The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-03
AN INTERESTING WITNESS.


| tremely interesting witness, since he
has been introduced by the Deseret
News. And the farther we proceed
in his recital, the more we arc con
yinced that The Tribune has been right
in its contention concerning the Nor
mon troubles at Nauvoo.
In his article which appeared III
tho Atlantic Monthly for December,
1869. Mr.. Hay devotes great deal of
attention to the gradual introduction
of polygamy into the practices Of the
inner circle Of the Mormon hierarchy
at Nauvoo; and concerning this doc
trine - be continues TO say:
In the very year 1914 the attempt was
made TO ingraft this aoomination upon
the creed OF the church. The affidavits
OF William Law and his wife. and OF
Austin Cowles. published in the EXposl-
tor. establish the fact that Hiram Smith
had read TO them a pretended revels-
tion OF the dogma OF "a plurality OF
sons TO eternal life against ali sin. save
that OF shedding innocent blood"-lnno-
cent blood meaning the blood Of Nor
mons. In the case of Sister Law. the
revelation was strengthened by assur-
anccs OF damnation to any woman who
objected TO her husbands embracing tho
new doctrine.
II is true that Joseph Smith after the
publics ton Of these affidavits took fright
At the storm OF disgust they produced. and
desisted from tho attempt to inculcate the
new doctrine. But he never distinctly de-
MED the authenticity Of the rcyela tion.
On the contrary: during one of those
he stated squarely Brother Hiram is a
prophet of the Lord: and when the Lord
speaks let the earth trcmble." In all
Smiths curious history there is no fact
more clearly established than this effort
to legalize and consecrate his immoral
l!Is IT E9RMEp o THE First LINK I5 or OF
WH1cH WiTHIN FEW DAYS
DRAGGED HIM TO HIS DOOM.
It was clear that crisis had arisen in
he might well have hesitated as 10 the
course most expedient 10 pursue. To dis
regard this sudden and vigorous attack
may smile at the lame grammar and tur.
gid rhetoric OF the Expositor, but 1t
was better paper than Smiths organ
borgne est rol. a little brains went far
| ;her In Nauvoo than anywhere else on
rarth Contemplate as the ENpositor
sort to violence might lead In bloody re-
prisals. But his rowdy instincts decided
the question He procured from his cor
rupt and servile municipal court an order
declaring the new journal public nuis-
ance A party of his myrmidons de-
stroyed the press and pied the offending
THIS ACT WAS SMITHS DEATH
WARRANT. Thereafter the mob could
say TO the prophet. the villainy YOU teach
Smiths official paper, the Neighbor,
gave a full account OF the proceedings
| The article ends In these words. which
| tests forever made by shareholders. and
| other enemies of the human race, against
| the reprisals OF law and justice; Ihey
want nothing moro than to be let alone;
! "And In the name OF freemcn. and In the
| name of God. we heseech all men who
have the spirit Of honor in them to cease
| from prosecuting us collectively or indi.
vidually. Let us enjoy our religion rights
| and peace. Hike the rest OF mankind. why
| start presses TO destroy rights and privi-
| ieges. and bring upon us mons 10 plundcr
| and murder We ask no more than what
belongs to us-the rights OF Americans.
Herein is portrayed the elimination
Of the disruption that had been growing
more intense within the church. and
which finally brought about the dread
full tragedy at Carthage. Gross immor-
atty, political perfdy, municipal and
legal tyrannies. connlvance with law
lessDess, cunning evasions OF consc-
quences Of lawbreakipg and the imposl'
tiou OF iujustices, and numerous other
vicious deviltries, all combined in to-
| tdl HFcOuUl Ol WIDuGaoiue 'he'' WOO ohi
hcient TO cause malcontents within the
Mormon church to league themselves
with opponents on the outside The dis
coutentcd membership of the church
were goaded to desperation that could
no longer be restrained. Joseph had
| inculcated fanaticisin as a support to
his astonishing claims. The fanatieism
that was thus cultivated in his own be
half and interest now was turned to
account against him-the men who had
almost recklessly followed his leading
now became equally reckless in proceed
ing against him. The weapon which in
them he had fashioned for the purpose
Of maintaining his arrogant assumption
of all the powers and authorities that
could be conferred upon man by men
and the gods, was turned against his
own life. The practical savaCery that