The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-11-23
THE MOTE AND THE BEAM.

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We are no apologist for Polygamy. We
believe it to be a great moral crime. But
the Mormons have different view Of it,
That they are honest in their belief, is dem
onstratcd by the sacrifices they have made,
the fearful difficulties they have encountered
and overcome, and the steady purpose that
has centralized and distinguished their history
of material prosperity, and solidity in civil
government. Driven from the confines of
civilization by popular condemnation, the
followers OF Smith, prosecuted and murdered,
settled themselves in desert, surrounded by
cluster Of the Rocky mountain spurs, never
before inhabited by man, quietly went to
work in building cities and towns, construct
ing acequias and changing the course of the
waters, to irrigate the barren lands, estab-
fishing factories, and other Industrial opera
tions, until they became wealthy contented and
SO far as We know, happy. Their society has
rapidly increased-the civil administration Of
Young was eminently successful. Their &C.
cumulated wealth and their blooming fields
attracted the cupidity of moral wrecks, who
sought access to the Territory of Utah and
Salt Lake city, for the purpose of getting a
share Of this affiuence by whatever means
they could, either fair or foul. The con-
struction Of the Pacific Railroad, through
that region, flooded upon them swarm of
Gentiles, most Of whom were morally far in
ferior to the Mormons. The prospect of an
early dislodgment of the Mornons from their
power in Utah, and the consequent destruc-
ton of its prosperity is promising.
| While the Mormous, in our eyes, bu, not
in their own understanding Of the question,
have committed great crime against the
moral laws of God and man, what have the
very authorities which have instituted this
crusade been guilty Of? The crimes which
every day are being developed at Washing
ton, and throughout the entire United States
the robberies, pcrjuries, moral depravity,
and universal wickedness, in every shape and
form, the Devil himself could suggest, nov
startling the world, that are being brought
to light, exceed in magnitude the wrongs
committed by the Mormons, as the brilliancy
Of the sun does that Of the pale glimmer CT
the glov worm
Let the administration and the people of
the United States, drst pull the beam from
their own eyes before they attempt to pluck
the mote from the eyes Of the Mormons. The
belief in polygamy, honestly entertained by
the Mormons, is mere bagatelle, compared
with the huge moral putrefaction which
rcigns supreme throughout every city of the
United States. Why, the various depart
ments Of the government at Washington city,
have been converted into designation houses.
under the patronage Of members Of Congress,
and supported by the peoples money drawn
out Of the public Treasury! Political and
financial magnatcs in all the larger citics and
especially in Washington and New York,
brazcnly parade their mistresses, bedecked in
princely gewgaws, founce arounds and fur
bellows. in the public avenues, and are the
admiration of the masses, who only lack the
filthy lucre to vie in the disgusting indul-
gence. Bigamy is openly endorsed by the
President of the United States, by his act of
pardon extended to a perjured member of
Congress, who had wantonly violated the
statutory laws affecting marital rights. If
the golden rule of doing unto others, as we
would have others do unto us, were put in
force, the Mormons would be permitted to
continue in the practice of their peculiar be-
lief, for the practical application Of the rule
would revolutionize the social system of the
United States and unearth crimes which would
shock the civilized world. 1t comes with a
bad grace from people who are daily and
hourly violating, in the most fragrant manner,
laws which they profess to endorse, to array
themselves against people, and hunt them
down, drive them from their hard earned
homes, and persecutc them in every magma
BILE way, because they practice the system of
polygamy, in which they honestly believe.
If war is to be made upon immortality let
it be universal. The greater crime is COM
mitted by those who practice vice, which
they theoretically condemn, rather than by
those who adhere to an unchristian and i'm
moral form of society, which they really be-
lieve to be Of divine sanction
This Pharisaical war upon polygamy, can
not fail to attract attention to vice in its more
hideous forms which prevails in other por-
tions Of our country than Utah, although it
may have been inaugurated for the adverse
purpose If the iron hand of the law is to be
placed with memorable certainty and precis-
ion, upon righteousness, let it fall with uni
formity, and where the greater crimes exist,
let the greater ferceness of its power be
felt. In cleansing the pig-styes of the
Mormons, let us not forget the Augean sta
bles of our immediate communities, and deal
out even handed justice to Gentle and Nor
mon.
Give the devil his dues The Richmond