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Show USING THEM AS SHIELDS. Again wo havo a conspicuous instance of tho-proneness of tho priesthood to drag in the membership of their Church as a buffer to protect themselves. Nothing Noth-ing is more common than for the cry to bo raised when evidences aro presented present-ed of tho lawlessness, the lecheries, tho robberies, and tho treasons of the leaders lead-ers of tho church, thnt tho church is being attacked. In fact, this is the regular stereotyped rcph There is never any attempt oithor to deny or to refute tho charges, because they aro from tho record and aro absolutely fixed. It is idle to undertake to claim that there is any mistake or falsity in theso presentations, becauso for tlio most part thoy aro from the oflicial reports re-ports of the investigation in Washington Washing-ton before tho Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. And ,a9 to those portions of tho proofs that nrr. not so derived," they are substantiated by ampin local evidence and common knuowledtre. Tho latest instance iu point is the Descret News of Thursday ovening, where in consideriug Tho Tribune's attitude towards "tho young Mormou vote," the church organ harked back to a discussion of tho foulnoss of polygamy polyg-amy as derived from a consideration of Senator JBuvoridgo's speech in behalf of Smoot. Senator Beveridgo undertook to claim that there was a sharp division in the Mormon church as between tho polygamists and tho non-polvgamisls, aud we cited tho fact ut that lime and in that connection that thero is no Bitch division. As a mattor of fact thero is not. Any Mormou who would deny polygamy po-lygamy and opposo it, as Senator Bcvo-ridgc Bcvo-ridgc claimed that certain ones under tho leadership of Smoot were doing, would quickly be discipjinod and disfel-lfiwshipped. disfel-lfiwshipped. This is' a matter that every ono knows to be the case. A number of instances of such action could bo cited, as in tho case of Mr. Gibbs, Mr. F. J. Canuon, Mr. Smurthwaito. and others who, by their action, put themsolvos "out of harmony" with tho predominant predomi-nant idea iu tho church, including polygamy. Tho News now undertakes, to turn that to the proposition that the young Mormons should not bo appealed to by the American voters, becauso they are included, if in good standing in the church, in the foulness of polv-ani. Tho argument is far-fetched indeed, and could scarcely be expectod to have anv effecT among intelligent people. Tho very fact that young Mormons naturul-ly naturul-ly should opposo polygamy, tho fact i that they ought to be working to tho realization of the forecast of Senator Bcveridge, tho fact that they ought to be freo and independent in politics, is the very object to be attainod. Because they arc enveloped in tho foul mcshos of a polygamous priesthood is no reason why they should sla' there, 'the fact that the young Mormons have not made themselves conspicuously effective in breaking up tho old foulnoss and renovating reno-vating their church, cloanslng it of lawlessness, law-lessness, robbery, und crime, is no reason rea-son why they should always remain silent and never tako such action. Tho very purposo of the appcai to young Mormons is that thov shall mm out from amongst tho iniquities, retaining retain-ing what they chooso of tho cleau, loyal principles of their church, and oHmi'iiu ting thp foulnoss and the IuwIchsui'ss. The plea of tho Dcsorot News is that yonug Mormons must never Jo this. They must always remain in the fon! mesh of the polygamous net. Tho fact that they havo not cut Ihoarj moshs heretofore and freed themselves j3 i urged by tho News as r reason why tho;' should novor do so. We, on the contrary, urge that they havo been untrue un-true to themselves as men, as Mormons, as American citizens, in not breaking ! p this. foulness long ago. as tncy have i the ability and tho powi r to do. j Tli" hirarchs in thoir effort, to retain re-tain the villainy, barbarism, n.J crime of polvgamv would fain ubo tho young Mormons for the protection of Uio o.. and foul svrtcm. The American appeal is to the voung Mormons io como out. be men and loyal American. citizens aud cleanse that foulncaf. And that is a iust, a fair, a patriotic, and Ok'u.llv appeal, which tho young .Mormon;, in justice lo themselves should hood un-l act upou fairly and with clfcctive power. And that is the way to put not only themselves, but their church, their church leadership, and all connected with it. on tho proper basis botoje h.gh heaven and in tho eyes of the American rcoilc. . i |
