Smyrna times., 1879-12-17
The Mormons.

1t is evident that revival of the Mormo
dlfhculty is close at hand and, indeed, tn
sooner the trouble comes to head tn
better. Our Washington correspondent
has reminded us of "a point in the cas-
which has generally been lost sight O.
Inc Mormons are rapidly extending thei
settlements beyond the Territory of Utah
ihey have large and growing colonies il
iuaho and Arizona, where they expect t
become before long the ruling majority o
the population. The colonizIng movemen
has been going on systematically for man,
years-no doubt with a fixed political pur
pose-and if the question of the federation
OF polygamy in one Territory is not settled
now, we may soon be confronted with The
| question OF polygamy in three Territories
anu with a triple aggravation Of all the
various dangers and complications which
that barbarous anomaly involves. Wher
ever the Mormon church is set up, there is
established also the institution of plural
marriage and the despotic theocracy oil
which that institution is the strongest bull
wark.
There was prevalent belief, before the
Pacific Railroad was built, that polygamy
and other Mormon abuses would disappear
as soon as the Territory was opened to
GENTLE immigration. The miner and the
trader were to be the missionaries Of civil.
zatIon, and in the sunshine Of their in.
huence superstition was to wther and dis.
appear. This delusion seems now to have
been dispelled. The Church of the Latter
Day Saints has become more united, ex.
elusive and tyrannical than before. While
polygamy LASTS amalgamation between the
faithful and the unbelievers is impossible.
mat practice sets up an insuperable social
barrier between the two classes of the
population, and they might live side by
SIDE for thousand years without coales.
eng. Indeed, if any influence at all is
exerted by one class upon the other. it is
more likely to be by the Mormons upon
the Gentlles than Vice verSd. The sanctity
OF the marriage relation, the importance of
the family life, the social decencies which
were once the pride of almost every
American village, are not likely always to
oe held In scrupulous respect in the midst
OF community of prosperous bigamists.
Even In the most enlightened and cult.
waited States of the Atlantic Slope there
has been lamentable weakening of do.
nestle ties and growing disposition to
tolerate the most depraving immoralities.
what we may expect in remote settle.
ments where bigamy and incest are in.
culcated by tine leaders of the church and
society we prefer to leave 10 the readers
imagination. Thus, while the Mormon
church Is constantly growing stronger by
the increase in its membership, the counter.
influences OF the Gentle population are
probably weakening. Under ordinary cir
cumstances of the first results of the omen.
ing OF the railroad and the DEVELOPMENT
OF the regions around Utah would have
been the dispensing of the Mormon set.
tiers. But the inevitable effect of polygamv
Is 10 keep them compact. They send off
large colonies when they have the oppor
tnnlty; but they do not disperse. The
SAINT with two or more wives can never
live outside of Mormon jurisdiction; and
he knows that he cannot live with his con.
cuoines IN Utah except so long as he up.
holds the Church in its claim of political
supremacy. This is one chief cause of the
pernanence of the Mormon impostllre and
OF the resolute defiance which the Saints
oppose to the authority Of the United
states. They have never been loyal to the |
Government. Ever since they EMERGED |
from their early obscurity they have main. |
tanned the pretence of theocratic inDer;,yn
and the National authority has been 70 |
tn them as foreign and Oppressive power
IN" Nation has surrounded, but has never
them.
1t IS out of the question that we should
ever take into the Union an element so If. |
rtconcilably hostile; and yet, if we hold |
Utah much longer as a Territory, we shall |
Involve ourselves in the most serious EN-. |
The only solution of the
problem appears to be the radical extermi.
nation OF poiogamy, and that we believe |
would be effectual. 1t would destroy the
one influence which keeps Mormonism
compact and apart; and when the follow.
FRS OF Joseph Smith and Brigham Young
ire Sncs ANAL gamated with the rest of the
population, time will perhaps cure the
Y. Tribune. ~