Boy in the Picture of the Sacred Grove

JOSEPH SMITH AS A STATESMAN 651

Reform Court Martial The fifth point concerned the reform of the system of court martial in the army and navy of the United States. This, like the preceding reform recommended, has not taken place, but a large majority of the men in the ranks are in favor of such a change; likewise a great many officers and other able men in the nation, conversant with the facts, are in favor of such a reform. Naturally men imbued with autocratic ideas are op- posed to such a change, but leading senators and congressmen during the present congress have prepared and introduced bills to compel such a change and to provide a better and more just system of court procedure for the trial of men serving in the ranks of the army and the navy. We will not attempt to fore- cast the outcome of this reform movement, but from the senti- ments gleaned from the newspapers and magazines generally, it would appear that there is a strong national sentiment in favor of it, and it is highly probable that this reform, like others pro- posed by the Prophet Joseph, will yet be realized. There yet remains three other important proposals in his platform to be discussed, namely annexation of Oregon, New Mexico, and Upper California; Federal control of lawless- ness within the state, and a larger navy. These are very im- portant propositions nut adequate consideration of them would make this lesson too long, so they will be postponed for con- sideration to lesson five. Thus far we have seen that the slavery reform offered by the Prophet Joseph was more humane, would have cost less by billions, and would undoubtedly have left a national unity of feeling that was lacking in our country for well half a century. Imprisoment for debt has been entirely abolished. Prison reform to a very great extent has been carried into effect. Re- duction of the membership of the House of Representatives has not been effected but should be, in the opinion of a large number of careful students. The court martial reform of the army and navy has not been effected but is at the present moment under serious consideration by congress. Even with only part of the program of Joseph Smith considered, it is already easy to see that he was a man of big ideas and states- manlike outlook. Questions (1) What kind of a man is needed for president? (2) How can we judge men for the position? Smith's idea as to how to solve the slavery (3) What was Joseph question? , . „ (4) What is the chief objection to imprisonment for debt. (5) What should be the real purpose of imprisonment? (6) Why would a smaller House be better?

65* IMPROVEMENT ERA

V.—JOSEPH SMITH, A NATIONALIST In Lesson IV we discussed part of the presidential pro- gram outlined by Joseph Smith in announcing his candidacy for the presidency of the United States. Three of the topics, however, were left over for discussion in a subsequent lesson. They were the annexation of Oregon, Upper California, etc.; Federal control of lawlessness, and a larger navy. Annexation of Territory The summary of the first proposition might read as fol- lows: "Extension of the Union with the consent of the In- dian, from sea to sea." At that time, this was certainly a com- prehensive policy of annexation. In the light of subsequent his- tory, however, it cannot be regarded as other than a very clear vision of the destiny of the Republic, while those living in this century regard it as merely a logical extension of the national domain. As was to be expected, the outlined policies met with considerable opposition from two classes but from entirely dif- ferent points of view. The first class regarded the territory be- yond the Louisiana Purchase as valueless. The leader of this group was the eminent statesman Daniel Webster. He said, What do. we want with this vast, worthless area, this region of savages and wild beasts, of deserts and shifting sands and whirlwinds of dust, cac- tus, and prairie dogs? To what use can we ever hope to put these great deserts or those endless mountain ranges, impenetrable and covered to their very base with the eternal snows? What can we ever hope to do with a western coast of three thousand miles, rock bound, uninviting and not a harbor on it? Mr. President, I will never vote one cent to place the Pacific Coast one inch nearer to Boston than it now is.

In contrast with this quotation, Joseph Smith said in 1844, "Oregon belongs to this government honorably, and when we have the Red Man's consent let the Union spread from the East to the West sea." Time has shown that Joseph Smith's view of the boundaries was larger and more statesmanlike than that of Daniel Webster, for lying within this vast domain were found some of the best lands and the richest mineral deposits in the Union. The coal deposits alone, from a monetary point of view, would have justified the acquirement of what is now the western half of the United States.

Moral Right to Territory The other class of opponents felt that the territory was worth acquiring but that morally the United States was not jus- tified in taking possession of what is now the south-western portion. The Spanish had explored a very small portion of these lands and a few Spaniards had settled in California and along the Rio Grande, New Mexico. Those who were opposed