| OCR Text |
Show THE REIGN OF TERROR. The abuso by the Mormon priests nnd press of the Salt Lako Tribune, for the free comment by this papor upon conditions condi-tions iu this State, is nothing lo tho ubuso which a Mormon and his paper must, suffer from the same quarter, if he dare to utter any sentiment not entirely en-tirely in accord with the wish of tho hicrarchs. Not loug ago tho Richfield (Sovior County) Reaper commented with some breadth upon tho political situation here, expressing the opinion that cccle-siasts cccle-siasts should refrain from political activity. ac-tivity. Tho Tribune republished the articlo as a hopeful indication of progress prog-ress in the public sentiment; of- the commonwealth. com-monwealth. But sad to relate, the hope was shattered and the congratulation was proved to .be promnlurc. Tho Logan Journal viowed tho Reaper's articlo in tho samo light as Tho Tribune did, and editorially endorsed the proposition; but tho Journal, liko Tho Tribuno, was loo early with its happy pronouncement. The Rcapor in a lengthy editorial explains ex-plains to its readers that it has been seriously criticized, that its subscribers havo visited the office and expressed their displcasuro, and thnt the Reaper is accused of fomenting discord among the people of Zion. Thcro was nothing in tho original articlo of tlto Reaper that .iustified the rebuke from tho local ccclesiusts. As stated by the editor of tho Reaper In his subsequent explanation: Tho substance of our remarks was that there Is a bad condition of nffalrs existing In Utah, and wc suggested a remedy which wo thought a practical solution of tho vexing problem. Wo dcclarod that If some remedy was not applied now this condition of affairs would go on Indefinitely. Indefi-nitely. Ever honorable and intelligent man in tho Stale should havo been willing to endorse tho Reaper's plea for an abstention ab-stention from priestly interference in political matters. But that paper received re-ceived its warning, and no doubt for the immediate futuro will be compelled to subdue its expressions to accord with the purposo of the bogus prophets. If the Reaper were to dare to maintain tho argument, not merely a few subscribers sub-scribers would visit the office and remonstrate, re-monstrate, .but an edict of boycott would go forth against the sheet. The Tribuno is in receipt of information infor-mation from the former publisher of a country paper in this State who says: When I started to comment on the situation sit-uation here with some freedom I was warned by stockholders' In tho little concern con-cern to cease or they would withdraw their support. Tho little local banker told mo that he had no use for an anti-Mormon paper nnd would not advance moneys to enable me to meet my bills, although my credit in other particulars was good. Important advertisers and leading jub-scrlbers jub-scrlbers stated to me that If I had any opinions on tho impropriety of the running run-ning of politics by the church I must keep thein to myself or they would not support the paper another day. And all I had done was to urge for the peace and prosperity of Utah and for the bcnetlt of the church Itself that the prominent men among tho brethren should not Interfere In political affairs. That was the sum total of my offending. And for this I was warned to desist on penalty of the ruin of my business. I sold out to other people and vacated tho Held, because It was hopeless for me to try to run an honest and straightforward paper In that community. I was a Mormon born and bred, and the brethren said that If 1 did not cnr.e to render obedience without (tuestlon I was worse than a Gentile. Tho Richfield Reaper and every other paper published in a Mormon community com-munity is compelled to support tho priests in their tyranny, to remain silent, or to suffer the boycott. No wonder tho Mormon masses are in tho shackles of superstition. Tho individual who has tho courago to resist must realize re-alize that ho is invoking business assassination, as-sassination, social ostracism, and a decree de-cree for his eternal damnation. |
