The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-11-08
Inside View Of Brighamy.
MRS. SfENItOCsE LECTURES ON TUE rECU-
LIAR INSTITUTION OF THE UTAH SAINTS,

LIAR INSTITUTION OF THE UTAH SAINTS.
Mrs. Stenhouse began her lecture with
a brief sketch Of the origin of the doc
trine which gave rise to the polygamic
evil, and its effect upon the women in
Utah and elsewhere. she was in Swift
zerland at the time, and it was her mis-
sion to break it to the sisters there
She felt as if she was bringing blight
upon every home, and pointing a poin-
ard at the breast Of every woman in the
land. She then described the practical
working OF the system in Utah, quoting
from Brigham Young himself to prove
the deep, unuttcrable, and universal un-
happiness caused by it. The murmurs
and tears Of the women were UNDECIDED.
They were commanded to round up
their shoulders and bear the burden. or
expect a complete and lasting divorce.
Those who complied were promised
rule as kings and queens in heaven:
those who did not were to be damned
The terrible predictions of Young meant
something. They knew that he would
ruthlessly apply his doctrines of blood
atonement, if necessary, and many a
man and woman had for their opposi-
ton been buried in quiet graves where
they would rest until the day when they
should meet their murderer, not as Il
Judge, but as trembling culprit. So
little were women respected in Utah
that Elders had said, eve think no
more of marryinga wife than of buying
a cow" But there were no wives in
Utah, they were nothing but slaves.
Mrs. Stenhonse then gave new and
startling statement of the attitude and
expectation Of the Mormons during the
great srebellion. They gloried in the
carnage, and predicted that the males
would be killed, except a very small
remnant, and that then they would take
the Gentle women as their spoil. They
applied'a passage Of Scripture to that
anticipated result, and believed that
seven women would lay hold of one
man and say we will eat our own bread,
&e., only let us be called by thy name
to take away our reproach. Her pic
ture OF the plural wives, their lonely.
comforticss, and sometimes destitute
condition, was touching, and constituted
a strong argument against the infamous
practice. Brigham Young was denouu-
ced as stern, implacahle tyrant, and
his conduct toward his wife, Harriet
Cook, cited as proof. This young, high
spirited woman had aspired 10 the posi-
ton of Suitana, as having borne the
Prophet the first son under the new
system, but Young had steadily ignored
her pretensions. One day the child
was punished by her and stigna;ized as
a bastard. The sting was not intended
for the boy, but for his father, who was
within hearing. He came forward and
said, 'Iiarriet, that is the last bastard
you shall ever have" And for a quar-
ter Of a century she has been husband
less Wife. Other instances Of q similar
were narrated. The fearful
practice had its female supporters, of
whom Eliza Snow was chief. She had
recently published a letter purperting
10 come from Il couDtry-wonan, inI
which the degrading vice is praised as
beneficial to the temper and character
Of woman. Mrs Snow knew OF one wife
who went insane when her husband
took another to his home. and when he
lied, soon after, she ran out of her how
Il and with curses and maniacal rawlings
threw stones at his coffin. The Union
Pacific Railroad came, and then Young
gave women the suffrage, not that they
might cmancipate themselves, but be-
cause the ciphers should magnify him,
he only figure recognized of value
The horrors Of the Endowment House
we're then exposed, and a story. told of
)rson Pratt which, for its perfect tell
ng and the world of woe it reveals,
ought to be published verbatim as a
.ract, and sown broadcast over the world
wherever the disciples ofpolygamy seek
% make converts. Denver Tribune,
October II.