Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-07
WHAT IT Is ABOUT.

The anti Mormon organ on Satur-
day. go an attempt TO defend its ln-
,essant assaults upon the character OF
Tho founders OF the church and the
Rioneers of Utah. sprung the fol-
lowing
"But here. as soon as any proposition
h. made To- Do the FIRST settlers honor
AZ pioneers the demand is made mat
they must bee hou0red also as speclal
mon OF God and their set-assu mea
religious authority conceded. Ana pc
cause non M1rmons refuse 20 DO THIS
they are denounced by the church or
gan as fools and knaves
We notice this. not because 81 any
desire 10 quarrel with O sheet that has
regard for neither truth nor reason
but because % shows the necessity
under which that sheet is TO keep IFS
dunes mislnformcd an the time, In or
der 10 have a following. and because
we believe there must be some among
the Tribune readers who are looking
for information instead Of misrepresen-
tatlon.
Nobody demands that the Pioneers
Of Utah "bc honored as special men OF
God and their sclf-assumed religious
authority conceded" The Latter-day
saints themselves believe that the
founders Of the Church were inspired
men. that they were prophets; and
mat Brigham Young. and others were
instruments In the hands N the Al
mighty 10 lay the foundations Of this
state, but although this IL their belief.
for the truth Of which they are willing
20 Law down their lives they do not
demand Of anybody else 10 accept II.
They NAV testify 10 that belief where
ever they have an opportunity to do
so. and TO anyone who will listen To
them. but they neither demand ac-
ceptance OF their testimony nor DO
they denounce anybody for not ac-
cepting their belief The statement by
the paper quoted is entirely without
foundation in fact
As American citizens and citizens
of Utah they do demand that the
great pioneers and empire builders be
honored as such. that they be treated
with the same consideration az the hrst
builders Of other states, and OF this
Repubnc. That they were human Is
conceded Il was never denied But so
we're the Pilgrim fathers, Washington
Franklin and the host Of patriots Of
American history. But like these, they
we're also special instruments Of
Providence In the work they did Tor
the development Of this Republic, In
their day and generation. and We claim
for them the same consideration as we
claim for, and accord TO, other Ameri-
can patriots,
II they had their frailties and
pecuiiarities: IL. from the view point
~ the non "Mormons" they were as
had as the first settlers Of the Republic
who could swear like an angel or
rejoice in the contemplation OF the
eternal damnation OF infants; or burn
witches, or torture Quakers we never
theless claim that the defamation OF
their character that has become a daily
practice in Utah is Infamous, and that
il Is applauded only by fools and
lgnaves. ,--.,..,
posltlon Of the founders Of Utah, we
have no demand 10 make upon any
body. Everyone, we hold. has a per-
feet right 10 his own belief. or un-
belief But We do contend that the
Iatter-day Saints have the same right
10 believe that Joseph Smith was a
prophct OF God. as Mohammcdans I'm
Utah. II there are any, have TO be
ueve that Mohammed was a prophet,
and that the sultan Of Turkey is his
successor. or that the Catholics have
TO believe that the pope In Rome Is the
vicegerent OF Christ and the success
sor Of Petcr Under the American
Tag. we maintain, it is no crime 20
believe in prophets, apostles, seers and
revelators. That American citizens
accede this right, and leave as alone as
long as we do not transgrcss the laws
Of the land. that is all we demand
The Tribune has absolutely no con
Germ for morality. II il had. It would
demand OF the city authorities the
closing Of the "stockadc" II has no
regard for American principles Of gov
eminent n il had, Il would use It's
AMNMFN'f tut kNANN AfAlNWHAiI NAHfffAAh
citizens ON the basis NJ equal rights
and privileges It's only aim Is the
capture OF offices FOR the beneht Of its
own little circle. By misrcprcsenta-
lions and playing upon the prejudiccs
of anti" Mormons' 10 hopes 90 keep the
party together that serves il as tool
for the capture OF offices That is the
entire secret of it's un-Amcrirau course.
The selhshnoss of IL makes IL am the
more contemplate n moral issues
We're involved 10 its campaign II IL
were lighting for the maintenance M
law and the purity OF the nome. or Tor
any moral issue az su we would gladly
applaud, and even help. But IL is not
It's fight IS as selfish as il is brutal.
it Is Tor tho control OF public funds
and offices, and nothing else
REVIVAL or HOME MINISTRY