The daily gazette., 1877-07-10
How Brigham Young may
Escape.


Our correspondence from Utah grows
intensely interesting as the downtrodden
people there begin to realize that their
wrongs have found an utterance In the
columns of the Herald and that the facts
which are daily given to the world Will
force the present administration TO such
definite action as will settle forever the
barbaric rule of Brigham Young. The
people of the United States everywhere
demand 1t. The national honor and
name cannot longer be disgraced. 1t was
the ambition of General Grant, from the
day OF his first Inauguration to the end OF
his second term to get at this Utah ques-
tion; but the opportunity was never
reached, though he sought 1t earnestly.
The national questions which prevented
him reaching il have all been settled, or
so met that the obstacles Id his path are
now no longer in the way to prevent Mr..
Hayes handling effectively this question.
Our correspondence from Washington
points out the first steps to be taken in
the Reconstruction of Utah." to which
the sympathizers with Brigham cannot
properly object. -.f....
No one thirsts for the blood of Brig
ham Young; but there is an urgency for
dealing with the question now, If 1t is ev-
er to be met. He is now more than rs
years of age, and in the ordinary course
of nature will, in few years, go down
to his grave, and once that his dust has
mingled with mother earth he will be a
greater idol to the ignorant and deluded
masses in Utah than ever he was while
living among them. Let him die now,
and he would be embalmed in the mem
ory of the frithful as a sorely prosecuted
and maligned saint; but let him be tried
and let the evidence of his crimes be bla-
zoned abroad, and the scales would fall
from the eyes of the deluded, and Norm
onism would crumble to dust and take its
place with the multitude of issues that do
but little evil to the world.
1t is imperative that we proceed at once,
because the most important witnesses are
fast passing away and leave behind no EVIL
dence that can be of legal value In any
criminal trial. 1t is but short time since
we recorded the death Of George A. Smith,
Brigham's fist counsellor, the very man
who carried the order fom Brigham to
Dame. Haight, Highley and Lee for the
murder OF the emigrants at Mountain Mead
trOlled the juries in Beaver aud no convic-
ton OF Lee was possible but Smith was
scarcely in his grave When the MOrmons
testified againt Lee and he was Convicted,
sentenced and shot. In his dea'h an i'm
portant witness was los. On Lees cunfes-
sions the world is morally certain of Brig
hams guilt but by the shrewdness and
tact OF the Mormon leaders the belief IN his
guilt ln the minds of the Saints is neutrl-
lizsd by counter charges preferred against
Lee but Lee living could not have been 80
dealt with. In our curretp ,ndence from
Utah published yesterday captain Tobln,
who rises, us it were from his grave aud
gives testimony against the parties who
tried to assassinate him and three Gentilss
leaving Utah, refers to witnesses whose
deaths We have already recorded. The Lv-
msn he speaks of knowing all about the
murderers was The eloquent Apostle who
apoststized from Brisham's Church ten
years since and who died only afew months
ago mourned by the best people of Utah.
He would have been most important wit
ness, for it was his knowledge of Brig
hams Iniquitous aud murderous course that
made him sever his relationship with the
Mormon Church at the price of everything
he possessed. There are still many witness
es OF these murderers living, but death and
the Danites will swear them out" Mr.,
Tobin Is himself an important witness, not
only In the case detailed in our paper yes
terday, hut he Is said to have evidence that
will inculpate the Mormons of the massacre
OF Captain Gunnison and his party OF tope-
graphical engineers. We hope that he may
ye: be granted the opportunity which he
desires of giving his evidence on the cruel
murders il Utah. But With such All array
OF witnesses and opportunities, unless the
officers OF justice are firmly sustained aud
the courts clothed with the jurisdiction
which the popularity of the crimes to e
tried calls for. as sure rs fate Brigham will
escape the gallows he so richly deserves
N. Y. Herald.