Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-11-09
THE MARTYRDOM.

After an interval OF few weeks She
nnti-"Mormon" organ has again re-
turned TO its old statement somewhat
revised. concerning the martyrdom at
Carthage.
The sheet. ever eager 10 make a
point aguinst the people IL hates. say
agely attacked Elder Orson whitney
and asserted that the Prophet aud
Patriarch were murdered by Latter-day
Saints with blackened faces. In sup
port OF this fslschood it pretended TO
quote prominent Mormon speakers
and writer's.
We pointed out that none OF these say
that the dastardly deed was committed
by Church members, but that apos-
tetes and false friends were RESPONSE
bic f1r it--a proposition that is not
disputed and not in controversy.
Apostates and false friends were very
largely responsible for that tragedy
Just az the Salt Lake Tribune was re-
sponsible for the murder OF Mormon"
missionaries In Tennessee. There il no
question about that
The sheet now pretends TO quote,
from the Contributor OF 1884, an article
in which the author tells Of secret meet
ings held in the spring Of 1874. at the
house OF william Law, Nauvoo. at
which the Prophet was accused OF all
sorts OF crimes. and a conspiracy was
matured TO effect his destruction But
there Is not one word in the entire ar
ticle that proves that these conspirators
constituted the mob that fired the fatal
shots at Carthage, as the Tribune as
serted. That charge stands unsup-
ported
Governor Ford, in his History of iii
nois. explains the situation at the time
Of the tragedy. He says
"A system OF excitement and agita-
ton was artfully planned and executed
with taste n consisted In spreading
reports and rumors Of the most fearful
character As example: on the morn
Ing before my arrival At Carthage.
was awakened at an early hour by the
frightful report, which was asserted
with confidence and apparent conster-
nation, that the Mormons had already
commenced the work Of burning. de-
stiuction, and murder; and that every
man capable OF bearing arms was
Instantly wanted al Cartilage. Tor tho
protection of the county We lost no
une IN starting, but when We arrived
az Carthage we could hear no moro con-
cerning THIS story. Again. During the
few days that tho militia were on-
campcd at Carthage. frequent apnli-
cations were made TO me 10 send n
force here and a force there AN about
inc country 10 prevent murders rob
berries ana larcenics. which IL was
said. were threatened BY 49, Nor
mons. No such forces were sent. nor
we're and such oficnses committed
ar that time, except the stealing of
some provisions. and there was nevor
the least proof that this was done bv ~
Mormon, Again: ON my late visit 10
Hancock county I was Informed nv
some OF their violent enemies. that the
larcenies n the MOrmone had become
unusually numerous and insuffera bio
They indeed admitted that but uttlr
had been done In this way in their
immediate vicinity. BUT they insisted
that sixteen horses had been stolen bv
the Aormons In one night. near Lima
m the County OF Adams Al The IA -
or the expedition, ! called al this same
town In Lima. and upon inquiry WAS
told that no horses had been stolen in
that ncIghborhood but that sixteen
n 49,. nag peen stolen ia one night in
being told M ne usrcoci ,,l loinaIl1.
changed the venue Ia another dissant
settlement 10 the northern edge of
NN''''a
Ina this statement Of Governor E,rd
we find am Indication 0f the uscar,or.
welded by the apostate Nauvoo Com.
sphators. and the other enemies of tbe
Prophet They are essentaly tbo
methods res0rtsd 10 by apostates of ou-
own day. and the san Lake Tribpno
lu this way they carried OUT their com
splracy ana became the murderers -,
me martyrs. even though others r,,ii. !,