Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-04
HOw 10 DEAL WITH FHE MORMONs.
The New York Herald, of the
"

Inc N0N lOIh llS1olu, VI tuO
31st ult., insists that
The execution of John D.. Lee, the
confession he made when confronting an
iguominious death. the implication OF
Brigham Young and otker Mormon mag
mates as accompliees in the Mountain
Meadows massacre and the new sense Of
indignant hostility to the bloody, beastly,
law detying hierarchy on the borders OF
the Great Salt Lake contribute to make
this the most important occasion which
has vet arisen for effaciRg the foul blot
on American life which has so long
existed 10 the region of the Rocky Noun
tsins. 1t is to be regretted that this
great opportunity is presented when the
public mind is so much engrsssed
with other exciting questions. II
President Hayes we're in the middle
Of his term instead OF &C its begin
ming the Mormon question, as now
freshly presented, would occupy q chief
share OF his attention. Unfortunately,
the South Carolina question and the
Louisiana question eclipse all other sub.
iscts and exclude any deliberate consil.
GRAFTON of a question which has hitherto
proved more difficult aud a~nmanagesble
thaa any other in our national affairs,
Utah has population enough for admis'
sion ss a State, but congress has been
forced to exclude her because it would
be unsafe to corcede the independence
and local self-control which belong to
our States to a community which out.
RACES the moral sense of the country
IN our system the States have exclusive
control of their marriage lave, and
congress has felt a just repugnance to
admitting to State privileges a commu-
nifty whose marriage laws would snbvert
a fundamental principle of Christian
morals. 1t has been wisely thought bet
ter to Keep Utah in federal leading
strings, aud reiuse its admission as a
State while its domestic Institutions srs
repugnsut to the marriage code Of sll
Christian communities, The moral sense
of the country revolts against its admis4
sion as a State so long as it upholds that
twin relic of bsrbarism," polygamy.
While it remains a territory the authority
Of the federal government over its do
mestic coBcernsi is supreme, and congress
has hitherto been greatly at fault in not
taking efficient measures to exdnguish
the immoral and d~emoralizing institu.
ton which all Christian communities re-
gard as a foul aboninstion. The time
has at length come for vigorous action,
and it would be unwise to let so ia
vorable an opportunity slip. The first
and most urgent thing TO be done is to
bring all the accomplices in the Noun
tain Meadows massacre TO justice. Their
trial, condemnation and execution would
be a great step toward putting the pub
lie mind in a proper temper for deal
ing finally and efectually with the
troublesome Mormon question. The
next great step will be the passage BY
congress Of such laws as will thoroughly
uproot polygamy and the AFFECT slavery
Of women which it involves. 1t will not
be difficult to pass laws on this subject
which will be quite effective whenever
congress is disposed to take hold Of the
question in earnsst. We are prepared
to offer suggestions on this point when
ever congress is ready 10 act, tut for the
present we only insist on the vigorous
execution Of the criminal laws against
John D. Lees blood stained accomplices.