Show TUB THE DESPOTISM IN UTAH 21 2 1 j a criminal finds that his hid most i line of defense is to charge the he crime ot ol which he himself is guilty upon an ia innocent person the more i brazen the real malefactor is in this t molicy ao licy tho the more likely he is to secure from the jury a verdict in favor of himself nim la in the truth of this lesson so often repeated during the proceedings in criminal cases before the courts is aund und the motive for or a cry that Is raised by a faction and a local press in utah with such senseless frequency and on such inappropriate occasions as aso ought for no other reason to axcide suspicion towards those enose who raise it we refer to the charge chance so often made in reference the mormon church and especially its lea leaders derr that a despotism prevails prevail in utah and the declarations thai usually accompany this retrain to the effect disobedience to their leaders on the part of the mormons cormons Mor mons would be followed by direful conse i du 0 n the heads beads of tue recreant members of that church that mor mons are awed into submission to thair leaders and that true liberty Is i not known among them that the wrongs implied in these charges exist is most true but upon whom lies the responsibility for those wrongs wrong ss that a despotism exists in utah which is utterly oppose opposed tt to the intent and spirit of american institutions is true bitterly true but who are the depot despote deH pote it is true disobedience obedience upon the part of the members generally of the C church h ch of jesus chrit christ of latter day saints to the counsel of their leading men would almost certainly be followed by misfortune and the beads of the disobedient why we will answer presently it Is true that the face and form of the fair goddess of liberty are hidde bidden from the views view ot of the oppressed people of utah territory but what power banished her from among devotees who so do devoutly adore her the despots inettah in altah are the persons who are undermining the foundations of law and jurisprudence in order to send good men to prison who are in vadius peaceful homes intent on destroying Btroy ying inK them and breaking the hearts of their inmates who are plotting plot liae and with an exceeded in its 1 diligence only by ithe wickedness 8 ot 01 its purpose to place entirely within their gaeir power the property liberty and even the lived ox of tens teas ol of thousands of people p e such a despo despotism tista as exists in utah is unparalleled I 1 in modern times disobedience disobedient ce on oa the p part art altheir of ol their follo followers werk to the advice of the me leaders of the mormon people would be followed by disaster to those manifest ing it because that people are hold held to gether ether and solidified by an outside pressure so tremendous that it would browder Prow crush r to powder der any other comman community ity on earth and under these circumstances as with the stories stones of an arch unity is the only means by which their organizer organized existence an n be continued tion by their enemies is the imminent danger which threatens to follow schism among the mormons cormons Mor mons by being united only can they hopeton hope to survive when the destruction of 01 liberty in utah is charged upon the mormons cormons Mor mons an accusation is made which is so characterized by mocking cruelty by re refined lined and at the same time ferocious cunning and byruch by such a devilish delight in falsehood as wakes makes it difficult tot to frame a refutation appropriate to the charge suffice it to say that no peo pie whose rights are not daily invaded who have not drank from the cup of oppression the bitter draught they have swallowed who have not had bad such a discipline as the latter day saints have had bad can possibly love appreciate or hold bold as sacred as they do th the e principles of human liberty |