OCR Text |
Show THE VILE BROOD. Now comes the Deseret News with an explanation that certain questions which it asked concerning the political understanding between Republican politicians and the Mormon church were not directed to The Tribune. This paper will assume the right to its own conclusion in the matter, however, on account of the circumstances surrounding surround-ing the questions involved. It is a well known fact, as tho files of both papers will show, that The Tribune and the News had been indulging indulg-ing in a little discussion respecting tho caso of one Reed Smoot, apostle of tho Mormon church. It had been contended con-tended by the Tribune that. Smoot 's election lo tho Scnatorship had been by the Mormon church, and that the retention by him of his scat in tho Souatc was the result of political' understanding and cxpcdicncj;, coupled with a flourish of the "big stick '' as an aid to that expediency that the decision of the Senate was not in accordance ac-cordance with the facls which had been presented during the hearing of the Smoot caso before the committee. In opposition to this contention the News had printed several articles, and then proceeded to ask, "How do you know?" leaving no room for doubt that tho question was addressed to The Tribune, just as had tho other articles upon tho same subject. Tho News, sly and evasive, ns usual, mentioned nobody in particular, and The Tribune was perfectly justified in the conclusion that this" paper was questioned. However. Iho Himvh nr,r-,n to enjoy some elation over tho fact that The Tribune accepted tho corn, and professes to see therein nn indication indica-tion that we recognized the fitting of the cap, "'traitor' and all." N0Vr. tho News must not permit itself to imagine that The Tribune would feel greatly doprosscd at linving anv such accusations leveled at it by the church publication To be called "a traitor by the News is to wear tho badge of honor and complete loynlt-. To bo designated desig-nated in any friendly terms by the Mormon lord's publisher, as it is a, present conducted, and with the present pres-ent influences behind it which control its utterances, would be a sore injury to The Tribune's character. Upon that score there need be no controversy whatever between us. Its kind long since pronounced (officially) the G. A, R. men "disloynl." But the News uttcJly fails of atten- tion to tho answers which The Tribune made to its "How do you knowY question. The church organ resorts to the usual trick of ovasion of the real issue. In one particular only docs it approach any attempt at reply, and that is wherein it declares that "there is no 'hierarchy' in the church." Webster defines the word thus: Dominion or authority in sacred things. The body of persons to whom is intrusted in-trusted the direction of things 'acicfl. or a body of priests Intrusted with go-crnment; go-crnment; a sacred body of rulers. TJie only point upon which The Tribune Trib-une will agree with tho News, in the latter 's denial that, there is. a hierarchy in tho church, is that which involves the sacrodncss of anything which the Mormon hierarchs inculcate or practice There is nothing sacred about thorn. They claim the right' ta absolutely and unquestionably dictate to iheir people in all things, temporal as well as spiritual. Thoy pretend tc deliver lo the world tho word of tho Almighty Creator, thus representing the highest authority to bo. recognized by men. When they speak, they would havo it understood that their words aro as those of the Lord Himself. They are a body of priests, who assume that they are "intrusted with government; govern-ment; a sacred body of rulers." That they do "rule," and in tho most despolicallj' complete man,ncr, has been shown by The Tribune upon ocensiona so numerous that to repeat the evidence at this timo would consume space lo no purpose; for the News knows that tho proofs which this paper has produced pro-duced in abundance havo been unanswerable un-answerable from an source. These showings have been made from tho authoritative au-thoritative utterances of all tho so-called so-called prophets of the Mormon church, from the first impostor to the most recent and pre-eminently fraudulent contribution to the cult. But our leading men havo tried to avoid giving offenso lo anyone In this matter, and all allegations to tho contrary con-trary we brand as false. That is what the Deserot News has to say with reference to the political activities of the hierarchs. These priests elected Brigham IL Roberts to the House of Representatives in a deliberate de-liberate determination to insult the people of the United States of America. They procured the election of Reed Smoot, a sworn personal representative of tho polygamous Roberts (whom the country repudiated and sent home), and of the criminal Smith, who sput defiance into the face of this country's citizenship. Not long ago Roberts arose in tho Tabernacle and insulted every decent home in the country by declaring de-claring that he would not relinquish his lawbreaking and lecherous career. And behind him sat Joseph F. Smith, rubbing his itching palm in the gloo of a protected law-deficr. The po-litical po-litical acts and utterances of theso Mormon high priests arc of the same repulsive and offensively insulting na-turo na-turo as is their attitude concerning polygamy. And in both cases do they protest with equal fervor that they have tried not to be offensive! But what can be expected of a forsworn for-sworn outfit which has leagued itself together to plot treason and practice disloyalty; to scheme dishonor and ruin for tho whole commonwealth? Tho hierarchs aro already so besmeared of shame that a little more or less additional ad-ditional matters nothing. The Ncws ia wallowing with them, a fit companion for the unclean spirits who have ridden in utter recklessness over the sacred word of honor; who have greedily fed upon virtue and made a prey of morality. But, of course, as usual, they have "tried to avoid giving offense" in all their criminal vandal-ism! |