Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-03-31
TARDY JUSTICE.

party which ever assembled, incorpoiat-
ed resolution in its platform against
the twin relics of 5arbari-m." !" polygamy
and slavery. The new party had ,prang
into existence out of the feeling which
pervaded the freedom loving portion of
the Nation that it was time that the en-
cruachments OF the Slave power upon the
people of the North should be checked.
Northern politicians had shown such
servile obedience to the bchests Of the
Slaveocracy that there was no telling
where the limits of that obedience could
be found. Out of the old Whig party
and the better elements of the Democrat
ic the new party arose, and though not
successful in it, first great battle, it laid
the foundation for "A series of future tri-
umphs which have kept it at the head OF
National affairs for twenty years.
The struggle which resulted in crush
ing slavery, the greatest of these evils
from the land has passed into history,
but the stain of Mormon polygamy yet
remains. The Isolated situation of the
Mormons apart from all the rest of the
nation, would doubtless have been the
means Of their being left undisturbed, ,
had thcy not carried with them to their
new abode enmities growing out Of the
recollections Of their brief residences in
Nlise.nr; o,1 Tili,oi ~ 81 tlo ,,o,-
pie Of each o. those States the Mormons
entertained bitter feeling of hatred, es-
pecially of those who came from the sec
tions near where they had resided. But
the throng of emigraton was so large in
the early part of the settlement of Cal
iiorna, that this feeling only found vent
in acts ofpetty annoyance, thefts Of horses,
and like proceedings. 1t was reserved
for the year 1857 to show an act of bar
barity the full details of which are only
made Known through the confession OF
one of the principle actors therein, who
on Friday last, twenty years after his
crime, Is taken to the grave Of his vic
tins and launched into eternity. The
massacre of Mountain Meadows will be
written down with st. Bartholomew and
other cases, where men forgot their hu-
manily aud committed crimes in the sac
red name Of religion nc which the world
stands appalled,. In September, 1857, Il
company OF emigrants known as the Ar
kansas company were camped at Noun
tpin Meadows. Men, women and child
dren they mum bercd about 100 SOULS
While there encnuped they were attack
ed by II band of Indians, but repulsed
their assalants with loss. But it was not
Indians alone with whom they had to
deal. For some reason the company had
incurred Mormon hatred, and not know
ing this, but looking upon the whites as
their friends, were decoyed by n 1ag Of
truce, persuaded to give up their arms
and ammunition, and thus. deienceIcss,
set upon by the combined Mormons and
Indians and all except few of tender
years merciIessly slaughtered. For n
time their crime was laid to the Indians
alone, but as years rolled by the truth be-
gan to leak out, and it soon became evil
dent TINT the Mormon Church was re-
sponsibe for this wholesale murder The
lender of the Mormons was one John d.
Lee dignitnry Of the church, and at
last Lee was arrested and brought to
trial. a jury, composed of pat Nor
mons and part Grntlcs failed to agree.
but while the law seemed baked, public
opinion had decided from the evidence
that, while Lee was the instrument OF
Mormon vengeance he was only acting
N der the orders Of those higher in au-
tholty than he.
a second trinl was had which result,
in Lees conviction. There was no lack
of witnesses 90 tastcn the crime upon hln
Mt this trial, aud !he belief is that John
d. Lee is sacrificed rs scNpe goat for
Mormon sins. BE this as it may, ven
geance should not stop with Lee Let it
fall where it will until all yet living who
bore part in that fearful crime, are call
ed upon TO cXpate it. Justice is tardy, but
should be none the less sure. For twen
years the blood of one hundred and thir-
ty innocent men, women and children
has called for atonement, and the work
should 60 on until the last participant in
the Mountain Meadows massacre has
shared the fate OF John ID. Lee.
When convicted, Lee was offered the
choice Of the manner of his death, such
beng the law Of Utah. He chose to be
shot and sentence was so pronounced up
on him. On the 23d inst. he was taken
to the scene of the massacre and above
the grave of his victims the dread sem
terco OF the law was carried into effect.
Before bis death he made a confession
which was published in the daily papers
Of Saturday, in which he places the re-
sponsiblily Of the crime where it belongs,
with the head, OF the Mormon Church. -
The evidence OF the trials particularly at
the first one pointed in the same direc
ton. a religion which justifes murder
and the subordinate crimes for the sake
Of "the church" has no place in coun-
try like ours, and the sooner its proselytes
are taught this fact, the better.
-
DECIDED AT LAsT.-The Supreme
Court has at length given a decision in