The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-01


mon leaders are to be speedily placed
on trial for offences against the
statutes. 1t appears, however, that the
Saints are determined to fight for their special
and peculiar privileges, and that while the
purchase Of arms goes briskly on, their
papers advocate open resistance to the
laws, and breathe defiance to the hereti-
cal United States government in wonderful
and alarming manner. AS our despatch says,
the Mormon heart is being fred, and as set
off against the terror Of the confagration
Camp Douglas is to be filed up with govern
ment troops.
Ever since the people destroyed the system
of slavery which had for ages prevailed in this
country they have been learning and teaching
to others the lesson of perfect obedience to
law. But while that great wrong existed, and
was sustained in a measure by law, there was
not seen that ready obedience to acts of Con-
gress which we now everywhere behold. We
all remember the silly attempt made dozen
years ago by the late President Buchanan to
enforce the laws against poiygamy. Brigham
Young laughed at Congress, at Mr. Buchanan,
and at the army that he sent to enforce the
will of the people. The Prophet armed and
equipped his saints and sent them forth to
meet the national troops, who were snow
bound in the Plains, and who, instead of cap
turing Brisham's army, were captured by
them. The Mormon leader made money
by that expedition and defeated Uncle
Samuel's soldiers in bloodlsss campaign,
so that the latter were glad to return
to the States with their own lives, instead Of
bringing in the scalps of their enemies with
them. From that date until the completion
of that great national enterprise, the Pacific
Railroad, Brigham Young and his followers
were bold and blatant. They defed the power
of the United States, and under the plea of
religious liberation dared Congress to enact
any laws to repress or destroy this Mormon
abomination. But Congress did pass such
laws, and sent out its officers to Utah to en-
force them; and our dispatches of yesterday
and the day before from Salt Lake City show
that the government officials in the Territory
are determined to enforce the laws against
polygamy and to begin with the biggest Nor
mon of the lot-Brigham Young himself.
1t has been stated in recent dispatches
that Young was ready to submit to arrest,
in the full consciousness of being able to over
come all the charges against him before the
law. We can hardly interpret this language,
for if the charge of polygamy is pressed
against the Prophet we cannot conceive how he
can justify himself before the law; but if his
indictment is based upon some other charges
we are yet in the dark as to their nature. We
have no doubt that if Brigham is arrested at
all it will be for polygamic PRACTICES and
we have too much faith in the
shrewdness and common sense to believe
that he will voluntarily batter his
brains out against Uncle Sans artillery.
The people Of the United States are in no
mood at present TO be defed and browbeaten
by such handful of licentious followers of
false Prophet as the saints of Mormondom
are. The Americans are a religious and
liberty-loving people, and any appeal to their
sentiments of religious federation will receive
a respectful hearing. 1t is upon this ground,
and this only, that polygamy has been per-
mittcd to exist so long. The government was
lenient toward it as toward religious insti-
tuition; but when it began to loom up as a
great theoeratic system, defying alike the laws
of the land and the moral sentiment of the
people, Congress took it in hand and applied
the proper remedies, which we feel convinced
will effect radical cure.
But while the government is thus de-
termined to rid the country of polygamy, it
will no. needlessly lay hands on any religious
right which belongs to the people of Utah, in
common with the rest of u.s. under the constitu-
ton They may still build their churches and
ordain their prophets and apostles, and
preach polygamy in those churches if they
please; but ii they openly practise it, as they
| do now, they must submit to the same
measure of justice as would be meted out to
polygamists in this city. Impartial justice
is one of the bright jewels Of the republic,
and it must not be plucked from Lberty's
crown by other hands than those which have
placed it and maintained it there. We have
| people of every name and nationality living
among us here, and if we allow one class to
| break the laws we cannot reasonably expect
another class to obey them, unless, indeed,
the laws agree with the will and desires of
the people. Tolerance toward polygamy
would be an invitation to African fetishism
and Hindoo lire-worship, or any other equally
| extravagant notions, for which as good a
religious excuse might be shown, perhaps, as
has been presented in behalf of the Mormon
abominaton to come and settle among us.
We see how bold it has made the free Lovers in
all parts of the Union, and it is but reasonable
to expect that other extremists would not be
slow to take advantage of this leniency also.
1t is with more than ordinary satisfaction,
J therefore, that we view those proceedings