The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-02-23
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Il
ligious affiliations not altogether credible to
any criticism on the Cullom bill must be ac-
counted for on the ground that the Mormons
as q body were rebel sympathizers during the
war, and are still hostile to the General Gov
eminent. This establishes a sort Of political
fellowship between them and the Democratic
party'-and more of the same sort.
| The Enterprise shows itself poorly acquaint-
ed with the politics of the Mormons when it
allies them in sympathy with the Democracy,
or any other political organization. 1t may
suit Radical press to unite in denouneing the
Mormons just now, because n bill introduced
by Radical Congressman is pending in a
Radical committee, but If Congress should
happen to reject it, we shall look for CORES
ponding change in the editorial tone of the
Enterprise. And when political favors are to
be had, We have never found Radical Office
seekers backward about seeking for sympathy
and assistance from this quarter. In neigh
boring Territory, two years ago, n Radical
candidate for Congress found this Mormon
'rebel sympathizing' vote acceptable, and
the only county which elected Radical
ticket was one exclusively populated by Nor
mons. The Mormons have no politics which
have any connection with the Gentiles.
They support men and measures for reasons
purely personal. Their politics are absorbed
in their religious organization, and devoted
wholly to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the church.
All this twaddle about rebel sympathy sounds
exceedingly silly to any Gentle who has re-
sided at Salt Lake City. The vilest rebel that
ever hurrahed for JEFF. Davis during the war
fonnd as little favor or fellowship among the
Mormons as the most blatant Abolitionist.
They are all Gentiles alike and subjected to
| similar treatment. If there is any place in
the country where partisan feeling is ignored,
and Democrats and Republicans assimilate
without regard to politics. it is there i'll the
very presence of Brigham Young. No Re
publican or Democratic party ever had an or
ganization in Utah.
In the consideration of n great national
question like this, the Enterprise ought to be
able to raise above partisan view, and to
treat the subject impartially, and with some
reference to the facts. There is much that is
Objectionable in the system, but in this in
stance Wilkie Collins remark has been JUST
fed II consider report in general way to
| be fool and liar" The tendency of the
age is against the MormOns, and as tempo
raj power they must soon pass away; but they
are terribly in earnest, and like all religious
fanatics will sacrifice 'the world, the fesh
| and the devil" to maintain their identity.
True craftsmanship will look for means to
/
bic to the community, and to the whole ma
| ton. II does not consist in the denunciation
and bloody threats of determination. We
have had war and expense enough for this
| generation if it can be avoided. 1t is true the
Government can exterminnte the people Of
| Utah; but chi bono? 1t can also eNterminnto
the people of Nevada should they choose To-
incur it's displcRsurc. When the doors of tho
temple of war are once thrown open, and the
dogs of destruction turned loose npp,: Amcri-
can citizens, who shall close them, or who
shall say for what cause this penalty shall be
applied? The Mormon rule in Utah has been
oppression and tyranny. SO has the Gentle
rule in many of the States been toward the
Mormons. The Gentiles Of Utah have suf-
fered much from the outrnges of outlaws who
should suffer for their crimes. Democrats
rs we'll as Republicans unite in dctcsta-
ton of their acts, and will favor any nccessa-
~ measure to maintain order and insure per-
feet security to every individual in Utah, be
he of whatever name, country, or creed. The
Democracy have nothing to do with the rcl-
gious creeds of Utah If there are polyga-
mists violating the laws, punish them, and, if
necessary, provide stringent measures to eff
feet it; but poygamy is not insepnrable from
MOrmonism. An intelligent gentleman who
spent two years travelling through Utah and
studied their institutions thoroughly, in every
town from Soda Springs to Arizona, estimates
the number of them having more than one
wife in the proportion of one to five hundred,
Most of the polygamists are in the large
towns. Many towns numbering thousands
have no families containing more than one
Wife Men, like the Enterprise, would SEEM
ingly murder the entire town to punish per-
haps polygnmist bishop.
Radical papers complain Of hostility to tho
| Government; l. c., themselves. In fact, there
was the same manifestation against the Dem
ocratic administrations of Pierce and Buchan-
nm, and the Wing administration of Fillmore,
rs shown against Lincoln or Gen. Grant.
The Democracy are in favor OF \ civil gov
eminent in Utah that will effcctually preserve