The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-12-18

One of the tenets of the pretended
Mormon faith is understood by out
side barbarians to be that the Indians
of the North Amarican continent are
the descendants of some of the old
tribes Of the Israelites who after vari-
Gus wanderings through Asia crossed
over at Behring Straits and peopled
the continent. The Mormons call the
Indians Lamanites and pretend to be-
leve that is the mission of the Latter
Day devils to bring these savages
into the fold and take care, as far as
possible that they share fully in the
blessings of the new dispensation.
Since the settlement of the Mormous
in Utah the charge has repeatedly
been made that they cultivated the
most intimate and friendly relations
with the Indians surrounding their
settlements, taking thier part in all
their contests with the Government
or with the Gentle settlers, melting
the Indians to war and furnishing
them with arms, ammunition and
provisions. More than ten years ago,
when Gov. Connor and his California
Brigade were fighting the Bannocks
in Utah, it was generally believed,
both in and out of the army, that the
Mormons had melted the Bannocks
to massacre, and that they had Sc
cretly given the Indians aid and cont
fort against Gen. COnnOr and his
forces.
| During the Bannock outbreak in
Idaho in 1873, it was asserted and
believed that the Indians obtained
the first means of going upon the war
path from the Mormons in Utah and
Idaho and that they managed to keep
up their supplies of arms and ammu-
milton by drawing secretly upon the
same source.
Since the outbreak of the Utes in
Colorado investigations have been
going on which leave no doubt that
Douglas, the head chief at the White
river Agency was guilty of the deepest
duplicity and treachery toward Agent
Meeker and the other people of the
Agency. The fact has been pretty
veil established that Douglass was
present at the Mountain Meadows
Massacre and took lively part with
the MOrmons in that affair. Later
news from the scene of trOdble in Col
orado gives Ouray, whose friendship
to the whites has been tried and
proved as stating that he is fully
prepared to prove that secret emssa-
ries from the Mormons have been
comforting with the White river Utes
and attending to prolong hostilities
by promising to furnish arms and
ammunition at certain points on the
Grand river for their use rs long as
they would fight Ouray also says
that he will be able to establish the
full connection of the Mormons with
the origin of the out break, and that
similar inducements were held out to
the Indians prior to the firing of the
first shot at the agency.
| The testimony already furnished
and that which seems to be in the way
of being developed has satisfied the
officers and authorities appointed to
make the investigation that there is
some foundation for this very serious
charge of active completely on the
part of the Mormons.
What is very significant in this con-
ncction, is the fact, that the Mormons
have never taken the least pains to
refu.e the charges which have so often
been made against them for taking the
part of the savages in their raids and
massacres. The matter is very seri
Gus one for all concerned; and more
serious for the Mormons than for any
others: for if the evidence of their
guilt should reach point where there
is no longer II peg to hang doubt
upon il will force the adoption of
measures to which previous prosecu-
tions for violations of law will be
slight and trivial.-IddhO Statesman.