Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-03

MORMoNIsM is getting into difficulties where
it will require aud irmanskllful hand so to steer
It's course as to escape total shipwreck, and, with
the best management, that may not be possible
without throwing polygamy overheard Chief
Justice Mexican of the United States court evil
IDENTIFY means business, and is neither afraid nor
unwilling to bring matters TO an ISSUE In i'm
panelling the grand jury in his court the other
day, three Mormon elders, Cannon, Cawson
and Townsend were challenged, and on exam-
nation, testified that they believed polygamy a
divine institution, one Of the fundamental doc
trines Of their church, taught by direct reyela-
ton from God, and that they do not believe
man living in poygamy is guilty of adultery.
Judge Mexican sustained the challenge in a fear
less and conclusive opinion, in the course of
which he said:
The sophism by which polygamy is sought to
be justified as being in harmony with American
civilization is that poygamy is a religious prac-
tice; that religious federation is one of the fun
damental principles of American Institutions
and Of the federal constitution, and that there
fore polygamY is protected by the constitution,
and all laws enacted against it are uncOnstitu.
ti0ual. If the mass Of the American people
were barbaiians, or if the patriarchal or tribal
~ etciu u HONtIUutHt pItNdiCu dulOuH
them, it is needless 10 say that our con-
stltution and institutions could not exist.
IL Is not little humlliaing thar it should seem
TO be necessary 10 add that our constitution and
institutions do not requre-nay, do not permit
the liberation OF any practice which wages
war against the existence of civilization. There
have been religions which have required the Of
1erlnE up OF human sacrifices TO the sun and
the casting OF infant children TO the crocOdjles
OF the Ganges; but if such deeds were done in
this country is there in all the land one man SO
dishonest that he would attempt to iustirv then
by the plea of religious federation? Rnt VIM
waste time in discussing such prupostion az
that involved IN this case? When the hurrlor
is a fl juror TO inquire into the crime of bnr
glary; when the robber is a tit juror to inquire
into the crime Of larceny; when the assassin is
then the bigamist, who swears in substance that
crimes are his religion, may be fit juror TO in
quire into the crimes of bigamy and adultery
Bat, thanks 70 centuries Of Christian ctviliza-
ton that time is not now; and, judging from
the steady progress Of the human race, that
time Will never come. The challenger is sus-
tanned, and the three Jurors named are rejected
Brigham Young, it is said has been, or will
be, indicted by this grand jury, and opinions are
divided whether he viii quietly submit to let the
law take It's course or will stir up his peopl. to
resistance. The fact that some Of the saints
have lately purchased large quantity of arms
and ammunition is regarded as significant in
this connection. There was time not very
long ago, when such action as judge McKean's
would have been extremely uuwise But times
have changed in Utah as elsewhere. The Nor
mon community is no longer isolated on every