The New York herald., 1877-03-23
ID. Lee-Was Brigham Young an
Accom- plices

ID. Lee-Was Brigham Young an
Accomplices
One of the most noted Of the Mormon
Saints" will to-day pay the tardy penalty
of the most atrocious crime it is possible for
human being to commit. The forfeiture
of one life by the painless death OF shooting
seems miserably inadequate punishment
for the indescribable treachery and cruelty
which consigned one hundred and twenty
seven innocent men, women and children
TO a fate which fills the imagination with
horror, even when recollected at the dis
tance of twenty years. The shudder sent
through the country by the Mountain
Meadows massacre at the time of its occur
renee waS rather physical than moral. 1t
was given out by the Mormons, and for
long time believed, that it was merely an
Indian massacre. We have long been wont
to regard these savage hell-hounds as a more
cunning species of wild beasts, or blood
thirsty wolves in human shape. We do not
hold them to the responsibilities OF civilized
men. When we get chance to chas-
tse them for their barbarities we
do it rather from q sense OF ex-
pediency than the prompting OF outraged
Justice. But when it came to be known
that the Indians who participated in the
Mountain Meadows massacre were the hired
tools of Mormon assassins that fifty or
sixty Mormons were present at the scene
and, besides directing the Indians, took an
active part in the butchery; that the
diabolical treachery was all theirs, the plan
theirs, the command theirs, and their own
hands were as deeply imbrued in innocent
blood as those of their savage instruments
very different feeling was aroused from
that which had been excited by the lying
tale of mere Indian massacre. Hor-
ror deepened into indignant execration, and
justice will not be appeased by the execu-
ton of one of the ffty-six Mormon mur-
derers. All who consented to that inhuman
butchery or assisted in its perpetration
ought to share the fate of Lee. IT, as Lee
charges in his confession, the head OF the
Mormon Church was an accomplice, he,
above all others, should not escape.
The execution of Lee, although made
quate, is an impressive spectacle OF retribu-
ton. The general interests of Justice re-
ouire that punishment should tread close
upon the heels of crime; but there is some
thing truly awful, almost appalling, in the
visitation which overtakes criminal after
so long period Of impunity. 1t gives us a
| lively sense of the moral government which
is supreme in human affairs, which does not
sleep when it seems inactive which, when
it postpones, does not forget, which re-
serves the vengeance it does not infict, and
leaves offenders to treasure up wrath
against the day Of wrath" Transgressors
are admonished and warned both by the
Providence which visits swift retribution
and by the delay of justice which is all the
more signal when it comes. "When Thy
judgments are abroad in the earth the
people will learn righteousness" and the
tardy as we'll as the swift judgments con-
tribute to the same impressive lesson. The
mere physical pain suffered by this atrocious
| Mormon mscreant is but q small part
of his punishment. He has endured the
agony of hundred deaths in his fearful
looking for this days scene. His con-
science, which slumbered SO long, awoke
with a whip of scorpions. 1t has tor
tured him into making full disclosure
of his treacherous and butcherly crime,
and the burden of guilt and infamy being
too great for him to bear alone he has
sought to share it with his accomplices. If
his confession is to be believed Brigham
Young is as guilty as himself, for although
Young took no part in the actual butchery
it was done at his instigation and with his
connivance.
Whether Lees accusation Of Brigham
Young is true is question which will be
decided by the public judgment after weigh
| ing all the circumstances and probabilities
of the case in connection with the
statements made in the confession.
But whether Brigham Young was the
arch-instigator Of the massacre or not makes
little difference in the guilt ofLee. he had
no right to stain his hands with those
treacherous and bloody butcheries even if
he had been commanded by thousand
Brigham Youngs A man who betrays and
murders the innocent because others bid
him is not the less villain but only the
more a slave. Every Mormon who shared
in the massacre is alike guilty and ought to
share the fate Of Lee. Every one of the
fifty-six whose names are given in
the confession should pay the penalty
of the law without regard to their
degree of command or subordination,
on the plain principle of criminal law that
q confederacy in crime excuses none of the
participants In the eye of the law they are
all equally guilty, whatever might be the
nature of the part they acted, and if Brig
ham Young planned, directed, connived al
and concealed the whole, it, as Lee charges,
| II l;ca hot hafo opI ofto toy