The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-22

or any existence but that OF terrltorlM abey-
ance. Now and then we have had Mormon
scandals, but they vanisher before reso-
Lutte Federal presence. The "war" that was
menaced in Buchanan's time was as much a
contractors war as anything else, and practi-
cally ended with the transportation OF sup
plies. The Mormons are practically aliens.
They gain nearly all of their proselytes in
foreign countries. We rarely hear OF q Nor
mon colony in the East. Here and there in
the slums sometimes we hear OF mormon
missionaries and conversions to the gospel
of Smith, but as q faith it has made no i'm
preston upon civilization. This result has
been attained without law. Reason and reli-
zion have done it all. The Mormon felt that
he was moral outlaw, and he sought immu-
nity and growth in O territory of his own.
There he has lived, mainly thrifty, industri-
ous. full of enterprise and vigor, under the
SWAY of rude Cromwell, adding wealth to
the republic. In a material way, Mormonism
has been a gain to the country. 1t taught us
what could be done in the far deserts 1t was
the pioneer of immigration and settlement
beyond the Rocky Mountains The Mormon
has been useful as a tiller of the sofia
builder of cities and railways, and in reclaim
ing from the wilderness garden Of surpass-
ing fertility and beauty.
If there has been any moral example to us
in the Mormon faith, it has been good. Our
people who live decently and lawfully, and
eschew heathenism and vain things, have
had no better incentive than the Mormon
practice. Nearer home we find Communists
who believe in interchanging wives, and
Shakers, who practise celibacy, and disciples
of promiscuous marriage and "affinities.
Bad as Mormonism is, the Oneida Commu-
nifty is far worse-nay, it has the element
of blasphemy; for while the Mormon sins
in the name Of mock apostle and gro
tesque faith, the Communist pretends to 1--we
in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by
him and his followers. And yet we allow
Oneida to remain unchallenged and under
the protection of our laws. It's leaders
do business in New York city, and we hear
of no law penalty and no proposed army
of extirpatlon. We have social customs In
New York city as bad as Mormonism
and Communism, which are not even under
the surveillance of the police. We tolerate
them, and find consolation by calling them
necessary evils We see sin at our own
door. and should meet it here, if we pro-
pose to make any reform. Why go to Utah
with any army to conquer a social and reli-
gious evil which has a darker counterpart in
New York?
So long as Mormonism is a religious and
moral fault, we must combat it with religious
and moral Influences Christ's Gospel cannot
be preached by artlllery ana rlnemen. Inc
moment we war upon religion we make it
power, giveit new life, stimulate its friends,
arouse dormant compliance into enthusiastic
devotion and sympathy, attract followers and
converts, and in the end fail in the effort of
aggression. The blood of martyrs is the seed
of the Church. and the moment we use fire
and faggot to tear down, we build up Already,
in the Mormon country, there are abundant
evidences of disintegration. Brigham Young,
who has ruled his Church and territory with a
vigor and genius that remind us of Cromwell
and upon whose brain and will the whole
fabric has rested-is now an old man, and
must soon pass away. The railway has opened
Utah to stream of penetrating and Olsen
chanting light. Time and progress and good
example, and the influence of Christ's Cos
| pei, will conquer Mormonism. The law must
| let it alone-unless it becomes an element OF
| disorder