The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-09-21
M0rm0nism. Deceased.

The death OF Bingham 1oung ls really
the death of Mormonism in this country.
The Church of the Latter-Day Saints
may not perish instantly from this con-
tinent, but its days are few and num-
bered. An institution 30 foreign to our
time; 80 abhorrent to our forms OF so
ciety: so repugnant to manly and wom-
anly sensibilities in these Christian days;
the enemy of love, as love has been
known in literature and art and human
life since Christ came; the foe of the
family; the highway robber of our laws
this institution could not have existed
so long in our midst without a man of
great command at its head. 1t has been
little, absolute, polygamous monarchy,
dropped down in great republic, re-
public great and free enough to tolerate
the inconsistency and blemish till the
insanity should die out. The English
man, the European, has not ceased to be
amazed at the hberty-which he calls
license-that is permitted in this coun-
try. The freedom of the press in the
United States is marvel to Europeans.
The liberties of the hustings here are
matter of wonder across the sea. 1t can
not, somehow, be understood across the
Atlantic that a government can stand
while newspapers and orators are ex-
hausting their talents in attacking it,
without let or hindrance upon their
speech. They little know that the things
they think dangerous are the anchors of
our system. Mormonism in America
This has been the exclamation of Eu,
rope, and of a large portion of the people
of the United States. But there has
been no better evidence of the strength
of our system than that which comes
from the banks of Salt lake. The coun-
try could afford to tolerate for time
the hideous theory, cloaked with re-
hgion, that dwelt upon the plains of a
Territory. Utah has knocked at the
gates of the Capitol for recognition as a
State, repeatedly and in vain. The atti-
tude of the United States toward this
abomination has been one of federation
to people in Territory, OF denial of the
claim of the "Saints" to add star to
the flag, that star polygamous. To the
verdict of public opinion, regulated by
law, the question has been intrusted.
1t has been the leader and not the
faith that has kept the institution alive.
AS civilization-the modern civilization
has moved closer and closer to the
relic of antiquity, that anomaly has
shrunk and withered. 1t could not bear
the light. Brigham Young was man
of enormous force, executive capacity,
ability to command. He was a great
leader. The church was Brigham
Young. The system was Brigham
Young. The discipline and the success
were Brigham Young. Twenty years
ago the system tried to shut out the
light from itself in slaughter; Lee has
been shot, and Brigham Young is dead.
The leader gone, the church is gone; for
above all things, is helpless
without commander. AS the railroads
carry decency and civilized beliefs nearer
and nearer to the scattered and captain
less remnants of detestable belief; as
the homes move closer on all sides to the
enemy of homes, the polygamous blot
will disappear. The hideously pictur-
esque "Reminiscences of the civilization of
Solomon will be noiselessly banished
from this continent. The whole head is
dead. The faith that began in Evils
ions" and immortality; that was adorned
with transparent stones aud Golden |
Bible; that was sanctified by the cap
pearance of angels" to Joe Smith; that !
was seen through the Trim and the |
that claims inheritance from |
" the wisest man the world e'er saw"
the faith that counted murder holiness,
is, or presently will be, no more.-NeW
York Herald.