Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-07-27
rHE MOUNTAIN MEADOW ArRoCIrY.

THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW ATRoCITY
The particulars Of the Mountain
Meadow massacre, perpetrated by the
Mormons on the 18th of September
1857, are coming to light in ell its sick
ening details through the trial of John
d. Lee, one of the principal perpetra'
tors, now in progress at Beaver, Utah,
Lee at that time was a leading elder Of
the Mormon church and acted with the
advice and full knowledge of a Mormon
council. There is little doubt that
Brigham Young was the prime instiga-
tor. 1t is certain that the Mormon
militia participated in and performed
the massacre under orders of their regu-
lar officers. he was relentless, blood
thirsty and sVaricious. An immigrant
train Of one hundred and twenty-eight
persons from Arkansas and Missouri,
With four or Eve hundred head Of stock
and much valuable property, was pass
ing through the territory en- route to
California. The Mormons refused to
sell them anything to eat, and in con-
junction with a few Indians attacked the
train. Lee and other Mormons disguised
themselves as Indians. The men with
the train were brave and determined,
and they successfully defended them
selves three days. Lee held a parley
with them and induced the emigrants to
surrender and give up their arms for the
consideration of protection. AS they
marched into the Mormon lines they were
shot down in heaps, men, women and
children. The throsts of many were cut,
little infants had their brains dashed out
and other barbsrities were committed too
CHASTITY to relate without a thrill of hor.
ror. A few children were spared. The
Oldest was perhaps eight or ten years
old. They we're distributed out among
families; some were well treated-others
grossly neglected or abused. The most
of these are yet alive, and some Of them
old enough to remember the circum.
stances will be used as witnesses. Some
of the Mormons have turned States wit
ness, and it seems probable, even at this
late day, that condign punishment will
be meeted out to the leaders of the
butchery. That such a foul blot as the
Mormon Government, or more properly
banditti, has been permitted to rest so
many years is a reproach and a disgrace
TO the United States. We can arrive at
no satisfactory reason unless it is
through the c%orurpting Influences of
Brigham YOung's gold. He is trustee
for the church, and holds vast property.
dis wealth is fabulous, and it is stated
that be has heavy deposits in the leading
banks of the world to be usedin case Of
an emergency. The Mormon religion.
so-cslled, in itself is repulsive to de.
cency and morality. The most sacred
ties of life are degraded and abused until
they are regarded as nothing more
than the brutal instincts which
animate the cattle of the field
OF the beasts Of the forest.
The whole system is loathsome and re-
voting and repugnant to our constitu.
ton and laws. Unbridled lust stiles all
sense of shame, and the laws Of God
and man are set at defiance. They are
as savage in their nature as the worst
Indians on the continent and as abom-
Unable by practice as the veriest canni.
balls. Their existence is a monstrous
paradox and a standing menace to the
rest of the country. They should long
since have been scattered to the four
winds, broken up root and branch and
their organization exterminated. We
trust the developments of this trial will
open the eyes of the American people
ana arouse the government to lay its
iron hand on this nest of murderers
highway robbers and bloated p~retepders
to a lecherous priesthood.