The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-11
THEIR POLITICAL CHICANERY.

The Tribune is OF the opinion that
the witness brought in by the Deseret
News, namely, Something Of Men l
Have Known by Hon. Adlai L. Stew
enson, is an exceptionally truthful one.
We find another particular in which
Mr., Stevenson is corroborated by the
highest authority that can be brought
to Mormon attention-Joseph Smith,
the founder of the Mormon church. IL
is with respect to the reckless political
interference and domination that was
exercised at Nauvoo. This is what Mr..
Stevenson says (page 205):
The last hope of the Wings for Nor
mon support, was abandoned In lSaa. In
the district of which Hancock county was
q part, the opposing candidates for Con-
gress were Joseph P Hoge. Democrat,
and Cyrus Walker, Whg, both lawyers OF
distinction. The latter had been counsel
for Smith In the habeas corpus proceed
ings last mentioned. Grateful for the
services then rendered, Smith openly
espoused the candidacy OF Walker in the
pending contest.
That is true, because Joseph Smith
himself says so. In that celebrated
habeas corpus speech which he made at
Nauvoo on June 80, 1S43, Joseph
Smith declared, ''I have converted this
candidate for Congress pointing to
Cyrus Walker, Esq,l l. that the right Of
| habeas corpus is included in our char
| ter If he continues converted, L will
vote for him. ~ That may be found in
the Journal of Discourses, volume 2,
page 165,
| However, there was man named
Backinstos, an ambitious politician Of
that vicinity, who constructed roor
back. He went about saying that Gov
ernor Ford had given him assurances
that the Mormon people would be am
ply protected if they voted with the
Democrats. AS soon as report of this
came to Governor Ford IS ears he denied
| it as an unwarranted falsehood; but
the work Of the lie had already been
done, in that it had produced an en-
tire change of adherence in the Nor
mon leaders, AS result they dropped
Walker and flew TO the support Of
Hoge. A big meeting was held at Nau-
VOC, attended by several thousands Of
the saints. AT this meeting the change
of heart in the leaders was announced
to the people. OF this affair our his
torian says:
Hyrum Smith, patriarch and brother OF
the, prophet. appeared In this assembly
and there solemnly announced TO the
people, that. God had revealed to him
that the Mormons must support Mr..
| Hoge. William Law. another leader next
appeared and denied that the Lord had
made any such revelation He stated
that 10 his certain knowledge the prophet
Joseph was in favor OF Mr.. Walker and
that the prophet was more likely 10 know
the mind OF the Lord than the patriarch
Hyrum again repeated his revelation,
with a greater tone of authority. but the
i people remained In doubt until the next
day, Sunday. when the prophet Joseph
himself appeared before the assemblage
He there stated that he himself was In
favor OF Mr. Walker and intended to vote
for him. that he would not, IL he could
influence any man in giving his vote: that
he considered II "A mean business for any
should vote for; that he had heard his
brother Hyrum had received n revelation
from the Lord on the subject: but for his
own part. he did not much believe in
revelations on the subject OF elections
Brother Hyrum was, however, a man oi
truth: he had known him intimately ever
since he was n boy, and he had never
known him to tell a lie. II Brother Hy-
had no doubt he had. When the LORD
speaks let all the earth be silent.
That was rather cunning. 1t was SC
constructed by Joseph Smith that his
promised support of Cyrus Walker could
not be said 10 be withdrawn, yet il
was Il plain notice to the Mormon peo
pic that in this particular matter they