The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-11
THE HORIZONS,
Their Interests and influence in
Utah, Arizona, and Idaho
Litigation Before the
Council of Twelve
Men.


To the Editors Of the Ecening Post
The assertion Of a correspondent
OF the Tribune to which you refer
red in the EUenifag Post of Novem-
Der %, that the"Mormons have been
for years quietly but industriously
laying their plan to control, in a
measure, the local governments of
the Territories in the neighborhoed
OF Utah, and have, in a great meas
ure, succeeded in their preliminary
efforts, has some foundation of fact,
but it is uOt exact. The influence
OF the Church has not perceptibly
extended beyond the confines of
Utah to any other Territory than
that of Idaho, although there were
strenuous efforts made by Brigham
Young to colonize Arizona with his
people. But the Mormons are en-
tirely agriculturists. In spite of
every effort to force them into Ari-
iona, they would not remain there to
starve on its arid plains, and even
Brigham Young, all powerful as he
was, could not stand up in contest
with nature. The Mormons, there
fore, cannot CANA footing inArizona
district only available for mining a
purposes and cattle raising, which
are Gentle" specialities. The case
is different in Idaho, the southern
part of which Territory. until new
lines were drawn by the General
Government, was included in Utah.
and was many years ago settled by
MOrmonS, whose farms in Cache
Valley and around Bear Lake are
exceedingly productive, and are
available for an increasing popula-
ton. At present the Mormon vote
is one third that of Idaho, so that
when questions arise in which the
Church is interested, it naturally
has controlling influence. At the
same time it should be considered
that, owing to the rapid develop
ment of mining institutions, to
which an impetus is given by the
constructed and cOntem-
plated, the Mormon increase of the
future is not likely to keep pace
with that Of the Gentiles, so that in
the end the fears of theIribune cor
respondent will prove to be ground
less. Still, it is not to be denied that
as yet, on account Of the advantage
each political party in Idaho may
expect to derive from the Mormon
vote,neither of them dares seriously
to interfere with the"peculiar insti-
tuition" A Mormon will be allowed
to cumber himself with matrimony
of any extent if he will only vote
theRepublican OrDemOcratic ticket,
as the case may be. Party spirit and
Mormonism may divide the blame
about equally.
There is misrepresentation about
Mormon priests assuming temporal
functions" In fact, as we under
stand the term, they have no priests.
1t is true they have their orders of
apostles, presidents, and bishops, but
every layman is allowed, as we say
to conduct the serYiceS-that is, $50
speak out in meeting" All the
CLERGY engage in secular Occupa-
lions like other people, and the bish-
ops especially all the men of the most
intelligence in the various settle
ments, selected not on account of
their order Of sanctity, but becaUsel
they can best instruct their neigh
bors in regard to farming, and can
bring them to terms when they fall
out, without recoursete the law. This
is the practice which the. Tribune
correspondent characterizes as "a
pretty plain admission of the charge
of connection between the Mormon
church and state" That's all there
is,or ever was, of it. When there is
a serious disagreement the bishop,
or, ii there is president, his SHper-
ior officer at least, then the presi-
dent, always with the consent of
both parties, calls council of twelve
men. The first preliminary is the
agreement of plaintiff and defendant
to abide by their decision, subject al
ways to an appeal to the head of the
Church,Wh is scarcely ever taken
Then there is a prayer; then each
man tells his own story and pro-
duce shiS own witnesses then thepre
siding officer instructs the jury;
then the jury render a verdict; then
there is another prayer; then the lit
igantS shake hands; and, lastly, all
hands adjourn ''tO break bread to-
gether." These proceedings apply
to the complaints of neighbors
against each other, and not to cTim-
NAL cases, which are dealt with as IN
other communities. Lawyers i'm /
think that there is some
thing very reprehenSible in all
this. Indeed the hungry cornorar |
of Salt Lake City,WhOSe subsistence |
is derived almost solely from the
quarrels of the Genties and
the frequent quarrelS and murders |
in the mining camps, are sOreiy exer-
ciSed about ii.
AS you justly observe, this contest
about the election of the Utah dele
gate "will probably lead te the pHs- /
LEGATION IF q COED deal oe news VIII
regard to Mermenism." 1t certainly
will do 81. 1t will show the motives
by which both parties are actuated |
how upon the part of the Mormens |
there has been a determination to |
force a pelygamist into the councils
Of the nation when common deceney |
should have prompted them to elect |
a mOnOpamiSt from among the |