Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-06-08

polygamy is not of the Lord, and that
it is not true Mormonism. Those who
believe in it speak Of it as "a great
cross, laid upon them in this world
for their exaltation in the next" &c.
The most striking fact, however, in
connection with this institution is its
pernicious physical effects, and the
fearful mortality among the offspring
of polygamous unions resulting from
them. From the facts as given by
our correspondent the inference wo'd
scarcely be extravagant that the Teu-
tonic people, of which the Mormons
are composed, are incapable of per-
petuating themselves by so, to them,
foreign practice as polygamy.
The city, says the writer, already
shows its bad effect on the offspring.
The site is 4, 400 feet above the level
of the sea, in dry and bracing eli
mate, equally free from extremes of
heat and cold, and consequently it
should be one of the healthiest cities
in the world. Exactly the reverse is
the fact. The death rate, of all ages,
is little more than twice that of the
State of Oregon, and greater than
that of New York or New Orleans.
When we come to children, the dispar-
ity is still more frightful. By actual
statistics it is shown that the mortal
ity among the children is greater in
Salt Lake City than any other in
America, except New Orleans, and
the death-rate of Utah is only exceed
ed by that of Louisiana. The Nor
mons have greatly exaggerated the
population of this place, which really
contains a little less than $4,000
souls, and in this small number the
sections report for October last, the
healthiest month in the year, gives
the interments at sixty, OF which for
ty-four were children. Last year was
unusually healthy, and yet the death
rate exceeds that of any other State
or Territory west of the Mississippi
The Mormons explain this by saying
that their people are generally poor
and exposed to hardships, but much
of that poverty is distinctly traceable
to their religion. Another sad fact
is the general neglect Of medical care,
or rather a general tendency to run
( to wild and absurd schemes of doctor
ing. They claim that "laying on Of
hands and the prayer of faith will
heal the sick, and yet no people with
IN my knowledge are so given to
"Thomsonianism," Hsteam doctoring, y
"yarb medicine" and every other ir.
regular mode Of treating the sick.
If the patients live, after such treat
ment, it is miracle; and if they die,
it is the "will of the Lord" Two
thirds of the polygamists do not and
cannot attend properly to their chill
dren Heber G. kimoall had sixty.
three sons, Of whom forty-eight are
now living The bishop of our ward
the Fourteenth, has thirty children
living, aud nearly twenty dead. 10
scph Smith had half dozen spiritual
wives; but two sons survived him
both of his legal wife.
There are five men in this city who
have, together. seventy wives; they
have, all told, less than a hundred
: and fifty children.
A Mormon graveyard is the mos
melancholy sight on earth One
bishop here has seventeen children
buried in one row. and the longes
grave is not over four feet If thesC
men have but the common feelings OF
humanity, how fearfully are they pun
ished for the crime of polygamy.-
Brigham's children are generally
: healthy, except that the girls mostl,
have weak eyes, and two of them ar
nearly blind; but they are well fed
housed, and clothed. But such is tn,
exception, and | could mention doz
en- men whose houses are full of wo
men, but their children are in th,
grave.