Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-18

their darkling way as heretofore.
It must therefore be realized that there
is, even here, large amount of material
upon which even SO gross superstition as
Mormonism can draw. And it is the more
formidable in that it possesses minute or.
ganization, formed with crafty skill, vested
with autocratic power, and served by a
submissive and self-sacrifcing priesthood.
1t is significant that Mormonism possesses
all and more than all the instrumentalities
of propagandism possessed by the primitive
Christian Church. Nor is it lacking in its
attraction for the masses. Christianity
offered the poor the consolation of hope
OF compensation In the future. 1t sweetened
adversely to them by denouncing the con-
domination of the rich. 1t taught Com
munism beyond the grave. Mormonism
offers the substantial comfort of this world.
It holds out the honors and blessings of the
patriarchal state to its converts. 1t as.
sures them not only of glory in the here
after, but of prosperity here. 1t would be
great mistake to underrate the attrac-
tions of such a religion after what the past
has revealed. It would be no less mis-
take to suppose that we can afford to trust
to the chapter of accidents for deliverance
from this source of perplexity. It may be
that there is no real danger to be
apprehended from Mormonism, though
we think it would be difficult to Justify
confidence in that belief from history
but it is certainly to be expected that this
people will gradually overrun and come to
control the Territories of Idaho and Mon
tana, as well as Utah, and it is plain that
with every expansion of their jurisdiction
the difficulty of dealing with polygamy
will be increased. 1t must also be asked
seriously whether the United States can
allow the growth into formidable proper
tions of union between Church and State
which strikes at the very foundation OF
allegiance to the Federal Government, and
which is quite as intolerant and defiant OF
secular ordinances as the Church OF Rome
in theory has ever been. In fact it is an
interesting question whether, supposing
that the Pope, driven from Europe and
seeking an asylum, had set up his Court in
Utah, and had there established his gov
eminent, temporal as well as spiritual,
we should have looked on as coolly and IN
differently as we actually have done during
the rise of Mormonism. We do not think
it at all probable, and yet it is fact that
the Vatican never made more arrogant
claims of supreme temporal authority than
Brigham Young and his council have for
generation enforced systematically in Utah.
The growth of Mormonism has now
reached stage at which its development
is more rapid than ever, and consequently
its effects must be more marked. 1t is
therefore necessary that the American peo-
pie should seriously consider what course
is to be adopted in regard to this question.
The principle OF non interference with ren-
gion of course applies only to such religion
as confines itself to spirituals. : When
ever it touches upon temporals it invades
the domain of the State, and the latter is
therefore justified in interfering Whether
Mormonism can or need be stamped out is
not the consideration. But the State has
the right to deal with any church which
arrogates to itself temporal power, and
which usurps secular functions, and if the
United States intend to govern the Terri
tories, and to prepare them for the
condition of States hereafter, it viii be
necessary to take up this problem without
further delay, and to so deal with it that
the Mormon Church shall at least cease to
be a temporal ruler.