Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-12-07
The Mormon Question.

Polygamy is one thing, and the Nor
mon religion another. Polygamy ma
be abandoned by the l1atter-Day
SAINTS as it was by tho Jews. and as
it will be by the Turks, and that, too
without touching Mormonism essen
TALLY.
All that the Government of these
United States and Territories asks OF
the Mormons is, not that they DROP
their religion: but that they conform t.
the laws, as must all other citizens -
Here, every one is free to worship cd
as he p|eascs, whether it be in accord
ance with Pagan, Hebrew, or Christian
rites and customs but no one will b<
permitted to marry more husbands o,
more wives than the law allows.
The Normons once fled from thes>
States-after the murder Of joseph
Smith, their leader-into Mexican ter
ritory, hoping thereby to escape the
restraints of our laws but the war with
Mexico gave US California and the Ter
ritory then and now occupied by tn,
Mormo IS. This brought them once
more with the jurisdiction Of the Uni
ted States If they now couform to
the reasonable and just laws Of the
land, all will be we'll Should they still
prefer polygamy to living under ou1
Dem cratic Republican institutions. the
only way for them is to secure other
quarters beyond the reach of modern
civilization. Nay they not find AN unin'
habitvd island in the seas where they
may live md love to their hearts con
tent? IF not, we can sec no other way
than tor them to make necessity. and
submit to the powers that be, and to the
rule of our great Uncle Samuel instead
Of Father Brigham.
Let til; Utah Legislature provide 70,
those now married to their wives, and
for all children born in po]ygamy. uE
to a specified date, and give notice that
no further marriages of this sort will
be permitted, aud that will be way
out Of the difficulty d. not punish
the innocent Of deluded d. not bas
tardize those thousands Of children, o,
do violence where it can do no good
We counsel submission on the part OF
the Mormons to the laws, which mast
be in'partially administered; and We
counsel legal measures only, on the
part OF our authorities 1t will be- time
enough to bring out the guns whr,
open rebellion shall to manifested BY
the lawless. We would no more inter
terc-save in a missionary way-witI
the Norman religion than with any
Of the numerous religions il. our midst
Here we would say to the other Nor
mons, Take care Of one anuthcr, in al
love AMI kindness, as you have pledged
yourselves to do. No deSertion OF
leaving to cold charity those who have
been true in their social and cir rcli
gious relations TINE will soon wip,
out all earthly Obligations.
To younger Mormons VIC would say
Let each woman have one husband
or nc,-and each man have one wifi
or nonc,-and become law-abidin;
citizens in every sense. Instead Of per
sona| pride and ambition, let us liv,
and labor for the enlightenment anc
happiness Of CUR fcllow-mortals, whcth
err m religious, social, or other bonds
and we shall be blessed just in proper
ton as VIC deserve it. Good govern
ment can only exist where tho people
obey the laws, and where impartial jus
tice is motcd out alike to ono and all
'-lhrenoloy',cof Jownol