The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-26

tnaC peStllenC, ulSBrncelul. alllauce OF Aust
and assassination which, driven in success
sion out OF three States by the outraged in
habitants, took refuge nearly thirty years
ago in remote valley of the Rocky Noun
tains. 1t did not change its character by
emigration to the distant wilderness 1t
and denominations which rendered its pres
ence intolerable in civilized communities.
AS it had plundered and murdered its neigh
bors in Ohio, in Missouri. in Illinois, until
driven away by the wrath of the inhabitants,
it continued to practise the same enormities
against unoffending emigrants who passed
near the Mormon settlement on their way
commit these new murders and robberies
under plausible disguise. They had the
Indians of that region in their pay, and
pretended that their diabolical atrocities
were mere Indian massacres. The trial of
Lee lifted one corner of that mask and
his confession has completely stripped
it Off The horrible Mountain Meadows
massacre was planned and executed
by the Mormons themselves at the insti-
CATION and with the sanction of the heads
of their so-called Church. 1t was the
Mormons that assembled and melted the
Indians; it was the Mormons that, under o
deceitful pretence of protecting the emf
grants and leading them away in safety,
lured them out of their intrenchment,
making treachery a stepping stone to whole
sale murder. The confession of Lee proves
that Brigham Young and other noted Nor
mons we're confederates in that stupendous
crime and that the execution on Friday was
but slight beginning of the retribution
which long-slumbering justice exacts. The
other instalments of that deferred debt
ought now to be paid.
The next step should be the indictment,
arrest and trial of Brigham Young, the arch
contriver Of that bloody massacre. There
can be no longer any moral doubt of his
guilt and if the officers of the law are ener-
getic there need be no difficulty in finding
legal proofs. Other leading confederates
who held prominent positions in the HER
archy at that time should also be arrested
and confined as a precaution against their
fight from justice. With these sons
of craft and violence in safe custody
unsealed No Mormon has dared to tell
what he knows lest Brigham Young and his
coadjutors should execute their threats of
vengeance. They have understood too we'll
what Brigham meant in the infuriate sermon
he preached at Cedar City shortly after the
massacre, in which he said:-"I have been
told there are many brethren who are will
ing to inform on those who did this thing.
I hope there is no truth in the rumor. I
hope no such person lives. If there is,
tell you what your fate will be. Unless you
repent at once, keep secret all that you know
and protect each other, You will die dogs
death. You will soon go to hell as damned,
lost souls. Let me hear no more of treach-
cry among my people Any one who had
proved traitor there would have met the
destroying angel at once"
This was plain threat that anybody who
blabbed should be straightway murdered
without remorse. Besides the menace of "a
dogs death" and speedy passage ''to hell
as damned, lost SOULS" the admonition
about the destroying angel" was pecu-
larly significant. 1t was reference to the
Order or tribe of "Danites," called also
destroying Angels" organized among the
Mormons while they still lived at Nauvoo,
secret assassins, sworn to execute without
question any order given them by the
Church authorities. The passage Of Scrip
ture from which they took their name suffi-
GENTLY indicates their character:-"D
shall be o serpent in the way, an adder
in the path, that biteth the horses
heels, so that his rider shall fall
backward" community that kept such a
band of stealthy assassins would stick at no
act of treachery or violence Considering
the despotic nature of the Mormon organi-
cation it is incredible that the Mountain
Meadows massacre would have been VEN
tured on without sanction from headquar-
ters. Lees confession is thus corroborated
by all that we know Of the history of the
| Mormons before as we'll as after their hegira
to Salt Lake. There can be no doubt that
Brigham Young is the guiltiest of all Lee
dastardly, diabolical accomplices. Legal
evidence enough will be found to convict
him as soon as he and his leading confederates
are within prison walls and his AFFECT slnves
relieved from the mortal terror in which
they have been so long held by his threats.
When Brigham Young and half dozen OF
his worst accomplices shall have shared the
fate OF John d. Lee there will be but little
further difficulty in dealing with the Nor
mon problem.
HydrOphobia.
Another case was lately reported Of death