The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-03-25

them, seems to me the wiset kind of fore
to adopt towards them, at least at first
By that mode, with proper criminal lcgisla
ton, we may place the Mormons in sucl
circumstances as may make them willing
to obey the laws. The only inconvcnienc,
This mode Of proc' lure will cost us will b,
some addition, perhaps, to our mlitar,
strength, and more circuitous route fo,
our Migrant trains. The question is no
free from difficulty in any aspect. We
should choose the least of evils. Let u,
try peaceful means if they be possible; lhcr
the 'solating process. If all fail, then wal
outright will still be left to us. In the mean
time: something may turn up in the chap
ter Of events. There may be Il schsnr
among the Mormons, or something else that
may give us the opportunity of acting to
more advantage
There is one consideration should not be
overlooked in this Mormon question. II is
tins: the greatest danger to The integrity
OF the Mormon faith is prosperity. The
greater their material, moral, intellectual,
development, the less hold false faith will
have upon them the more likelihood ol
woman asserting her divine mission among
:hcm. In short, the more they become
civilized, the less they are Mormons. This
development will most certainly take place
by peace. M"rmonism may be eternal
among nomalic tribes, Arabs, or bandits ;
it must perisl, out under the blaze Of civil
lzation. Prosperity will destroy Mormon.
ism slowly. it may be, but certainly. The
Idrks, the Mormons o! Europe, are per.
, isli:ng from contrast with civilization. They
only proclaim Il great philosophical princi
pie when they recognize that they are only
campin" Oh this side of the Bosrhorous
and that it is their destiny to return into
Asia. Civilization is death to Mohamme-
dansm or Mormoni>m. Let us not lose
sight of this consideration in determining
our policy towards the Mormons.
Before close, would cite the House to
some remarks Of Mr.. burke, in the British
Parliament, on tie sui, ,jcct Of cocrcing the
American colonies. Mr.. Burke, in his cclc
bratcd speech on conciIcalion with the
American colonies, says:
'First, sir, permit me to observe that the
use of force alone is but temporary. 1t
may subduc for a moment, but it docs not
remove the necessity Of subduing again
and Il nation is not governed which is per-
pctually to be conquered"
Suppose You defeat the Mormons in a
series Of battles, and they do not fly TO the
mountains, but remain sullcn, yielding al,
enforced obedience under the shadow OF
their hol v temple how long will that last!
As soon as you have Withdrawn your troops
they tra,nplc your authority under foot. Ii
will be necessary to keep Il large military
force permanently in Utah. DO you pro-
pose to do this: 1t will be very expensive
operation.
NHall, MI burke says:
ave have 40 sort Of experience in favor
Of force as an instrument in the rule of our
colonies. Their growth and their utility
have been owing to methods altogether dil-
fcrcnt. The last cause of this disobcdicnt
spirit i'll the colonies is hardly less powerful
than the rest, as it is not merely moral, but
laid deep in the natural condition of things.
Three thousand miles of ocean lie between
you and them. No contrivauce can pre-.
vent the effect Of this distance in weaken
ing government. Seas roll, and months
pass, between the order and the execution
and the want of speedy explanation of a
single point is enough to defeat whole
system. You lave, indeed, your winged
ministers Of vengcnce who carry your bolts
in their pounces to the remotest verge of
the sea. But there is a power steps in, that
limits the arrogance of raging passions and
furious clements, and says, $50 far shalt thou
go, and no further Who are you that
you should fret and rage and bite the chains
OF nature!' Nothing worse happens to you
than does to all nations who ave extensive
empire, and it happens in all the forms in.
to which empire can be thrown. in large
bodies the circulation Of power must be less
vigorous at the extremitics. Nature has
said it. The Turk cannot govern Egypt and
Arabia and Cardistan, as he governs Thrace;
nor has lie the same dominion in the Crmea
and Algiers which he has at Brusa and
Smyrna. Despotism itself is obliged to
truck and hnckster. The Sultan Gets such
obedience rs he can. He governs with
loose rein, that he may govern at all; and
the whole of the force and vigor of his au-
.thority in his centre is derived from pru-
dent relaxation in all his borders. Spain in
her provinces is perhaps not so we'll obeyed
as yo,l ara in yours Sha oomnl;os too ,l -