Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-24
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

CrAH--The solution of the Mormon problem
by the Government is destined to be one of
great difficulty. It's endorsements have
multiplied rapidly of late, while public opinion
Is ciamorous for action on the part of the au-
thorities here. Those who are not responsible
for whatever the Government may eventually
do, may fancy that 1t is to be the easiest thing
imaginable to root out the nuisance of the Nor
mon settlements in Utah, and that there will
then be an end Of all the trouble and the dis.
grace to the civilization of the age existing
there We wish it were so: but unfortunately.
the case is otherwise. The Government cannot
suppress Mormonism legally by force of arms.
even under its threats, as provocative and TO
do II Illegally would be to set precedent more
disastrous in its consequences, it may be- to our
country's future, than the present continuance
OF the fostering moral sore existing in that
quarter of the world Although nearly all be-
ieve that it is the purpose of Brigham Young
and his church to contemn the authority of
the General Government, it is probable that
they will essay 20 to do by getting around"
the law, rather than by openly setting it at de-
faDce in which case there can be no legal
cause for placing their Territory under martial
ment.
Our belief is that the evil will cure itself un-
der the prudent management with which ii will
be treated by the authorities here. Brigham
Young will doubtless be removed, and some
one will be sent out there as Governor who will
have frmness and tact sufficient to control them
so far as their relations to the General Govern
ment are concerned without interfering with
their domestic concerns and will thus, as far as
possible, avoid such collision with them as would
otherwise make the interference of troops of
the United States necessary
Even If there is an occasional violent out
break among them, such an occurrence will
not legally justify a resort on the part Of tn Q
Government to force Of arms to manage them.
II did not appeal to arms to repress the riots in
the various cities-Baltmore. ST Louis, Louis
vile, and New Orleans-where, during late
elections, the mob were more clearly in rebel
lion than at any time, so far, in Utah The
idea OF suppressing their church by United
States soldiery, because Of it's moral enormities,
Is one to which no real American statesman
Will for moment listen; for there is no war
rant In the law or the Constitution for the use
OF United States troops to any such end New
ertheless, the popular opinion of the moment is
evidently clamoring for such an experiment.
Already nearly every foo. of land in the
great desert of the Continent that is suscepti-
bic Of profitable cultivation even with irrigra-
ton, is occupied and improved by them and
the population of their State or settlements is
so redundant as that they are forced to send
forth colonies to California and elsewhere. Ore
gon and Washington Territories and New Mex.
leo also, are destined to shelter other such Nor
mon ofshooting colonies; and in so doing they
will check its growth, dispel the delusion of its
victims, and extract its fangs. 1t can be formi-
dable only where, as in Utah, it controls popu-
lar opinion. We believe that a firm and pru-
dent successor of Brigham Young in the Cover.
norhip of the Territory, and the impossibility
that Utah can sustain q much larger population
than il contains at present, will work, eventual
ly, the cure for the evils. We should be 10th
indeed to see the arms of the United States
aimed against a people in our own midst who
are, simply, crazy-drunk with liberty.
We design no extenuation of their moral
enormities, nor to save them from the intense
odlum OF American popular opinion now resting
upon them. Time, and intercourse with Amer.
ieans-for most Of them are poor IGNORANT for
elgners-mustb be relied on to effect their reforma
ton, unless the Government resorts 10 force 70
compel them to abandon the rites-practices-
Of their church, which, as horrible as tbav o..
are not to be eradisated legally in any sucb
way. To attempt it, by the by, would cost an
enormous amount to the national treasury
large army would be necessary to prosecute the
civil var such an experiment would engsnder,