The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-10-05
The War on Mormonism.

Ihere has been nothing IN the history
of religious decisions, not even excepting
the career of Mahomet and his followers,
which can compare with that of the Nor
mons whose local habitation is at the foot
of the eastern slope of the Rocky Noun
tains. The voluntary believers in Ma
horledanlsm were primitive, ignorant
and superstitious men. to whose natures
the wild and erratic enthusiasm of the
new belief was entirely suited 1t is not
matter of surprise that the theories of
the prophet We're eagerly embraced, es-
pecially when beside it flashed the sword
of its zealots, with the cry ''bclicve or
die
But Mormonism arose in the full blaze
OF the intelligence OF the nineteenth CEN
fury, among IN educated, thinking, enter
prising people, the least addicted to super
sition, probably, of any upon whom the
sun of heaven shines. 1t has made its
way against popular dislike, against uni
yersal ridicule, in spite of the Acnunca-
tons of the pulpit, the power Of the press,
and of persecution unto hoodshed. 1t
has sent forth missionaries and gathered
proselytes from the tour quarters of the
globe, until its community has arisen to the
proportions of Il State. II erected cities
and magnificent temples OF worship, and
when the fires of persecution came, aban-
doned all and fled across a drcary desert.
thousand miles, to found u new State,
the beauty, wealth and even magnilicencc
of which have been the wonder of behold
ers. This remarkable community has
puzzled the churchmcn rs much as il has
the philosopher and political economist
But it has tourished despite the wonder
ment of all.
Looking nj the results that have been
compassed, and comparing them with
other like human achievements, the con-
clusion would seem to be irresistible, that
the founder of this religion. and the de-
fender OF the faith by which they were
animated, must have been, like Mah0met
a man remarkable for experiences knowl-
edge of mankind shrcwdnesS, sagacity
and penetration. 1t is surprising to know
that he was none OF these. Joseph Smith,
the founder of Mormonism, first saw the
light in Vermont, 6G years ago If cotem-
porary and uncontradicted testimony may
be accepted, the family from which he
sprang was morally bad, and the new
prophet was no exception to the general
rule. They were Incorporate, untruthful
and thieving. They We're Missionaries who
engaged much i'll money digging and
kindred pursuits. Smith was very poorly
educated, read with difficulty, could scarce
write legibly, and could hardly tell the
sum OF four times four. Yet this man
solemny asserted that God had made to
him revelation that he had work for
him to do, and that under direction of that
revelation he had dug up golden plates on
which were inscribed the Book of Nor
mon. The history Of Smiths violent death
Ut llC nliluA vi dn llllllOlS mon. me as
sumption of leadership by the present
successor OF Smith, Brigham Young, and
the journey to Utah. are matters of his
tory, and need not be here enumerated.
1t is strange that by Instruments so
ignoble and in u manner so incredible Il
combined religious and social system
should have been built up. embracing in
its fold hundreds of thousands-a system
which has prospered and is apparently to-
day as strong as ever. The spectacle,
while ii confounds all rules derived from
the theories and experience of those who
have made the phases of humanity study,
amazes the Christian philosopher with the
sight of retrograde movement in the
heart of a civilized and Christian country.
What its future is to be, can now be at
best but conjectured. SO singular has
been its history, that it seems us though
its future must be something extraordin-
airy.
Our attention is drawn to this subject at
the present time because of Il happening
of events and thickcning of rumo1s in
the direction of the Mormon community
which indicate that the hour of its trial
has come. The crowding into the terri
tory of an outside population, especially
since the building of the Pacific Railroad
and the discovery of mines in the noun
tains-a population of scoifers at the
sacred Book of Mormon, and ieercrs at
the peculiar institution of polygamy-has
to degree weakened the power of the
Mormons. They might even endure that
and live. But war has been declared
against polygamy, through the enforce
ment OF statutes both of the United States
and the Territory itself-the former, at
least, aimed directly at that special sin in
that particular territory. The manner in
which this is to be done in community
so overwhelmingly favoring those to be
arraigned, is thus explained in recent
article of the Boston Daily Journal
1t seems a fine illustration of the saying that
The Whlrllgig OF Time brings round its re-
venges"-that Brigham Young and his associ- |
ates should be brought before court of the
people to be tried for adultery under one of the
statutes OF their own territory. The authorities |
have done right in taking this statute, rather
than the federal act against polygamy, which Is
by no means so deadly. The Mormons now
see that they are ''hoist by their own petard." |
Brigham Young rebels, and claims that the |
grand jury assembled Is not legal body, be-
cause it has not been summoned by territorial
marshal, assisted by bishops etc. But the Gen
tiles claim that the jurors have been summoned !
IN accordance with federal statute which sets
aside territorial law.
There is an act for the prevention of polygamy
IN inc territories. 1t is strong one, WELDON
structed, and making provision against all
pleas Which would be likely to be set against
u. Hefeto10re, it has been impossible 10 practi-