harris TO have been produced by Nor.
mons.
The News saws that ''In this state
mcnt of Governor Ford VIC find an
indication of the weapons welded by
the apostatc Nauvoo couspirators, aud
the other enemies of the prophet
Bishop Harris confirms this state
mcnt and also fixes the responsibility
for the tactics employed In describ.
ing the second meeting Of the secretly
copspiring Mormon high priests, he
says: '.This time the conspirators were
still moro vehement in their abusive
remarks about Joseph. Now crimes that
he had committed had been discov-
cred. and the old ones were much mag
nfcd. Their acusations were not only
against him. but his brother Hyrum and
other prominent men in Nauvoo There
seemed 10 be no end TO the wickedness
OF which these good men were accused.
as most Of the time until n late hour
was occupied by different ones in de.
uouncinC Joseph and his friends of tho
most heipous crimes All done in that
secret meeting of the coDspiriDg Nor
mon high priests. as may be readily
seen.
The News saws that "'Thc leading
members in the conspiracy were VIII.
lam and Wilson Law. Austin A. Cowlcs
Francis and Cbauncev Higbcc, Robert
Foster aud his brother, two Hicks
brothers. and two merchants. Finchc
aud Rollioson.
Bishop Harris declares that TO bc
true. and Whitucy's History OF Utah
tvoIunc J. page 222) adds that ''Ir
secret sympathy with these men were
Sidney Riedou. William Marks and Aus
lin 4. CowlcS, - Aud reviewing the list ol
names VIC find that William Law wa:
Joseph Smith 5 first counselor, Franci.
Higbce was an apostle. Austin. y
: CowIcs was member of the high com
ell. and William Marks was president
of that same high council, and, in fact
president of the Nauvoo stake. Every
BODY knows that Sidney Rigdon ha(
, been Joscph's counselor and for years
the brains of the church.
Now. as 10 inc intent of that con
spiracv among the Mormon highe
priesthood. we shall again go to Whit
p news History of Utah, which (volum
f. |, page 222) says. "Charles Foster |;
~ Mormon elderI temporarily friendly
; disclosed 10 Joseph a plot Of the seced
,. ors 10 murder him while at Carthage.
n And this thing they, the Mormon higI
: priests, did, just as the history shows
The News SAYS. "'Now. what Tb
Tribune has to prove is that these. o
\ any Of these. were members of the nun
> dcrous Carthage mob. For that, how
ever. there is. as far as we know, L
. historic evidence.
: That is a complete backdovn upo
the proposition. If the News knew tina
: a murderer had conspired 10 commit
y. murder, would il require The Tribun
;. to prove that the crime was not CON
;, mitied by an innocent babe in tb
, cradle! As an Instance Of the utte