National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-02-19
Progress Of Polygamy in Utah.
MASSACRE OF MOUNTAIN MEADOW.

MASSACRE OF MOUNTAIN MEADOW.
rs poly ygamy dying out ? | put
the question to a leading Mormon
at Salt Lake, the other day.
by no means sir On the contra
ry it is spreading faster than ever.
How large a proportion of the
people, in your opinion, are poly.
gamists 2
About One-third, ! think
.Why do you practice it.
'We believe it to be ordained OF
God to restore the human race t,
| it's primal condition of strength
and beauty, as a means OF counter
acting SHIN short, that it will re
generate the human family. Thi,
will be the first result, but its blessed
effects will be as far reaching as seter.
nifty, for we are rearing souls for the
glory OF iod.'
The views of this Mormon in re-
gard to the spread of polygamy con
firm that advanced by Judge Drake
of the United States Court of Utah
Territory, before the committee of
Congress. lie says:
Since 1865 polygamy has in
creased at least 1901 cent, throug-
ont the Territory. Previous to 1868,
this doctrine or practice was not
generally held to be a religious nee
essity, but merely tolerance to be
INDUCED i'll 10y those who desired it.
1t is now held to be cardinal point
That and the shedding of the blood
of apOstates to saYe their souls, are
the two soul.saving doctrines of the
Mormon faith.
THE LAW OF CONGRESS- AGAINST
POLYGAMY.
In 1852 Congress passed Il law
against polygamy, which 1t was
hoped would stop the growing evil,
but it is a dead letter. How can Il
law be enforced in q community
which is hostile to the where
jury and witnesses are leagued to
prevent its execution! The United
States has its judges here, ready to
do their work faithfully, but no
Mormon jury will CONVICT Brigham
or any of his Apostles Of polygamy,
when they themselves are polygam-
lists; nor viii any witness testify
against Brigham. They love and
reverence their prophet, They also
believe in poly samy as an institution
ordained Of God. They look upon
the law of Congress Az levied against
the cornerstone of the church, and
as in direct cOntravcntion of the
Constitution, which guarantees to
every man the right to believe what
ever he plcaSes i'll religion.
dare say that it will he difficult
for YOUR readers to understand how
men and women can, 10y any process
of reasoning or sophistry, or by any
workings OF the mind, come to ac-
cept such II belief. But is there
anything too alsarbe, lcpulsive, or
horrible for human belief in matters
of religion A few months ago
while riding through the iunslcs OF
India, the place was shown me
where Thugs. III former days, way
laid their passing victims, knocked
them on the heal, dragged them
into the depths of the jungle as ac.
ceptahle sacrifices TO their gods, and
if those heather should come into
such a religious belief, why may not
/ the Mormon come to believe that
concubinage is ordained of God -
especially with the examples OF
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David,
OF the patriarchs aud kings of lSrc.
al for examples 7 Is it amy wonder
+ that the law is Il dead letter 3! Is il
any wonder that the Mormon thinks
he is doing God service by doing all
he can to delay its execution
When Judge Titus was here, an at.
tempt was made to enforce this law,
but resulted in failure. Leading
Mormons weye brought leiore the H.
/ 1T not one of them knew amy
,h.lg about polSgamy. 1t might
exist and it might not, they couldn't
say. The law cannot bc enforced
Its mesics are rot small enough tt
catch brigham. He is stronger to
day than ever. His power is lncrcas
lug, aud from what has lately tran
spircd, Il is evident that he intend,
to make it felt.
NON ON.INTERCoURSE WITH TIE GEN
TILES.
!, The proclamation has been mad
that there must he non niEtcrcours
with the Gcntiles in trade. The out
side traders who do not believe ii
Morlnonism are TO he driven out
\ Mormon may take II Gentle
money, he may work for a Gentle
may take not giyc--inay sell to him
but not buy OF him. Take all 20
can,-ileece the unbcllever ! is tn
, watchword. The proclamation WA
+. made at the grand conference mce'
i ing u few weeks since. Brighal
Y said on that OccasloiI-l quote irol
/. the Desert News: i want to te
:. my brethren, my friends aud my cI
y cn,icS, that we are gong TO dra'
/ the reins so tight rs not to let
:. Latter Day sain, trade with an on
|. slider We will trade with you
e you will give us your money; "
:, are entitled to II.
;. 49, Our outside friends say the
mnnI In ciXilizn Us here. Whnt d