New-York tribune., 1871-06-02


worldly and lead them away from the truth az 1t s In
Christ and ma il has boen revealed 10 his Saints, shall
be content
you not afraid that the great influx
OF Gentilos which the railroads bringing upon you.
will have the tendency to lead your people astray
B,loham-If our fpeople not iunder the direct
protection of God might but learned early in life not
20 fret about what could not help H. OF course, bad
for any community to have thrown upon lot Of ad
ycnturers and moro specuiators and tho history OF
mining in this country Is not such would make any
man. careful OF the and religious interests OF his
neighborhood welcome this class OF immigration. bu'
God has purpose in it; and are quito wiling
trust him.
you think that the gold and silver
mining Of the Pacific coast has been great pieSSns "
the countryS
Brigham.-Tll tell you what I think, ana nave no
doubt 1t will astonsh you. have watchea 'nc n'''i
carefully for years. and made my estimates upon ",o
arraignment OF facts, and am prepareu W say 'ha
every dollar OF gold which has been producod In TINS
country or elsewhere, has cost the "ofiu oe ""'0"
dollars.
COrreeDondent-I don't understand you
Byioba,o. didn't presume you would told you
would astonish you But you can rely upon the sae-
ment for il liz true
CorrespondenL-But what would California and
the Pacific coast have boon to-day, but Tor
the gold and silver which have attracted
coast and its wonderful agricultural developments no
adequate recompense for what may possibly have been
the losses Of individual speoulat0rs :
B,ighan,-It is hard TO estimate the evil effects Of Cal
ifornia mining upon the morals and manhood Of the
ton This whole country is suffering ncalcuaby now,
and will suffer for century to come from these demoral
izng influences. The discovery OF gold in California has
done to spread and intensity the national evils OF
gambling and debauchery than all other influences com
bined You suffer from it in NewYork, and we suffer
from it here and the Lord only knows its extent. The
agricultural of California would have been de-
veoped in Gods good time If the discovery OF the pre-
cious metals had not precipitated it.
O0Tespondent-I must confess that have been greatly
disappointed IN one particular since my arrival here
had been led believe from current reports and from
what seemed to be truthful statements in print that
stranger had TO be very careful of his language and
movements here; that his steps watched and his
keyholes appropriated the outside. have suffered
from no such surveillance and have who
has.
Brighdm-we have ceased to notice what ia said OF US
by sensational bookmakers. People who write books
and newspaper letters desire to have them read; and
everything tending to this end seems legitimate What
the circumstances lack they sharp enough to fur
nishsrom their fertile brains If one wants to know u.s.
he must and for himself If he wants TO live
in perpetual ignorance of let him read what written
about us.
C0fTcSp0nucnt-1OU on lnlist
one thng-and about the only thing that is constantly
associated with Mormons in the minds of people outside
lis Polygnmy. doubt II person out OF twenty In the
Atlantic States, whose minds have been drawn to the
Mormon question, have the least idea TO what your
religion any part of is, except that one man may
have many wives.
Brigham.-There is no candidfman or woman who will
carefully study the tenets of religion and especially
who will witness its effects upon its adherent and doubt
its divine origin and its dvneprOtection Look at our
prominent men, industries daily lives the moral
tone of the community. Compare young men and
women with those of other cities. How many of
young found with cigars in their mouths and
profanity upon their lipsi How many frequent drink
ing places or gambling hells Here is a teacher of
highest school, and he will tell you that ont of 200 stu
dents-mostly young men-Only four were found, upon
careful inquiry, who either used tobacco in any FORM
tea coffee, liquor, or profanity. In what other com
munity could such a record be made And this ia only
an indication Of what religion doing the young
COTTeSponden-That is, indeed remarkable exhibit,
and should commend your consistency, If not your
gion. II is seldom that preaching and practice go
together. 1t is really pyl where there so much
to admire in the external working of system, there
should exist!any ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to complete
determination with good people everywhere 1t hard
thing to prescribe any people for their region but is
scarcely possible that the Government and people of the
United States outside of the Mormon Church will ever
be willing to tolerate Polygamy ;snot because it is
religion but it is in direct opposition to the law
of the land and to public morals.
Brghdm-I have just proved to you that it is not Op
posed TO public morals, by showing that it exists with
and promotes the highest condition Of public morals.
No. the people of the United States not opposed to
Polygamy, and MOrmOnpersecutiOn has not been from
this cause. The biterest trials of the Church were
passed through before Polygamy proclaimed
pracced That is not the basis Of persecution. Ii lies
deeper than that
COrrespondent.-Won't you tell me what it is
Brigham.-Yes, will. 1t is prestcraft and religious
jealousy and intolerance The MormOns have the key 10
eternal e the latest and most complete revelation from
God They are chosen, people set aside to the great
work regeneration 1nd Satan and his emissares
opposed to that work Who murdered Joseph and yrum
Smith twenty-five years ago7 Nobody but leading MEM
bers Of what are called ORTHODOX churches The Bapts
Methodiss and Presbyterian preachers disguised them
selves entered the Jail at Carthage and committed
der in the Of their religion There is dsputing
this fact Every person engaged in that nefarous bus
ness is known to The party was led on by Baptist
minister and there in it members in good standing
in the Methodist and Presbyterian churches The Nor
peaceful, law-abidng people, as they are
nOw and they did not practice poygamy then, because
the revelation had not been given then.
COrrespondenf.-But the sons of Joseph Smith deny
that their father ever received the revelation OF Celes
tial Marriage"
Brigham.-Yes, poor boys, know they do hut they
are quite as well aware Of the fact as am. Alexander
Smith confessed the whole thing in this very and
before competent witnesses When presented with in
controvertble facts the point, he exclaimed, Will
accept no human testimony and yet in five minutes
afterward while in the heat of debate he acknowledged
that his mother had told him all about it," o. they
weak babies unworthy Of their llustrous father and
vany striving to tear down what he built up They are
flexible instruments In the hands Of designing men, but
they powerless. have great affection for them,
nevertheless and would gladly extend to them the honors
and privileges Of the church. But am sorry to say
they had bad training, and have not wisdom to dis