The New York herald., 1870-05-20
The Mormons showing Their Teeth-Tae
Duty of tho Governments.

| mons are eOelti0uS at heart anu Vhy ""'0 '0i
an opportunity TO defy the United States gov
ernment. We learn that the Mormon autho-
rites, as they are called in the despatch, dur
ing recess of Justice Wilson's court, at Salt
Lake City, on Wednesday, closed the house
against him and the United States Marshal
and refused to allow the Judge to continue his
sitting. 1t is said, however, that after con-
sultaton they surrendered the hall to the pos
session of the court. This is not the first time
that these fanatical people have shown their
teeth to the United States government. Every
one will remember the incipient rebellion of
the Mormons during the Pierce administra-
tion, when General Sidney Johnson was sent
out with large force and at great cost to en-
force the laws. 1t is pretty well known,
too, that several Of the Indian wars
have been fomented by these people
out of hostility to the government
and people of the United States, and with a
view of making profit out Of the difficulties.
How often, also, have the Mormon leaders
denounced the government and threatened
resistance to the extent of civil war. Their
infiammatory speeches and newspaper articles,
in connection with open resistance to the
authority of the government, would have
brought down the strong hand of power upon
| them in other civilized countries. But the
| government at Washington has been extremely
moderate, and although the party now in power
declared in its platform long ago that ''those
twin relics Of barbarism, slavery and Nor
monism" must be destroyed, that party seems
| to have been afraid of facing the difficulty
with regard to the latter. Slavery was abolished
| through the war, but Mormonism has continued
to flourish, and is more deeply rooted to day
than ever.
Opportunely with this news Of the rebellious
attitude of the Mormoas at Salt Lake, and
almost at the same moment Of time,
Mr.. Cragin, of New Hampshire, made a
speech in Congress denouncng the barbarsm
of polygamy and other crimes in Utah,
and urging the passage of the bill now
pending to execute the laws in that Territory
Mr.. Cragin told the republican party that it's
mission was not completed, and would not be
till Mormonism disappeared as wei as slavery.
The law of 1862 prohibiting polygamy and
making it crime is dead letter, he said,
because the courts in Utah had no power to
enforce it, He boldly declared that Utah is
now perfect pandemonium of debaucbery
and crime; that ignorant and deluded women
were en.iccd there and taught, under the
guise of religion that polygamy was sacred
institution which would make them queeus in
heaven. He exposed their vile customs, and
showed that the women are unhappy, though
they were afraid to speak; that, in fact, both
they and the mass of the common men were
under the most frightful despotism. He re-
ferred to the horrors Of the Mountain Meadow
massacre in 1857 and to other outrages, and
said truly that large part of these Mormons,
who cursed and deied the United States, were
ignorant, unnaturalized foreigners. This bill
of indictment is too true, and it behooves Con-
gress to crush out the evil before il acquires
greater strength and spreads farther.
1t is unnecessary TO go into the history,
practices and doctrines of Mornonism They
are well known. The existence Of such a
hundred thousand souls, probably, in the
midst of a great civilized country, is sur
prising anomaly and disgrace to the United
States. The whole system is in conflict with
the laws of nature, religion, Christianity, the
ideas of the civilized world and morality. Il
it by the most gross perversion of religion.
But its Influence extends beyond the limits OF
Utah or of the Mormon communities. The
free love societies scattered about in different
parts Of the country, and the free love ideas
which are tending to sap the foundations Of
the family relations and Of morals, gain their
strength in great measure from the flourish
ing existence of Mormonism. Ignorant
people, seeing a community Of polygamists
grow in wealth and power, undlsturbed by the
government, are led to imagine there is some
thing good in it, or, at least, that there is
no great harm in it. The lewd and
weak, who only study the gratifca-
ton of their own passions, embrace
Mormonism. This Infamous stain on or ciyili-
zation and country has spread and been per-
petuated through the grossest ignorance and
vilest passions. It is cancerous ulcer in the
y,
more dangerous than it has been. Now is the
time to apply remedy, and the government
will be derelct in duty il it does not make the
application at once.
A great deal has been said about the diff
culties in the way of extinguishing Mormonism,
and no doubt there are difficulties. But they
are not so great az they will be if The evil is
permitted to continue. Every year adds to
them by the increase Of the Mormon popula-
ton and their wealth. Relentless persecution
would only make these people martyrs, and
cause, probably, great deal Of bloodshed. As
Territory the government has complete con-
troll over Utah, even in the matter of marriage
aud the family relation. A positive law, there
fore, against poygamy can and ought to be