Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-16
Curious Rebuke from Hormondom.

paper cannot be sent
Curious Rebuke from NOrmOndOm.
We are so in the habit of looking upon the
practices Of the Mormons as a sort of blot upon
the morality and civilization of the country
that it strikes us In the nature of surprise
when they undertake to defend their creed and
Institutions on moral and religious grounds.
They claim, for instance, that polygamy has
Divine sanction and Is authorized by the Bible;
that large majority of the people OF the world
practice IL; that it Is conducive to morality as
practiced In Utah; that there are no prostitutes
there, no foundlings left to starve upon the
streets. no Migrants, trampS. drunkardS or pau
pers. But they now go further and undertake
to turn the tables upon their assailants. They
absolutely have the assurance to comment upon
the evidences OF deplorable immortality amongst
the GentileS, and Of the schocking looseneSs Of
the marriage tie throughout the country out
side of MOrmODdOm. Thus the Mormon church
paper, the Salt Lake Ne,cs, OF a late date, quot
ing from report of the District coroner Of dead
infants found in Washington, exclams In hor-
ror:
within the brief space OF twenty -four hours,
1T is stated that no less than five dead babies
were thrown out in the capital of this great
nation, like so many kittens or blind puppies.
to rot on the surface Of the earth, or to be COW
think their presence an offence. Yet we
call ourselves a civilized nation.
The crime of child murder is most horrid: but
TINS might be committed in great city by the
low and degraded, and no blame attach to the
masses of the people. Can this, however, be
said Of Washington? The notice Of Child muir
ders which we have copied to-day is one of a
kind which frequently appears In the papers of
that city. Scarcely day passes without this
crime being brought to the coroners attention
Yet who Is alarmed at 1t? Whose voices are
cQd I'm don nofnf 1|C
against high heaven? 1t might be thought
that the people OF the whole city would be filled
with horror at reading such a notice as we have
copied, ard they would rise up as one man and
take measures to put stop forever to such
hldeous occurrences. But no; the people
throng the streets on Sunday as they wend
their way to their various houses Of worship
the preachers indulge In their pious platitudes,
and pastor and congregation separate
with the feeling that they have done
heir duty to God and man for that week,
Is 1t any wonder that God has spoken from the
Heavens in such day when such foul deeds
are OF constant occurrence In the capital city
that LatJer-day Saints are commanded to es-
tablfsh new order Of things upon the earth?
we are frequently told that our practices In
Ctah must cease, even If it take the whole
power OF the nation to put stop to them
Would 1t not be well to exercise the power of
the nation to terminate the system of child
murder In the District Of Columbia? While
arousing Indignation or calling out the power
OF the nation we are not surprised that the
Latter-day Saints In Utah are hated. 1t is such
a Ieenng as we might reasonably expect to see
eXh1Dlted. For the system and practices of the
Latter-day Saints are living, standing pro-
test against this and the other criminal and
vicious practices which flourish In so-called
Christian communities"
The Mormon journal next refers to the divorce
mania, as shown by the frightful number of
divorce suits during the year brought In diff
ferent states, ga great and growing evil. tend
Ing to the disorganization of society and the
injury OF public morals" The enquiry Is then
made: "While the Christian people and would
De popular statesmen OF this great country are
80 terribly exercised over the social system of
the 'Mormons, which enlarges the benefits of
marriage and extends them to the greatest
possible number, would 1t not be In keeping
with their anxiety about social affairs to turn
their attention somewhat to the weak spots In
tEelr own system, and study up cure for the
irregularities which are increasing therein"
The Ne,cs also finds occasion for homily In
the case OF Margaret Raper convicted In our
Criminal Court OF assault with intent to Kill one
John Buckley, who had betrayed her and mar
ried another woman. seduction says the
Mrs fought to be made one of the highest
offences known to the law, and, when accom-
panied by force, should be ranked with capital
crimes and punished accordingly. John Buck
ley goes scot free, except the burden of the
bullet-but If, instead Of casting her Off on his
marriage, he had also married the woman
whom he had humbled, and had so far tried to
remedy the wrong he had done to her, he would
have been clapped into the penitentiary for his
good Intentions. This Is one of the anomalies
D progressive Christian civilization"
1t Is rather rough to be lectured In this way
upon morality and civilization by the Mormons,
but there is some truth In the Indictment, and
1t should be accepted, coming from whatever
quarter 1t may.