| Show FIGHT FAIRLY of the peculiarities of newspaper attacks on mormonism is that its advocates are not dermitt per mitt d to de flue floe its principles but its ito opponents claim the right to say what it is and then make war upon their ow own creations this is particularly characteristic act of its local enemies by this method of course they have a free field and a clear sweep their logic is not always convincing nor are their conclusions always justified by their premises premi ees but when they make their own men of straw and proceed to burn burd them up at pl pleasure eUret a certain amount of success in their own estimation at least to is of course of easy achievement but we do not see how any one of character or ability can gain satisfaction in such a course the only thing accomplished by it is the deception of such persons who read as are unfamiliar fA with the subject and the irritation ri of those who understand it and know that their sentiments are mo misunderstood understood and anju unjustly aly bon condemned considerable surprise and no little chagrin is expressed at the failure both of preachers and of writers to make any impression upon the old mor mons as they style them they remain unconvertible all thy thle ridicule argument and abuse poured upon them to is to in vain it is so much effort wasted and why because usually there is nothing in it their belief is in not touched their creed to is not exposed their principles are not assailed they are told that they believe so and so when they know that they entertain no such notions they are informed that they are under such and such obligations which they know they have never taken they are baited and badgered about ideas that exist only in the words of their detractor detract ore and the consequence lie is that they utterly despise their would be censors and have no respect for anything that comes comes from such a source we can say with truth and confidence that we have never seen a book or read an article or heard beard a sermon or lecture aimed against mormonism which fairly stated the tenets of that system or correctly explained its ito objects and influences so that whatever arguments or badinage might follow the pretended state ments of fact or doctrine were utterly futile and only capable of exciting derision or disgust it if any preacher or editor here bere or elsewhere has a sincere desire to turn old mormons cormons Mor mons or young Mormon Mor mons sl rom the alleged errors of their faith let left him cease holding up for that faith ft a figment of his own imagination or a dummy of his own manufacture let him state truthfully the tenet or practice which he wishes the mormons cormons Mor mons to give up then bring forth his bis strong reasons and be may make some impression fur for it is a fact that the great body of the mormon people are latter day saints from conviction they have sacrificed much for principles principled sake they love the truth I 1 n its behalf and to its promulgation they have proved that they are willing to devote them selves elves and all they possess once make it clear to them that they are in error and they will be as ready to throw aside their mistakes as they were to imbi imbibe bethem them show them something better and they will be eager to accept it but this continual misrepresentation both of their faith and their motives confirms them in their convict convictions ione drives down the roots of their creed deeper into their souls and establishes the conclusion in their minds that truth cannot be invoked against the system they have embraced because everything that is br aught forward to oppose it is saturated with falsehood and heated with the fires of malice and of enmity attack mormonism Mo monism fairly if you can or if you dare editors and preachers and may be you can do some good or be yourselves convinced of errors which you would do well to part with but your old fables and stupid vagaries with which you deceive the ignorant world are not any more believed by the people you assail than by the brightest minds of the age and we are of the opinion that you know that HS as well as we to do N |
