The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-09
The MORMON QUESTION.
THE LEADERS RESPONSIBLE AS THE PILOTS
PoLyGAAY THE IUDDEI OF THE CHURCH.
WAenIxGTnS Anrll 4 1871.


PoLYGAMY THE RUpDEE OF THE CHURCH.
WASHINGTON, April Z, 1871
To THE EDiroR or THE HERALD:-
Since John d. Lees confession ,ransprcd there has
been much discussion in the newspapers on the Nor
mon question: question that has lain dormant, un-
noticed Tor very long time. and which would most
likely have continued had IL not been Tor the con-
fesson Of Lee ana his execution II Is too often the
case that many OF these discussions are written by
persons who have little, II any knowledge on the sub
jec and who consequently not at all trammelied
by facts Tourists, for instance who have read Bib
Hckman's book, and who may have spent two or
three days or weeks in Salt Lake City, imagine
they have clear insight into Mormonism Their
statements depend very much the way In which
they have been received. Some denounce The creed
while others, who happen to have received favors at
the hands OF Brigham Young and influential Mormons,
are proiuse in their praise and rant about Mormon
thrift and industry. Both these classes go TO ex-
tremcs, and | don't remember ever having seen
q clear and unprcjudiccd account Of the sect Those
who chance to q little Of the polished
side OF Mormonism take 1t for granted that all Nor
mondom is that way whle they who catch glimpse
'behind the scenes" take a completely different view
oft Such evidence, being unreliable OF little worth,
particularly many OF these writer's have frequently
pushed truth aside and built up statements that
more coniormable to their prcconccved opinions. In
the present letter is neither my purpose advocate
Mormonsm nor to cry It's sudden determination, but
only to present few rambling ideas they occur to
me. lhavo been intimately acquainted with Mormon
ism IN Southern Utah and is such districts.
mote from the influence of travellers that tho ire
hR on" can be studied IN nll its original purity
Mormonism has been iostercd by our government.
WhyY Because IL has taken decisive steps 10 check
H. and because at time, whom the Mormons
hard up they knew not what to do II sent large army
out 10 surrender to them rations, wagons, Blankets
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
u not more of the whole Church up IN housekeeping.
For thirty years he have been allowed to rac
hse their principles Of religion unmoescd and conpar.
nively unknown. For more han thirty years their
missionaries have been At work in foreign an dis and
have brought TO shores aud shipped by "hand-
snrt across the Plains, 10 tho centre oil Mormondom
enc mos! ignorant 81 The ignoran the most supcrs
TO the Mormon Church Ito Brigham Young They
have not the slightest idea that the United States has
anything 10 do With them and depend upon II they
would do nothing inr the United States. They have
been ured in'o Mormonism by glowing accounts Of tho
beautiful homes in s'lhe valleys in the mountains
and the fine prospects OF certain salvation
low, uncuvated mind is not scli.sustaining. IL
gropcs about IN darkness till 1t comes
something TO asten TO. Mormonism affords easy
support Tor suca intcects, and 1t is eagerly grasped
and linked with visions OF pleasure and profit
earth the happy land OF Deserct and eternal bliss
~ Zion still these poor creatures cannot be severely
sincerely believe i, as I think many OF them do:
Tor does not the majority OF the world place confidence
o,nor cseeas .hat y mas no better right 70 than inc
oy the Bb,e and supplement that authority by the
"Book OF Mormon" II there Is anything wrong
about Mormonism II lies In the leadcrs-tho teachers.
They are the pilots and responsible for tho rckety
ship. foygamy is its rudder Polygamy Is "divine
institutonl'' 1t cannot be abolished by any human
power, they say. Now II poygamy Is going to be
stopped, lot the government strike II down without
ceremony, and then II tho vessel sails we'll without
IT, who shall dare to upliit hand TO sink her in
and Of liber.yS We know nothing ABOUT Mormonism
isod that Tor over thirty Years and IL seems rather
curious that any one should object at this late date,
and that, TOO, after our consistent government has
and
prophet" OF the whole institution. Mormon
poygamist perhaps q traitor-nas been honored by
holding the Offices OF Governor and Director OF Indian
Affairs for Utah.
Aud now, alter lapse OF than a quarter OF .
century, when the old man Ia balancng his weary lite
on the brink OF the grave, the out Soon
wet hm-punish him." Bah! John d. Leo is pun
isned yet there are dozen others who deserve
ton US much, perhaps more, than he. He had re-
pented-there are others who have r0L and who laugh
nj the law from among the iabyrnthap gorges OF The
sanyon country. They moi going to expose them
selves as Lee did. He was kept hidden by the Nor
because they were afraid OF hts Confession should he
make one 1t was known for many that he was
one Of the leaders Of the Mountain Meadows murderers
ana yet no was allowed 10 run free. worried by his
own Imagination to be sure, but safe from capture be-
cause no one was after him. When think
horrible murder that was, ana that at this
lime only one OF the participants has suffered
Tor It, II is very nice to howl tor ''vengcanco."
Better wait another quarter century. John
ID. Lee could have been captured ten years
igo at least Five years ago the party l was with
would have engaged to deliver him. But the old man
vas always kind TO everyone; had II been that
we knew him TO be stepped In innocent blood we
should have remembered him With some pleasure
His death at the hanos OF tho authorities least
viDccs the Mormos OF something they we're inclined
to doubt beore-that they are ct,zens Of the United
States and subject to ITS law Therefore, II II was
failure as punishment IL a success as a lesson
II tnat lesson could now be emphasized by the execu-
ton OF Haigh., HigDee aud others guilty II would
never he forgotten. Nephi Johnson acted as In
dian Interpreter at the time Of tho massacre and who
now lives at johnson, twelve miles from Kanat.
should be csilci Tor his testimony. Without doubt
II would prove most valuable. Ho has sskept out OF
the wayn because no does not caro- TO neglect his
crops and lose his tine Possibly the proper authors
ties could induce him TO take up his residence
In Beaver Tor few months sJimp Man
gum, tho Parir, is another bird that would
look well In suitable cage. One .! brgh. sleris
attempted TO capture him once, but Jim too spry
for him, and the Sheriff was politely requested by the
muzzle Of ''six shooter 90 to his home This nc
md with alacriiy. will venture 10 assert also that
there arc numbers Of Mormon gentlemen In Southern
Utah who would rest uneasly II they thought the gov
eminent was taking an interest in murders III any,
thing Is TO be done with guilty Mormons high line
that proceedings were begun. Brigham, the sbrewd
H., who IS very hKo his iilustrous az sire and Who
like him, will run the littls theocracy Tor pleasure and
profit cutchlnR with firm grasp golden reins that
guide the sanity sers And these serfs-simpe.
m ndod-oelieve that the Church of Jesus Christ OF
Latter Day Saints the Church, and there arc num-
bers of them who would sacrifice their all Tor ts ben.
en They terribly oppressed not tho
Pity the poor women. Many of them-most Of them
have alternative but TO pod along their weary road
day after day, always under cherries sky and with
burst OF The sunshine OF love 10 tighten their
yao, sad hearts ORESTES.