The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-23
THE MORMONs.
MORMON DIsAFFEcTIoN CONFIRMED.


Tho rumors In regard 10 disancction among the Nor.
mons-to which We have heretofore attached no i'm
porance-seem to be partially confirmed by the letter
OF Governor Emory 70 the Secretary Of War, asking
large renforcements OF troops Tor the military stations
IN Utah. Such request would hardly have been made
u the Governor had not good reason to believe serious
trouble IS brewing in his jurisdiction We presume the
troops will be sent, and while their presence may be
useful to prevent the anticipated outbreak, will at
the same time be construed threat, and thereby
Increase the il-feeng already existing That i-icel-
Ing IL the natural outgrowth OF the trial. conviction
and execution Of John D. Lee. Though tho Mormon
authorities abandoned Lee to his fate and fur
nished the testimony which doomed him to
death, yet neither they nor their followers
really believed capital punishment would be inflicted
upon him. and therefore entirely unprepared for
the terrible revelations OF his confession. This
ession, made the very brink Of the grave, declared
smpbatically that Lee was only tho tool OF tho high
priests OF the Mormon Church, and that in supcrin-
tending the work OF blood at Mountain Meadows he
was simply obeying orders he dare not dsobey. rho
blow at Brigham Young and his associates hit tho
mark. The press throughout the country took the
subject charged Young with being tho chief criminal
and demanded prompt and vigorous action against
him. Whether the federal government contcmplates
,uch action do not probably not IT would
ioubtody the Mormon rank and file fear further In
vesgation OF the matter, and Young himself is not
altogether easy abou, It. Meanwhile tho
revival OF the memories of Mountain Mead
pws has stimulated the antagonism between
the Mormon aud 'Gentile" population In Utah,
and the organ OF the latter Sal, Lake City is doing
It's best to fan this antagonism into flame OF hostility
We do not think the Mormons be induced to CON-
ncnce an attack which must end in their destruction,
but they dread attack from tho "Gontiles" and
determined to be ready for t. Now that tho Southern
difficulty has been happily disposed Of the Mormon
question Is altogether important than any other
before tho country. II has been dragging along for
twenty-five years, and each year has added to the
number Of complications and diminished tho chances
OF amicabs settlement Yet settled 1t must be
somehow, sooner later. Polygamy cannot
DO lcgazcd in the United States, ana polygamy Is
thoroughly interviewer with tho Mormon faith
that tho process or separation must be
ccedingly embarrassing and may DO dangerous
But however embarrassing and however dangerous
The separation Is inevitable unless tho Mormons choose
10 carry themselves their peculiar institution be-
yond frontiers. This latter alternative want
avoid, II possible. Aside from the too-many-wives
System, the disciples OF Joseph Smith are valuable c
zens and their services indispensable to the dcve
opncnt OF the vast region which would have renamed
an unbrokon desert but tor thcm. Tho problem, them
is to get rid OF poygamy without getting rid OF the
Normons and that problem neglected too long, should
at once receive the careful and intelligent attention 1t
deserves. II tho o-nothing policy Is continued we
shall surely wake up some morning with Mormon
war hands. and in that war we can win neither
glory nor PROFIT