The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-29

more properly, to give to the world sen.
blance Of federal control in Utah-to avoid the
far more difficult position Of seeming to surren
der authority to band Of religious fanatics
Be this as it may. the fact, is before us, that
the government and people Of one of our terri
tories are exclusively Mormon; and it is equally
manifest that they have SO far increased in
numbers, and are 80 fortified by distance from
Ms, and by their own order, industry and intel
ligence as to be able to control the appoint
ments which the law has devolved upon the
executive to make. So far, them the Aormons
have had their own way; and that they are IN
creasing year by year, and consolidating their
power on the basis Of the revelations communl-
Gated by their great prophet and seer, is as GER
tain as that Brigham Young is their and our
chief Now. the question recurs, what is
to be the future Of this singular people?
Are we willing to admit them into
the family of States with all their moral here
sizes and their superior loyalty to their see'.
over the democratic principle of absolute svb b
mission to the popular will, which is the cor aer
stone and foundation of the republic If not
how is the remedy to be applied and tina evil to
be eradicated? This involves the que .stion of
the political and religious rights Of portion
Of our people. The constitution guarantees
their exemption from penalties sr, account of
their religious opinions; and. >shatever those
opinions may be, and however repugnant to
the general sense of the Community, they may
demand protection in f.neir PRONUNCIATION, and
| there is no power in the government to with
hold it. 1t ia plain, then, that Mormonism, if
at all, must be erAdicatcd by what Mr.. Clay
would have called "thc Inevitable law Of popu-
lation," and the contact of opinion which
springs therefrom. The great remedy for pri-
vate OF public evils IN this country, Of recur-
ring popular electors, exists in the free and
voluntary interchange of views-in contact and
association. Legal penalties, enforced to re-
fcrri moral evils and individual habits and
opinions is the remedy Of fanaticism, and the
frst cousin to that morbid philanthropy which,
IN times past, employed the fagot and the fire
TO exterminate religious heretics. No such
| remedy is either applicable or possible in the
! case Of the Mormons of Utah, and it is difficult
to. see but enc means Of modifying, and finally
changing, the currents Unpopular delusion which
exist there. Their isolation is their strength.
They are growing daily more formidable and
powerful, by the utter non-intercourse between
them and us. The longer this incommunica-
ton exists the stronger and holder they will
become They have a convenient theology,
which discloses the requirements of the church
only for present consumption. The future is a
sealed book, which can only be opened and in
terpretcd by their prophet. Thus the mind is
continually charged with hope of something
new and beneficial to all the Latter Day Saints
who are promised ultimate dominion in this
world and almost infinite knowledge and power
in the next. This is the elastic theory Of the
Mormon church. and under it has bean planted
one Of our territorial governments. If the
currents Of emigration could be turned into
Utah they would, in five years, sweep away
| every vestige Of MOrmonism as an organized
political power; and. without this remedy, it is
| not easy to see how it is ever to be removed.
The more powerful error Of any kind becomes
especially Of a religious characteristic more
fascinating and sacred it is 10 the eyes Of it's
followers. The blood Of its martyrs becomes
the seed OF its church and persecution only
adds endurance and energy to its votaries.
There is, indeed, but one species Of reform
applicable. and that is by daily contact and
association with others Of different opinions.
How can this be secured in Utah except by
the Pacific Railroad?
Commerce is an efficient moral reformer and
it may yet exercise its missionary service in
Utah. Communication and trade are expoun-
ders and interpreters of mems rights as well as
of their pecunary interests This view of the
great railroad project to the Pacific, invests the
central route, by way of the South Pass and
the Valley of the Great Salt Lake with extra
ordinary interest. and it will be likely to en-
gage the attention of that portion Of Congress.
which looks to the future as well as the present
of our domestic relations and character. 1t is
another phase Of our national progress calcu-
lated, perhaps to engender alarm in some. and
| to excite the embers Of persecution in others
Meanwhile we have only to look on, watch and
pray. and trust confdingly to manifest destiny,
which, though it may sometimes engender
evils is marvellous disinfecter of morals, and
with all political and religious reformer.
New York state Polisics-The Wings aad
their Leaders
The "reminiscences of the editor Of the Albany
Erening Journal, (Thurlow Weed) some OF
which we have recently published in the
HERALD, with the Rples of the Albany State
Register and Buffalo Commercial .qdrertiser,
organs Of the Fillmore or national wings, shsw
that there is n deem and uro.a blv irrenarah,o