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Show THE MORMOXS IX POLITICS. A Letter from Joseph Silver in Regard to the Situation in l'tah The Anti-Polyg-amy Manifesto. Editor The TiMfcs: It must have been a pleasure to every republican who read the speech of Judge J. R. Mciiride published in the Trihti.ne of Sunday, the 3d inst., which he delivered on taking the chair at the "republican" "repub-lican" convention ia Provo on Friday last. From the Judge's standpoint I think it ought to be considered a flue argument in support of division on party national lines, etc. To my mind it is a most excellent speech and well worth the careful reading of every lover of fair piny and free speech. It occurred to me, however, while n ading the speech, that the JuHge lost sight of one very important r'act pertaining to the disciples of Joseph Smith, the "Seer." . OtUV; Is it possible for one who sincerely relieves m mot-monism, its origin direct from God to and through Joseph Smith, to be altogether a good citizen of the United States of America? Is not such a one very likely to reason thus, whether it is better to obey God or man. On this point men. members mem-bers of the mormon church, sincerely believing be-lieving in the law of polygamy, as revealed by God through His prophet Smith, the outlook out-look being favorably (home rule or statehood state-hood for instance) for its practice and believing be-lieving by the practice thereof they will gain great exultation in the world beyond and be under condemnation if they do not practice it would they hesitate long before deciding the matter. Now I suppose the great mass of the mormon people do really accept mor-monism mor-monism with all that the word implies as of divine origin. Therefore the only correct conclusion we can arrive at is that such persons Do believing believ-ing must necessarily regard all laws, etc. , political, religious or otherwise emiuating from such a source far superior to man-made man-made laws. I doubt not that there are some members of the mormon church who have-very have-very serious doubts of the divine authenticity authen-ticity of mormonism, but not having the moral courage to declare their convictions such cannot be relied on to favor entirely the laws and government of Ame "ica as they should. Now 1 want to say just here, at a national election, being a republican, had 1 the right to vote that vote would be :ast for the republican candidates. Here in Utah, however, were there but two political parties, namely, republicans and democrats, a mormon, notwithstanding his abilities may qualify him to till the position to which he aspired, his moral standing unquestionable, unquestion-able, receiving the nomination of the republican repub-lican party, with my present convictions I could not vote, for the reason I should doubt nis loyalty to "Old Glory," the stars end stripes of the American Union. His leanings most likely would be first, last and til the time to his church. Not giving much, it any thought to the interests of the country and people at large. Now a word in regard to the sincerity of Wilford Woodruff, the present head of the Mormon church. Old as he is, and some gentiles as well as mormons may reDose confidence con-fidence in him, I must say that I doubt his sincerity. I am of the opinion, and I am free to express that opiniou, that I believe it impossible for Mr. Woodruff not to know that mormonism at its very inception was conceived in iniquity. Is he not aware of the fact that instead of Joseph Smith receiving re-ceiving revelations from Jesus Christ, that the very first he did receive came from an ex-Catholic priest (I could here give the name of that priest), and which revelations was afterwards published in book form entitled, enti-tled, "Book of Commandments to the Church of Christ." Mr. Woodruff also may be knowing to the fact that the same ex-priest was pretty largely the "Book of Mormon." Oh, if some one would but give us just a few actual facts concerning the cunning tricks of this same ex-priest, and how through him Joseph Smith became author, president, proDhet, seer and revelator, and finally a : lartyr, to what has been wickedly cailed the cause of Jesus Christ, what a skaking among the mormon dry bones there would be. Respectfully, Jos. Silver, April 5, 1892. |