The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-25
WHY NOT RECIPRooATE?

There has been good deal of obJes-
tion made here to the exhibition of
moving pictures, films, and various al
legged Objectionable features IN moving
picture shows that were supposed TO
be derogatory to Utah, insulting to its
present inhabitants, and unfavorable to
The high esteem that Utah is entitled
to have in the minds of the people Of
the United States 1t Is true that
probably these objections viii simply
add 10 the public curiosity and eager
ness to sec the pictures; still, the spirit
that offers the objections doubtless has
its object in protecting the fair fame
of the State.
But. what of the other side Of the
question? Why should Utah persist Ill
exhibiting pictures and encouraging lee.
lures that are calculated to inhame the
minds Of the people against the citizens
OF the United States at large, and to
perpetuate malignities Of feeling that
belong even more in the past than the
films and moving pictures objected TO,
such as the Mountain Meadows massa-
ere. and other horrors? On this point
we print the following letter from an
old Utah resident, man of truth, tidcl-
ity to principle. and Of excellent char"
acter. He writes as follows:
Spanish Fork. Feb. 81.
Editor Tribune-A few days ago /
called into a neishbor's house. and was
shown an editorial In the Deserct News,
I'm which the writer denounces the acts
Of parties In New York -Sy CITY, for show-
clarcd the representing Of these pictures
10 be a malignant and unjust attack on
the Mormon people. While the writer did
not take the trouble to inform the read
ers Of the News what those pictures rep
resented, 4, is presumable they were
Shown to represent the Mountain
It an outrage against the people Of this
State 10 put such pictures on films and
show them. at this late date. as being
acts OF which the Mormon people. as a
majority of the Mormon people knew 1T
tie nothing OF the real facts In regard
10 that horrible murder for number
Of years after II happened. We were told
that the Indians did il. When the real
truth was made known. the masses OF
the Mormon community were perfectly
hoTrifle6 when they learned that Mormon
white men took lead i'll that bloody mas
sacre.
Then another thing wish to mention,
Since the publishing Of that editorial in
in this city selling pictures representing
the "Martyrdom OF Joseph and Ilyrum
Smith In Carthage Jail" also the driving
Of the Saints out Of Missouri and Illinois.
accompanying the showing Of those pic
lures with a lecture explaining them in
detail. For two nights he exhibited those
pictures In the ward meeting houses.
I maintain that the 'Haun's Mill Mas
sacre" and the "Nartyrdorn OF Our
Prophet and Patriarch should be rele-
gated to the past: letting the dead past
bury its dead" n IT is wrong TO repre-
sent acts Of violence committed by few
of the Mormon people against Gentiles.
so IT is also wrong TO blame the whole
Of the people of Missouri and Illinois for
what only a few OF them were guilty Of
G. A. HICKS
Now. how about it? If there is to
be wiping out Of old scores, and if
the exhibit Of shameful episodes Of the
past in Utah sre to be suppressed, why
not suppress here at home these old
exhibits of anilnosities, hatreds. and
contentious that belong in the remote
past. and that, as a matter Of fact, are
gross perversions of fact in most cases,
and in every case are calculated to stir
mp rancor, hatred and anger against
the people of the United Statesf
Let US be fair in I'll this matter; and
if one form Of Objectionable exhibits
is to be suppressed, let MS suppress them
all The dominant rule iu Utah has
it within its power to suppress these
local exhibits that give false views Of
old contentious, and that are calculated
only to awake auimoslty III the minds OF
the people of Utah against the people
of the United States. Let us have
square deal on this matter, and when
we ask of others q suppression of OBJ
iectionsble and horrifying pictures, let
us reciprocate so far as we can, at
home IF we do not. with what grace
can we ask others to do what we refuse
To do ourselves?