The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-15

POLYGAMY IN UTAH.-The arrival within the
last few days of over seven hundred Nor
mon emigrants from Europe is a suggestive
fact The difficulties in which the people Of
Utah have been placed by their rebellion against
the federal government seem to have exercised
no perceptible influence in discouraging foreign
immigration to that Territory 1t must be an
all-powerful and abiding faith which, in presence
of the present embarrassments of the Saints in
that quarter, brings such swRrms Of the brother.
hood thousands of miles from their own homes
to share the uncertain fortunes of Brigham
Young. Taking this and other evidences into
consideration, the question suggests. itself, for
what destiny is this singular people reserved
that they should possess in go marked degree
not only the power of cohesion but attraction?
la the history Of the world there is no parallel
Of religious fanaticism working its way to the
realization of its wild dogmas through so many
dangers and discouragements as in their case.
Amongst the majority of people the secret of
the popularity of the Mormon tenets has been
set down to their recognition of polygamy as a
religious Institution. Undoubtedly for many
this has had it's inducements; but to cay that it
constitutes the main lever by which such num-
bers OF the Industrial classes abroad, as well as
here, have been displaced from their pursuits
and transferred to Territory which effers but
few natural temptations to the settler is not
correct. In Utah, as elsewhere, it is only wealth
that can command the superfuities of life. The
luxury Of the polygamic state-if such it can be
termed-can only be enjoyed by few, and by
how few it scarcely requires statistics to PROVE
to US. little reflection must convince any one
disposed to join the confraternity from motive
OF this kind, that unless he becomes one of the
chosen-that is to say, member of the hierar-
chy-he cannot hope to indulge his inclinations
to any greater extent than at home. he must
hrst acquire competency before he can sup
port one wife, and if he wishes to duplicate his
blessings he will require a proportionate in
crease Of means. In an ungrateful soil like
Utah there are but few chances of q new
conner winning the prizes of extraordi-
nary exertion. Others have sown and
reaped before him, and left him but the
gleanings of the stubble. II, therefore, he joins
Mormonism in the hope of living q life of in.
glorious ease and enjoyment, he is doomed to be
miserably disappointed. In Utah, perhaps more
than in any other part of the world it is the lot
OF man to toll without ray of hope breaking in
on the hopeless drudgery Of his task.
1t must not be supposed that the converts to
Mormonism are ignorant Of these facts. The
Gentle press have not been sparing in their ex-
posures of the decisions on which their creed Is
founded, or of the iniquities which are said to
be practised in the tabernacle. With the cor
recfness of these latter statements it is not our
purpose to dead, but there is no doubt good
deal of eXaggeration ia them As to the prac
fioe OF po'ygamy ITSELF we have receot statistics
70 'po~ ~ That " Is indu'g,d ia by bu. small