New-York tribune., 1871-10-07


giving in marriage, the government of house
holds. the rates of wages, texture and cost and
fashion of dress, amusemcnts, and religious
belief were all determined and regulated by
tho mind which was at once Prophet, Priest,
and King The rank and file OF the Mormons
are for the most part foreigners; they have
NOT been in the country many years; the ma
;or;tv have not even taken the first steps to-
ward naturalization and they came, rs they
cav. "not to America, but to Zion." They de-
oniso and contcmn the authority of the United
States. they deny the right of the Republic to
Interfere with any form of social, religious, OK
nol,tical order that they may elect; they
recognize no government but that of the State
of Doseret. no higher law than that OF the
Church of the Latter-Day Saints, and hold the
seol arms. and flag of their so-called State
(for they ignore the Territory of Utah) above
every other symbol of authority IN the world
So long as this peculiar and anomalous state
of things was left to itself and was fortlhed
by the absurd policy of giving the Governor
ship of the Territory to Young, tho peace Oh
tbe Deseret Zion was unbroken. But, altcr
fow failures, Gen. J. w. Shaffer was sent TO
govern Utah, and the vigorous and sensible
policy which he inaugurated has Dcen carr,eu
out so far successfully by Gov. Wood and his
iudicial associates. The completion OF the fa
cific Railroad, the discovery and opening OF
rich gold and liver mines in the Territory, anu
tbe natural influx of non Mormon, or Gentle,
population have simplifed the problem.
The Mormons, like the Southern Rebels,
are shrieking, "Let us alone!" 1t is Inter
"fcrencen that they object to. Under Terri
torial laws, adultery is grave crime, and
nolygomy is claimed to be a defense against
prostitution. United States Judge Mexican,
impanclhng jury to try case OF adultery
excludes from the panel persons VINO DelleVe
and live in poygamy. So that for the hrSt
time in Utah, jury of men is formed OF
Gentes. Nor ere polygamous Mormons only
excluded, but also men who believe the
dicta of Brigham Young to be OF higher
authority than the Constitution OF the
United States. George O. Cannon, VINO
now exhorts his fellOw-MomOns to rejoice
that the devil Qhe United States Gov
ernmenD is not dead, but lives to discl-
pline their sweet souls, testified that a reyela-
ton from Young is paramount to the laws OF
the United States. SO swOre they all.
we cannot tell what ofcnses will yet be sired
before this "packed" jury. 1t is certain that
men who in Utah assume that they can keep
harcms will be tried for adultery under their
own Territorial law, administered by officials
of the United States. 1t is an undoubtcd fact
that many secret murders have been COM
rnitted by the Danitcs, OF Angels of Destruc-
ton, probably under orders from the Nor
mon dignitaries. The massacre of Mountain
I, nf Trnm
was secretly exterminated, was the work OF
Mormons. Immigrants crossing the Plains to
California were waylaid, robbed, murdered,
and harlsscd in every possible manner.
Were such men as Sidney RigdOn and William
Hickman, alluded to in late correspondence VI
The TRIBUNE, to turn States evidence, we
should doubtless have unfolded chapter OF
horrors and crimes that wOl1d condemn to
death regiment of the specious hypocrites
of the Mormon priesthood, whose conviction
otherwise will be difficult. Though polygamy
is not the real point of attack in Utah,
it is doubtless tho instrument which, in
the hands of the United States Courts,
shall break the brittle hierarchy in
pieces. The day of its doom seems near Not
only must the people of Utah be taught that
pOlygamy cannot he tolerated in the United
States any more than widow burning can be per-
mittcd in Montana, in obedience to pretended
heavenly visions, but the impudent assump-
tions of their Church-and- State Government
must be destroyed forever. With the advance
of liberal ideas everywhere, some light has
dawned in the dark abodes of MOrmonism it
self, and intelligent schism and recantation of
error are not only troubling the hierarchy but
aiding the United States authorities to tear
away the refuge of lies which, however it may
resist the present attack, is bound to go down
before this decade shall pass away.