New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-06
UTAH.
POLYGAAlY.

To the EditOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: / am forced to differ with Bayard
TAYLOR in his conclusions regarding gany as
published recently in THE TRIBUNE. He says:
law against Poygsy Law re'ICse'e IN is
aspects satisfied that the solnion OF this u may be safely
promulgated the OF population at tine wttn The ae
OF sb ep9 oasen ~ The et the country seemed ,e
90 and Il is sa both mpoic and arcRaHabe now visit
with law which would disgrace many women and hren ee
and that the system win gradually ~hou. eyea.
ton, dsconi nuing IT, IRON Brigham loung'
The revelation commanding pOlygamy was invented 10
cover the centious practices of Joseph Smith, which, to-
gether with incest and murder grew naturally from
Mormon theology three branches from stock As
early as 1882 Joseph began to have revelations on the
subject and his attempts the virtue of his female de-
voices kept the sect constantly in trouble as long as he
lived 1t was to retain his hold his people, which
he was fast losing, by jusfyng in sort his bad
habits as well as to sancty sexual license 10y making it
religious duty that the revelation obtained. For
ten years thereafter it practced by leading Nor
mons secret the church denying 1t from time 10 time
I'm the most public and solemn manner, through Joseph
himself through its conferences, its sacred books, Its
newspapers its elders and missionaries everywhere. At
last its fruits became too evident 1t could 10 longer be
concealed it had to be avowed reprobaed, and in
1852 five years after their arrival in Utah. it was
acknowledged and proclaimed a doctrine Of the
Church.
1t likewise mistaken idea that is on the decline.
From and unquesonable sources has it been
coming all the Spring that never before # en-
tered into such extent other things being equal
since the bill prohibiting it. now pending IN the Senate,
was introduced in the House. 1t is done in spirit OF
defiance. Polygamy has 10 be s inwOyen with
their theology, religion and poty, that It and Mormon
ism synonymous terms and the people We're never
more firmly, although they may have been more fanatic
ally, Mormon, than now. True some members have be-
come dcmoralized and fallen of round the edges but
whyi Because OF the weight OF public condemnation
resting upon them. Within eighteen months there has
been much change for the better Formerly, brigham
had great influence in Washington. He has none with
the present Administration. All poly ganiss IN Govern.
ment employ have been succeeded by Gcntiles, and n
any of these shows signs OF weakness he Is at once
superseded. For the first time poly gamy feels that i
prescribed by the President Of the United states The
world has been brought 50 near 10y te IaoaI Ilat lsee
discussion is no longer personally dangerous Prominent
men have seeded from Brigham and established a
schsIn OF much more importance AN us numbers d.-
cate because of its comparatively intellectual character
The SONS of the Prophet Joseph have established a
church here, also which boldly arraigns Brigham az
usurper and arch-apOstate, and which Is gradually
gathering up the spiritual element as Godbe and Harr-
son are the intellectual Last April We had three rvll
Mormon conferences here IN the holy city, each souty
claiming to represent the true Church. Very recently
the Mcthodss have started mission here whose pros
poets are bright AT its last session the legislature
adopted the best code Of civil and criminal laws II could
find, gave woman the right OF Suffrage enacted Jaw 10
regulate mining, and Incorporated Cornne Gentle
soemny denounced the law and versus an aDomha-
ton" When the Culom bill passed the House, and they
met In convention Ia protest against H. there was
no nting, profane and vulgar clustering as former
ly there is little OF the same observable In their sermons
either, tlell cause WIS pttu WIN
dignity, and could we grant their premises, Ell ctivcy
Then live Governor in the person OF Col Shaer
and earnestly set about making OF what law have
ostracse pOy gamy and treason lie resolved 10 assert
his rights according TO the organic act OF the Ter
Titory.
All this Generalization may be justly said to have pro
ceeded from the attitude Of the Administration and Of
Congress toward the Mormon rebellion, for such IL has
long been Let that be changed let them show any sign u
reenting and this good work would not only hut
Brigham would recover all the lost ground. Let Us have
law before Congress adOurs that Will make the law OF
1862 available, and let be explicit ana thorough not a
compromise with the evil which would give IL greatly
the advantage-nOt a half measure which would irrate
opponents, exhaust US and effect nothing but mis-
chief. GENTLE.
Salt Lake City, June q, 1870.