The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-26
The Mormon Difficulty.

In an article contributed to the current
number of Scribner's J. Fl. Beadle takes the
position that the feature of Mormonisn
which provokes so general and fierce opposi-
tion is not polygamy, as commonly assumed.
Polygamy will do for seape-goat, but the
trouble is far more radical than that; the
same results would overtake any church if it
should concentrate its forces In one state,
"every man voting, whether as citizen or
juror, at the command Of the bishop" The
great objection to Mormonism Is that by its
theocratic system it necessarily brings itself
into conflict with republican people and
their institutions. The Church of the Latter
Day Saints, though the only Indigenous
American church, has lost every trace Of
Americanism. The central doctrine OF
Mormonism is the subordination of state TO
church, the determination of the Saints,
wherever they have settled, to subject all
the machinery of courts and laws to the will
of their religious leaders. 1t has no common
ground with Americanism, for there must
ever be conflict between men holding to
divinely inspired priesthood, claiming civil
rule and authority in all things, and men
who are ardent believers in democracy.
In support of this view the writer of the
Scribner article brings forward convincing
proofs. 1t is shown by the record that the
Mormons had more trouble with the world
before they adopted polygamy than since.
They have settled in twelve different places
in the United States, and have invariably
become embroiled with their neighbors un-
less the latter abandoned the vicinity en-
masse. In New York, while the Church
was yet confined to two families, it kept
three townships in an uproar with quarres
and lawsuits. The reputation then gained
has been sustained ever since. OF course
the Mormons declare that in all their quar-
rels they were invariably in the right, but
the constant turmoil in which they were
plunged recalls the Hooser proverb: ''When
a man moves seven times and quarrels with
the neighbors every time, he takes the worst
neighber with him every move."
At the very start the Mormons took up the
old Hebrew doctrine of temporal kingdom,
and earthly glory and triumph over their
enemies. Their leaders organized despot-
ism which the mass of American citizens
instinctivaly hated. How strong this hatred
is one sees by the deep distrust entertained
of the Mother Church, to which general sus-
picion attaches not so much because of its
theological as of its political doctrines.
There are in this country, outside of Utah,
numerous dissenting parties of Mormons,
embracing some thirty thousand people; but
as they have given up "the earthly reign OF
the Saints and live in peace with their
neighbors they encounter little opposition.
But the main body clings to the original
doctrine. 1t aims to establish great noun
tain empire under the absolute rule of the
chiefs of the Church. Polygamy is merely
an incident of the Mormon polity. 1t has
been source of weakness from the begin.
ming. From the date of its avowaI the
Church has steadily lost ground. 1t is alto
gether probable, our writer thinks, that
without polygamy Mormonism would have
been far greater evil than it has been with
it, for its strength would have been greater,
and the national government more indiffer-
ent.
Mr.. Beadle believes that the Mormon
Church will come to an end without bloody
struggle. There has been great social revo-
luton going on in Utah for the last ten
years. Conversions are no more numerous
than desertions. Old Mormons die and
young ones grow up unbelievers. All that
the general government need do is TO secure
free election law and jury system that
will enable the courts to bring offenders to
to justice. This done the religion of Joseph
Smith is doomed to slow but sure extinction.