Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-08-05
SHAKY.

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n IL evident that Brigham Young Is
very much annoyed at the conduct OF
No. IL, Of his polygamic household,
and That the Marmons generally are
not DESTROYS Of saying much OH the
subject. or pleased at the prospect Of
exposure which the suit will lnevita-
bly, evoke. It has been reported that
Messrs. Smith, rilford aud Hogan,
COUNSEL for complainant, Ind given up
the case and that Mrs. Young tNo. 17)
had, through the influence Of her father,
been Induced to compromise with the
great prophet for a cash payment Of
IS 010. aud a further sum Of $4,000
within 90 days. Her counsel, now
ever, aud General Maxwell, her next
friend, who We're made parties with
her Ia the suit, DO not see the matter
In any such light, but refuse to make
any compromise with Brigham, aud
Intend to hSht out tho case on the
original lane Of divorce and allmony.
Young's counsel attempted to qussh
the proceedings yesterday on certain
technical grounds, but failed, aud the
prospect now Is that the case will be
tried OIL It's merits. This promises to
be n most Interesting case. 1t will
decide whether any OF Young's harem,
save No. /, are lawful wives, aud es-
tablish u precedent which may Inter-
fere severely with the domestic affairs
Of the Mormon hierarchy. 1t Is said
that Mrs. Young's lNo. ~ first hus-
baud Is still alive. aud that she never
was divorced from him. In other
words. that under the laws Of every
Christian country on the globe, Brig
ham Young has been living since 1853,
In open aud notoriou, adultery with
No. II. 1t Is evident that the
priesthood object most earnestly to
the further prosecution OF this suit.
Had they no fears OF the inevitable ex-
posure which must ensue when the case
comes up in Court for trial, no Offer to
compromise would have been made.
The very fact that such III offer has
been m,de shows that they are sha6y,
aud fearful OF the result. We do not
believe that Mrs. Young mo. III CAL
legally recove any money Of the
Prophet. She never was his wife. She
could not be so, with another husband
living, even tas We understand III I'M
der Mormon law. But she has occu-
pied before the people Of Salt Lake,
the Mormon Church. and the world,
tie ossensible position Of a polysnmic
wife. Now that she has quilted that
anomalous attitude, the question m
up What rights, II any, did she ac-
ouire by such u union? Was It
legal? Would it legalize her Offspring
II such she hal borne during her oSten-
sible wilehood? If so, aud the rights
of wlf.hood attached. by virtue of her
alleged sealing or marrihge TO the
Prophet, do they not still exist, aud
has she not equal rights aud privileges
before the law with n monoSamic
wife? II she Is legally a wife. L
she not legally sue for divorce, and
will not the grounds for divorce OBJ
taining in monogamic households
equality apply in polygamic Utah?
The case presents many curious anom-
allies. But the whole system is anom-
alous. against the sentiment aud in
tclliyence Of the age, and not only re-
pulsive In its details, but must event.
ualIy end In disaster to the untortun-
ate and innocent victims OF the mon-
strous custom. A people who can re-
coxnize the right Of their High Priest,
their chief governor aud spiritual al.
wiser, to live In open adultery with
another mln's wife, without even the
EXCUSE OF Legal separation from her
yet living husband, who can see moth
ers and their daughters living In con-
cubinage In the same household aud
with one man. can hardly be compre.
heEded by the ordinary moral sense OF
intelligen: Americans. The Ignorance
OF the masses and the utter hypocrisy
OF their intelligent leaders are the
sources and buses of this stupendous
iniluity and degradation.
ruoTcE IA