The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-08
Brigham Young,

The arrest of Brigham Young, on the
presentment OF the Grand Jury of true
bills against him for bigamy, will draw
public attention to the progress of af-
fairs in that far.of region. 1t has long
been held up as reproach to this coun-
try that community whose social
foundations were laid in polygamy
should have been so long tolerated by
the American Government that do not
find themselves compelled to tolerate
some abuse, and ours Is no exception.
To do it justice, however, all the cir
into consideration. 1t Is not strictly
correct to say that the United States
Government has tolerated" Mormon
ism 1t has not taken energetic steps to
suppress it because there were humani-
tartan reasons for not doing so. Presi-
dent Buchanan, with view to the en-
forcement of the laws, sent military
expedition there-but the affair ended
in compromise which left matters
pretty much as they were. The move
ment of the United States troops there
AMI back cost the country several mil
lions of dollars. At that time Mormon
ism could not have been suppressed
without bloodshed, and the Govern,
ment was naturally and properly un-
willing to incur the responsibility OF
such an extreme measure, seeing that
the evil was confined TO very distant
and secluded locality, and, therefore
not likely to prove infectious by its
example; and seeing, also, that the
Mormons, in other respects than as re-
garded their polygamic institutions,
were thrifty community, busily and
successful engaged in developing the
capabilities of the soil. Salt Lake City
was a hive of industry, notwithstand
ing the questionable practices of its in
habiiants, and it was therefore held tc
be entitled to some forbearance. 1t:
population was constantly recruited
from the most ignorant classes OF Eu
rope, chiefly from England, Wales, ant
Scandinavia but ii is by no means
clear that the women thus said to hav'
been Converted" to Mormonism woult
have led better lives in their own coun
try-they probably would have had tt
undergo more drudgery than they hav'
in Mormondon. BE that as it may, tn
United States Government pursued
humane policy in allowing this grea
evil to run its natural course, confident
, that when the rapidly advancing It'd
, of colonization should have founde
great States around Utah, the influenc
, of Christian civilization would seal tn
fate of Mormonism; that those of it
: own household would then become il
foes, and the imposture of "the Propht
. of Nauvoo" and his tuccessors woul
g fade away. That hour seems to hav
come. Baigham Young, the absolute
f the defiant, the man who once threa
| ened all "Gentiles' with death If the
interfered with his domestic institl
: tiou," has, 1t is said, SUBMITTED quietl
: to the process of the United Stat'
Court, pleading sickness only az an eA
CuSe lUI nun HNuiauNS' +N' N'""' -
- presence of force Of United Stat
= troops has had something to do vii
j. this submissive policy; but it is quite
likely that men like Young and Orst
;, Pratt have correctly read the signs
o the times, and they perceive that Il
II hours of polygamy are Numbered
- therefore, they will not embark in
d unavailing contest. Age and ill'heal
s. are telling upon the Mormon leader
N "Prophet." He WAS born at Witte
20 ham, in Vermont, on the lst OF Jur
y, 1901, and he has, consequently, reach
ID the allotted term Cf man. His care
N will, perhaps, furnish theme for maj
IL a future essay, exhibiting, as 1t does'
n much energy, selfreliance, and capaci
y for domination and organization, co
ID bined with an amount of audacity I
I'd surpassed by that of Mahomat himst
1t was in 1888 that Brigham You
u Joined the "Latter day saints" tn
ly recently organized by Joseph Smith
us Nauvoo, in Illinois. He shared in
us the tribulations 10 which they were
us posed. When Smith was shot (27tt
OF June, lsi4), Brigham Young beca
NJ President Of the Council OF ="
a Twelve Apostles,n caused himself 10