| Show PRESIDENT CEO aso 9 CANNONS POSITION what we can learn the news of president george Q cannon nonappearance non appearance in court and the rage of those who had planned for his destruction dost st has been received received w with it h general satisfaction very few combar alively y retain the opinion that it would ha hara ve been bettor better lor for him to stand his trial and meet his doom when all the circumstances are considered the wisdom othis ot bis course is conceded no one believes he would have had a fair trial what we mean by a fair trial Is a presentation of the facts before an impartial jury auda and a just and unbiased sed explanation of the ia law by the court Is there apy any one with the slightest regard for truth who would pretend to say that the defendant defend anc would have had these rights granted to him the special proceedings in his case the extraordinary measures taken to gather up everything that could be mantsu manipulated ed into ato the semblance of evidence a against dinst him the determination to multiply the indictments and consequently the penalties the anxiety to tauri cate more serious than the offense for which he be was waa indicted the which were freely uttered the exultation expressed by officials abt their power to make his imprisonment practically a life sentence toe concentrated animosity of all connected with the prosecution directed towards him as the supposed head and chief of mormon power are considered as fully justifying his conclusion to I 1 wa wait I 1 t tw till the clouds roll by before coming forth to face his accusers i there was some dubiety and considerable discussion over anat ought to be done before the court convened on wednesday but when the matter was decided the doubts entertained by many were cleared away and the feeling of rest and satisfaction which ensued when the tact fact 91 his present safety was realized reali zed overcame all other sentiments mid and there axe are very few to be found who will mow inow say they wish he had put himself into the bands of his malignant enemies I 1 it would have looked like courting con diction and inviting destruct destruction lon if his case had bad been likely to ot be treated as other charges of infraction of the law we lye have no doubt that president cannon would have been on hand band to take his bis share of the persecutions that are being waged against the people because of a principle of their religion but proofs that it would not have been so treated were abundant so no reasonable man could close his bis eyes against them the whole com I 1 ty felt them his surrender meint meant his doom it was so intended aud ad the extraordinary circumstances cum stances justified extraordinary action the baffield hunters for his life want to make out oat that he has broken a covenant and dishonored himself in not appearing in court the very terms of the bond disprove the accusation he was to appear or forfeit so much money he did hot appear and the bond was declared forfeit when it is pait paid d the obligation will be discharged but will not his bondsmen suffer loss not ot at all likely those who know george Q cannou cannon will not ask such a question it if he had not seen some way to indemnify them we are certain that lie would not have put them thein in the gap and our enemies need need not talk about church funds being used for this purpose either it is none of their business anyhow but they will not have occasion to fret f ret themselves on that account if it is needful to raise the cash it can be had with little difficulty outside of church money which is not designed for any such purpose there Is a lawful way in which to collect the bond money this is a contention in law unusual and excessive bail was required in our oar opinion the right to collect it ought to be tested let those who imposed it in the spirit of persecution be placed in a position to show themselves on this question when citizens are forced into making an obligation they have a legal and constitutional tut tat ional right to contest it we hope this will be done if the money is obtained it should be collected by due process of law and this question of excessive bail ought to be brought before a competent court this case will give a fair opportunity to try it if the bond money is handed banded over on demand the chance to test this question will be thrown away therefore we desire that bothin nothing hasty will be done in the matter we have merely expressed our v view tow i of this question we do not know how it is looked upon by the gentlemen who secured the bond nor the principal who will we are sure hold himself god good for the amount and see that his friends lose nothing by the precautions he has taken for his bis own safety and when the full fall results appear we believe that the wisdom and propriety of president cannons course will be admitted by all and there aiu be universal rejoicing at the outcome |
