The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-11-01
LETTER FROM SALT LAKE CITY

Conference has held us Celii-<Ah
and has not done much to in
terest the "outside" world. Its deliber-
ations were characterized by more lib
erality of sentiment than any previous
session.
Brigham Young prophesied that
it was not contrary to the spirit OF
Mormonism for the "Saints" to send
their children to "Gentile' or "Sec-
tartan" schools and have them admitted
''free of charge" stating that if the par
ents were true "Latter Day Saints" the
children would not "stray from the /
fold"-the force of example restraining
them from ''apostacy."
1 wondered what the term or phrase
Stree of charge" had to do with the sub
ject. The inference to be drawn from il |
is clear TO my mind-if they (the par
ents) are able to pay for instruction,
then send to Mormon schools; otherwise
it will not hurt the morals of the inno-
cents to be instructed "free of charge
in "Gentile' or "Sectarian" schools;
and it would have the double effect of
educating the children and "spoiling
the Gentilesi at the same time, as
Hworldlings" or "outsiders" would de-
nominate that sharp practice.
The 'President' also had a good deal
to say or "prophesy" in reference to the
"Babylonish fashions of the Sisters,
sometimes speaking sareastically, and
at other times descending to vulgarity
and almost to obscenity-strangely in
keeping with his prosition-bringing
the blush Of shame and Indignation to
many fair cheek. He says there are
many young men who are desirous of
marrying and helping to huild up the
'Kingdom of Heaven" on the earth,
but stand appalled, at the prospective
expense of supporting one or fire wives;
that it is all man of moderate means
can do to support one when t,oenty.fouy
yards Of material are put in one dress;
therefore the Kingdom languishes and
is not built up, and the women are to
blame for it,
1t is a pity about the poor, innocent
yo,mg men, and the Kingdom also.
Both have my sympathies. But, Sc
riously, the "BabylOnish fashions" are
doing more to break up or dO'cl, polyg-
amy than all other forces combined.
Make n note of that, ye rebukers of
woman's folly and vanity; and while
we acknowledge our weaknesses with
all humility, allow US poor benighted
creatures to take to ourselves the credit
of doing something 10 benefit human
ity, if with no other weapon than our
love of pretty things, or, as Brother
Brigham would term il, our Babylon
/ ish fashions" Wonder if we are out OF
''Our sphere?" But i notice that the
venerable prophet" ''seer' and ''reve-
lavOr" usually wears the finest Of cloth
and an elaborate watch and chain, with
seal attached, and heavy gold buttons in
his sleeves, etc. Now, 1 have no objec-
/ tion to these articles, and rather admire
them; but could not help thinking
that by the sacrifice of these "vanities'
he might help some brother to wed hi:
thirdly, and thus promote the '1<ing
dom'-but this is from an "outside'
standpoint.
Rev. Norman Mcleod is still lectur
ing on "Polygamy." He also recently
delivered two lectures on that dreadful
tragedy, the Mountain Meadow Massa
ere, which, if the main points are true
(and he says he can bring proof of all h,
affirms), is enough to stir the heart o
the Nation to its depths. The pictur
he drew of murder in cold blood, afte
sending q flag of truce to induce then
to surrender; the violating the womel
and girls, and then numbering them, i
: enough to fill with horror any one pos
sessed Of a soul. The beautiful tresse
of mothers and daughters were takel
from their heads for the unhallowe,
purpose of making a lariat to tie tn
= horse of one of the murderers, and wa
4 used for that purpose for months. H
e also denounced in scathing terms tn
f vandalism that could destroy the mon
e uments-reared by L. S. officers i
f memory of the victims-and disinte
their bones, that loving hands had bun
D led, and again scatter them on tn
: plains to 'blanehe in the wastes" a
h Brigham had predicted.
f Mr.. Mcleod intends going east to lee
r ture in Washington when CongreS
r. convenes next winter. have some Gu
rioslty to know what impression h
will make on our venerable Uncle SaI
and his advisers.
Last Saturday morning we were stal
tied and Mortified at the announeemeT
! of the death, by her own hand, of Mn
w. G. Poiner. 1t is another of tho:
dreadful tragedies that are so ofte
caused by intemperance and its fir
cousin, domestic infelicity. 1t is sal
that her husband was in the practice
indulging in the aecursed habit
y drinking, and when intoxicated woul
oi devote his manly energies to beating h
Ie wife; and on that fatal Friday mornir
d actually kicked and beat her until 81
y bore the marks upon her person. 81
N was rendered perfectly desperate, al
n evidently intended to make her wol
- sure, as she used two ounces of laud
" mum and one of chloroform. Poor, G
Id ring woman how she must have su
fered ere she could have resolved to t'pl
out the light that no PrOmethean ii
es could again relume." Tender hands a
ne ministered the last sad rites, and 81
n. sleeps at the feet and under the shade
- of the grand old mountains heneal