Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches
The witness who gave that testimony was Judge O. W. Powers, and you
know, and all Utah knows, that he spoke the truth.
Mr. J. Martin Miller writing to the _Newark_ (New Jersey) _News,_
represents Rabbi Louis G. Reynolds as holding the views expressed in
the accompanying quotation on conditions in Utah:
"I found a very prominent former Newarker, in the person of Rabbi
Louis G. Reynolds, of the Synagogue B'nai Israel here. He was rabbi
of the Oheb Shalem Synagogue, Newark, from 1892 to '96.
"There is a Jewish population of about 500 in Salt Lake City, said
Rabbi Reynolds. Aside from that particular feature of their creed,
polygamy, I think the 'Mormons' are a very good people. Everything
indicates that polygamy is dying out and that the Church means to
obey the law. Aside from polygamy, I am of the opinion that in
morals the 'Mormons' will average higher than the Gentiles who live
here. The records show that the 'Mormons' furnish a very small
quota of the vice of the city. As a rule, they are a temperate
people. If Senator Smoot is unseated, would the influence of the
'Mormons' in the state and nation be diminished? I inquired. Not
in the least; it would make them feel their persecution more than
now and cause them to have less faith in the fairness of the
government. They know the government cannot be fooled to any great
extent, and that polygamy must go. Now that the tendency on the
part of the 'Mormons' is to abandon polygamy, the purposes of the
government in making better Americans of the 'Mormon' people than
they are now will be better subserved by allowing the influential
men among the 'Mormons' to help the government bring about the
desired end. I say this with Senator Smoot in mind, and in view
of the believed fact among every class in Utah that he is not a
polygamist. He is one of the most level-headed businessmen in Utah,
and is exceedingly popular with all classes. Polygamy was deeply
rooted. The people for the most part were born in it. Why humiliate
these innocent victims by persecuting them unnecessarily when
they show an inclination to rid themselves and the country of the
blot? The United States is a conciliatory and humane government. I
was born in Russia and can appreciate this government. It is the
kind of a government that begets loyalty in its subjects. Will
these erring children of Utah, who in all probability are not
now contracting any new polygamous marriages, be better citizens
if they are hounded and misrepresented by agitators, or if they
are fairly but firmly dealt with by the government and given a
reasonable chance to prove their good intentions and their good
citizenship? There is a very strong element throughout the country
that takes absolutely no stock in this ecclesiastical warfare that
is being made from Salt Lake City against the 'Mormons.' It has
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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