The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-07-20

| would cripple us. We will obey every
law. II they want me to be tried for
the Mountain Meadow murders, one
man with a proper warrant can arrest
J. me. To be snre, we have 10000 harm
less militia We have artillery and
cavalry just the came as you have in
New York, but our militia is as harmless
as your Seventh Regiment necessary
We will fight for the Aag-never against
it. Never!" ;''
"But the Mormons are armed"
"Yes. our people are pioneers. They
are all armed. / suppose there are
100000 gune among our people; for
every pioneer thinks he needs q gun as
much as q woman needs q hoop-skirt.
Because we are Mormons We are none
the less citizens of the United States. 1t
is jnst al much our duty to keep up our
militia, and we feel a. much patriotism
in our drilling and organizing. as the
New Englanders do. IF the Seventh
Regiment is patriotic. so are our people.
When you have your division parades
in New York. suppose some fool Of q
Newspaper correspondent should tele-
graph to President Hayes that the New
Workers were drilling and arming, aud
then all the newspapers should make q
hullabaloo about it, as the Herald has
about our boys training? Does not the
Constitution make it lawful for every
citizen to bear arms? Are we Mormons
in the Union or out of it2" and the
Prophet grew eloquent with patriotic
emotion.
"When will Utah become State, Mr..
Yonng?" | asked. changing the subject.
Nobody knows. We are large
e.
Nebraska. Colorado and Nevada were;
but they are afraid to make us State.'
=" "Why?"
because" said the Prophet, 'the
Mormons would control the State. We
would elect our Governor, and drive out
all the gamblers and shut up the drink
ing saloons. The genteel gambling
shops, billiard saloons and drinking
saloons are communicating our people,
They are protected now by the United
States Courts.''
''If Utah were State you would le-
gaiize poiygamy?' remarked inquir-
a0f course we would control our own
religious and social affairs. We trav-
eled 1900 miles through desert country
to enjoy our religion, and why shouldn't
we do it?" -'.'
''Do you consider that you are break
ing q United States law in practicing
po!ygs%y1s !Ss'@ gsn,,.a tho n,onh.t Win .
twinkle of his eye. "Senator Craein of
New Hampshire had bill passed max
ing it unlawful for man to have two
wives. This was to kill poIygamy. But
along came the United States Courts
and killed Senator Cragin by deciding
that Ann Eliza wasn't wife but only o
mistress. In fact. Congress passed q
law making it unlawful to do what the
courts decide can't be done. The fact
ia, Continued the Prophet. 'tnothing can
ever prevent a man living with as many
women as he likes. II they want to
come and live with him, they can come,
and no law can prevent it.
''Then you think polygamy will go
on increasing?"
"Certainfy. My people nre honest,
thrifty, sober, industrious and religious
The Lord has blessed us from the COM
mencement. Persecution has only kept
us together. No calamity could hurt
us except to he let alone. If we were
left severely alone, internal dissensions
might divide us up. But as long as we
are prosecuted. we will continue to
thrive"
In my minglings with the Morn ons
hno ehAC po'ygaMy 1s becoming unpop-
alar with the educated class of Nor
mons. Brigham's youngest daughters
say they will not marry a man who has
two wives. and the same with Hyrum
Clawsen's daughters. Wealth and cul-
tnre will kill polygamy, if nothing else
1t the second wives are mistresses, al
has been decided by the courts, and
their children illegitimate preventing
the inheritance OF property, you can see
that this is the rock on which Mormon
ism will eventually founder.
ELI PERKINS.
SWEET MARY,