The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-06-23
Polygamy Among khe Murmons.

Polygamy Among The Mormons.
| The Rev Dr. Elliott who is writing from the t;
West most interesting letters 10 the St. Louis Dem
| itai:
| We had many and favorable opportunities OF re
| ting information often in very confidential manne
| both from men and women, and there seemed to nj
| an unusual degree of frankness OF speech. had u
ways supposed land still cannot help hoping that til
plurality OF wives is only an incidental matter, Whc
can he laid aside at any time without disturbing tn
| foundations of the sect, and so expressed myself /
several leading men whom met but the uniform ar
Swer vas 10 correct my mistake. Polygatny was bodl
declared to be an accepted duty and revealed Law
The men spoke of duty and privilege, the wome
| as hard trial. to which they must submit, knowing
as many Of them said that they must be made pc,
feet by suffering Two of the prominent citizens toll
me that than half of the men in Salt Lake Cit
have complied with the rule, having two or more wives
and several of them coucurred in saying that it was til
! common usage No one, they said, pretends to know
how many wives his neIghbor has, and il Is o
| his business to ask
The mystery of sealing, could not get Satisfac
| tory explained, but it seemed to me to open wid
door to practices which would deserve very harsI
name In fact could not see how the law Of poyg
amy, taking 1t practically, and with knowledge 0
human nature il is should lessen the social evils
correct any of the tendencies Of social life On TIL
contrary it throws the of law and religion owe
modes oflife for which there be fpoyg
amy could be ruled out there would be good deal
praise in the Mormon government, aud many good in
fuences would be at work. The masses OF their com
munity, taken from great poverty and degradation
have been improved in their temporal condition, anc
the absolute laws under which they brought, anC
which they submit, either because they cannot helI
themselves, or because Of their superstitous selisn
render are better for them, at present than liberty
q
that possibly exist there if their prosperity
doubled, can never couterbalance the degrading
aud sensual tendencies now working, and which time
will make worse and worse.
All Monday May 30) was gala day in celebration
of the Pacific railroad completion. great crowd
gathered in the tabernacle hear speeches from
the Governor and other dignitaries and the normal
quantity of fourth OF July magnoquence talked
out. In the evening there was ali illumination, and
the streets were full of people, among whom l walked
and studied manners and faces we'll as | could Al
night went TO theatre, Brigham Yonng's institution,
" dedicated to the Lord" and there an hour to
see the people in their amusement. 1t looked to me
like loose assemblage OF very pFomiscuous crowd
and could see there good moral Influence Of work
1t is claimed by the Mormon leaders that the women
are conented and as happy anywhere else, but to
believe it would he talsiy all the natural emotions
of womaus heart Il issad that are not forced
marry hut they are led into marriage very early
age, and by usage or social law which they cannot
evade or control house was pointed out to u.s. with
two adjunct cottages, in which lived with three
sisters rs his wives. Another married two sisters IN
one day. A mother and daughter as was told,
wives Of the man, and there is doubt that
>uch is the fact. Gan decent women be happy under
circumstances such as these? saw some who had
sacrificed themselves under sincere conviction to duty
and who Tere striving TO bear their cross patiently;
hit, if | may judge from the faces and manners oI
those whom met especially the street and in pub
lie places, the prevailing condition is of moral ia
ertness, . lowered and unwomanly state OF mind an
indrf to a the sacred relations of married
life, ali absence of all the refined sentiments which
enttle women to feeling of selt-resppct.
There is no love lost" between Mormons and Gen
tiles as things now stand The United States law par
TALLY protects the latter or they would soon have to
leave the Territory. Not the interests of
trade bring the Two classes together, beyond the ne
cessities OF the dav.
What have now said has been expressed in general
terms, because, although my information carefully
gathered partly from those who defended the system as
it is and partly from those who felt and deplorea its
evil working do not wish to refer to specnl author
ty and individual experiences. have underworld to
Judge without prejudice, and tried to good even
when have failed That large numbers OF the people
Ire thoroughly almost fearullr in earnest do not
loubt, and their earnestness is intensified by their g
They ready TO do and to suffer whatever
heir leaders command, as if it were the direct COM
llAndment OF God himself The asserted continuance
If this divine revelation is the great power which the
eaders exert, and the requisite authority thus sat
he Lord" is always at hand. OF their sincerity in
Using it religious conviction, am not so SUI e. and
hey give such evidence of shrewdness and sound prac
ica Judgment in other things, and especially in the
management OF their own temporal ata re-, that can
lot but be surprised at the conclusions to which the
ONE upon the plain moral questions involved,