The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-23
MoRM0NIsM ONCE MORE.

anu ldll VI hul ulollloul' IHS iiiolu"'SN
followers of the Mormon faith might
claim perhaps that its fall has not yet
passed into history. Without joining
present issue on that point, it is certainly
safe to affirm that its decline has become
historic; and that in view of the recent
action and present attitude of the Ma
tional Government concerning it, its fall
is imminent.
The origin and growth of this peculiar
and anomalous sect is really one Of the
curiosities of modern history. Regarded
from a merely philosophic standpoint the
rise of Mohammedism in the seventh CEN
tury was scarcely more remarkable, all
things considered, than the rise of Nor
monism in the nineteenth century.
And it is curious fact that, although
twelve centuries stand bawcen the ori'
gin of these two systems, Mormonism Is
but little more than a m0delni2ed coun-
terpart of Mohammedism. The rcvela-
tions received through dreams and by
supernatural visions and vistations, as
asserted by Mahomet and by Joe
Smith, bear many features OF reaem-
blance. Both were originally obscure
men, unlettered, and predisposrd to idle
ness. Both admitted the existence Of
God, and each claimed obe His prophet.
Both claimed that their respective Bibles
were received through the instrumental
ity of certain angels,
Substantially the Koran Of Mahomet
and 10. Smiths "Book of Mormon" are
very similar in character, and not unlike
in their doctrines. Both declare polyg-
amy to be prominent element in their
religious systems. While the great
Arabian impostor diligently inculcated
political and military domination as the
right of the "faithfuI,' the renowned
Yankee impostor was equally diligent in
teaching that "the Saints should inherit
the Garth" As the former sternly pro-
hibited ahiliation of his followers with
"infdels," so the lattera as sternly forbade
association of his followers with Cen
tiles
Considering the advancement of So
ciety during the twelve hundred years
/ intervening between the origin Of these
two systems Of imposturc, the ditlerent
religion, and civil institutions surround
ing each, the comparative barbarism OF
the one period and the enlightenment o
the other, the rise and growth Of Nor
monism in America seem almost a.
strange as the rise and growth of Mo
hammcdism in Arabia. The first pro
mitigation of the Mormon religion witt
all its awkward absurdties, in Western
New York; the setting Of the stakes o
their Zion at Kirkland in Ohio; the ex
tending of those "stakes" to Nauvoo, il
Illinois, their hostile conflict with th'
State authorities there; the migration o
the whole Mormon confederacy to tn
romantic wilds of Utah; and their in
crease of numbers and growth int
wealth and political power there, actual
ly setting the power of the United State
Government at defiance, all these event
constitute strange episode in the hlstor
of the present century.
Their system of proselytism was 5
cunningly devised as to reach the con
mon people of all tongues and nations
the earth, and mutitudes in foreig
lands became converts to their faith an
hocked to the far-oh Mecca of the
Church. Such community as that, e
tablished in that remote mountain vale
of the great Salt Lake, under Mormo
rule, was never before seen among ciyi
, lied men.
, When the Mormon leaders selecte
that unexplored region as their land {
, promise they supposed themselves /
Gated on Mexican territory and beyon
: the jurisdiction of the United State
: The acquisition of California on the te
| mination of the Mexican War brougl
that Utah region within the tefritori
: limits of our Government. The Mo
t mons rcbelled against our jurisdictio
: and strong military expedition, und
command of Albert Sydney Johnso
> had to be sent thither to enforce reco
milton of our territorial rights, and a te
4 ritoral government was established ov
e the Mormon rule.
3 As the elective system Of local admi
! istration of course obtained, the who
Y order and arrangement Of public afiai
e necessarily proceeded in conformity vii
the will of the Mormon majority of Il
S popular vote. In many respects the d
:. rection of tEeir domestic policy was e
$ cellent; and under it the people gre
e prosperous as the territory was deve
V oped. But they clung with tenacity
Y their system of polygamy. The Unit
e States Government demonstrated ar
t protested against this as violation
t the common law of the land against bi
!. amy. And vet delegates from the Teri