Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-25

They were at the jail They were fiery
anti "Mormons"
IL has generally been represented that
the Lattcr-day Saints were hated by
both political parties IN Illinois at that
time, because they held the balance OF
power and always voted for those
whom they considered good men, with
out regard TO the interests Of party.
BE this as Il may the true reason for
| the hatred was the same that prompt
ed the crucifNlon OF the Master. and
the sacrifice Of the Christians during
the reign OF Roman tyrants. There is
! war between the Kingdoms Of light and
! darkness. Joseph and Hyrum fell a.
| true heroes. in this war as millions
| had done before them. Illinois was at
the time infested with a lawless ele-
ment, ana the enemies OF the Church.
then as now, were shrewd enough 10
| charge the Latter-day Saints with the
crimes they themselves committed In
order 20 furnish an excuse for the mnr-
der BY which they hoped to make an
end to the Church. We quote Colonel
Darweli again:
'The Mormons were not IN II az
political party. but they held the bal
ance OF power, and OF course they Vot-
ed for those they considered the best
men. This caused great hostility to-
wards them on part u the antis They
wanted TO get rid OF the Mormons'
for political reasons, 40 they fed the
f. ceiling against them. There was a lot
OF stealing going on and Il was Charg-
cd to the Mormons. The women and
children We're taught 70 believe the
'Mornons' guilty. but I do not | know
that stealing was done by others. and
that the 'Mormons' as community
We're not chargeable with It, or course,
there may have been some 'MOrruons'
who stole, but II was mostly the rough
element. and the iire-eatlng anti Nor
mons accused the Mormons' SO as 70
get them driven out. Tho Jaw and
order men, as we called them wanted
the courts 10 settle all matters. and
were called Jack Mormons by the
ants"
II was neither politics nor disregard
or law on the part Of the Saints that
caused the prosecutions; It was the
natural ennity always existing be-
tween the forces OF God and the adj
versary. between "the Seed Of the
Woman" and the serpent
II has been said sometimes. that the
murder at Carthage was the most
fortunate thing for the work founded
by the martyrs; that II would. I'm all
probability, have dwindled away but
for that tragedy "The blood OF the
. I.a Ia
proved "the seed Of the Church"
There is some truth I'm this. but II |
should be remembered that the blood |
OF martyrs can only quicken and pro-
mote the growth Of a seed that has life |
In itself. In other words. martyrdom |
is no help to false cause. II helps |
the cause OF truth but not error TO |
any noticeable extent. The man or |
woman who dies for good and noble |
cause thereby strengthens II. but death |
for an unrighteous cause does not help |
II. When n man dies because Of the |
evil deeds or folhes he has committed |
those evil deeds and follies are not
glorihod by his blood Martyrdom in |
such a case is in vain.
History is FUN Of illustrations or this |
truth. But let us remember James J.
Strang. Strang was man with un-
usual gifts, He claimed 10 have been
appointed to succeed the Prophet lie
obtained some followers, built city,
and finally established a Kingdom"
He. too. was martyred. Thas -, he
was Killed. only twelve years after the
martyrdom at Carthage. June 10. 1856
He was killed by assassins-a mob |
consisting Of about so ruftians, and his |
followers suffered untold cruelties. But |
this martyrdom did not help the |
strangites. Their cause was not true |
And thus the very fact that the |
martyrdom at Carthage proved the |
beginning Of new era to the Church |
is indisputnble evidence Of the truth |
or the claims and doctrines for which |
Joseph and Hyrum, those Gods noble |
men, gave their lives.