Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-22

Mrs. L. L. Saxon, a lady of New
Orleans Of the spiritual persuasion,
we'll known and highly reputable, is
out in a recent New Orleans Times
Democrat, occupying a column and a
hall, In defense of the Mormon church
and OF polygamy on the Mormon plan.
There is no doubt of the lady's sin.
eerity, and nothing could likely be
more remote from her purpose than to
defend or Justify anything immoral,
much less the rottonness Of this
reekiug vice. But Mrs. Saxon, as
women are apt to do, surrenders to
emotionallsm what belongs to truth or,
in other words, turns 0ver to the heart
what is due to the understanding. We
do not design any injustice to the lady
when We say that if she had not,
happy, become the guess OF the favorite
relict Of old Brigham Young, or some
other hostess in like relations to the
miserable pollution she proposed to
discuss. she would have sent to the
Times Democrat Just as honest, and
very opposite views. She makes two
basic claims for Mormonism: first, that
it prevents the social vice, y and sec
ODDLY, that the saints are sincere
aud conscientious in their religious
faith. But Mrs. Saxon is we'll aware
that crime has no infamy, AID fnati-
cism no extravaganza, that have net
in all ages of the world, among all
races, been maintained and defended
by the lives Of millions probably more
conscientious and sincere. Hence
that, ii true, amounts to nothing.
And curing the social vice. by low.
ering society to its level is a very
startling proposition which Mrs
Saxon would not think of supporting
when squarely out of Utah, and
restored to her natural plano of
thought. The social vice" is a fes.
teTlng on the body OF the times, and
SO is MorDlonism. Mrs. Saxon sees
the one, but has got in her " light
30 that she fails to see the other
There is only one reform more neces-
sary than to heal the social. vice.
sore, and that is to heal the polyga
nous sore. Polygamy has one merit
above polysndry or a plurality Of hus
bands, which is thati does not lead to
the extinction'ofthe race. But there
IS no moral choice between the two.
The difference is a practical one mere.
ly. II Mrs. Saxon will consider
it as a moral question 10 the ligh,
OF %polyandryS she might go so far
in the rebound as to change
her view OF its religious sane.
tity. IF she can conceive the
prostitution OF one woman by an asso.
citation of men as a religious or moral
%raDgement, she may, indeed, master
the Mormon problem on her present
plan, but not else. Mrs. Saxon's
emotional tendencies have misled
her. She is naturally in deep SYM
PATTY With her sex. She feels with
all a woman's heart the horrible per
dition to which the loveliest and best
of her sexsdaily descend through the
seething vortex Of the social vice"
And she falls into the error of sup
posing that if ~polygamy prevailed
there would be no social vice. She
is mistaken. There would be less,
not none. AS the guest of the
most considerable of Mrs. Brigham
Youngs, wealthy and intelligent she Il
rejoiced to find that the lady is not
de6led with the pitch Of the Stunt
and bagnios. Perhaps not, but the
question is not whether the Mrs.
Youngs are defled. 1t is society that
wants protection, and not the polyg,
amous women. How does Mrs
Saxon propose TO protect society
She offers to the purity of its maiden.
hood, (which constitutes the fabric
out Of which is to be constructed
when hard pressed by whatever in.
%iuences lead the young and limo.
cent astray, the choice between
polygamy and the social vice." Fie,
Mrs. Saxon