Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-19
MORMONISMs ITS TENDENCIES
AND RESULTS.
BY PROF. DOUGLAS cAuLK1Ns, A. B.
Southern Advance.


countries of the earth. These three
nations stand out as the recognized
leaders among empires, kingdoms and
republics. These three questions come
to the front as pre-eminently the
questions of the hour. Nihilism in
Russia, the Irish Land Bill in Great
Britain, and Mormonism in America.
The two former, being purely political
in their character, can be settled as
other political questions have been
settled-squarely met and squarely
dealt with. But the question of
Mormonism is one of religion, and a
religious problem in country whose
Constitution declares that no form OF
religion and no style of worship shall
be interfered with, is not so easily
handled Less than forty years ago
the Mormons, driven from their homes
by fierce storm of outraged public
sentiment, settled among the barren
hills of Utah, and laid the foundation
of the City of the Saints. By inim-
liable patience, untiring energy and
unfagging zeal, the wilderness has
become a garden, as beautiful and
fertile as an Eden. There is presented
to the eyes of a wondering world a
city of twenty-five thousand inhabi
tants where a policeman's badge is
never worn, where petty crimes are
unheard of, and robbery unknown ;
but city polluted by the foul stain
of pOlygamy, where the sanctity Of
the home is reviled and desecrated,
and where the holiest Of all ties is
made a by-word and farce. Has
nothing been done to root out this
vile cancer from the body social Of
America? Have no measures been
taken for the removal of that which
is sapping the very life-blood of our
country? Against it for twenty years
Congress has legislated, and the an
athemas of an indignant people have
been hurled in vain. 1t has covered
its foul practices with the cloak Of re-
ligion, and has claimed protection I'M
der our broad and generous Constitu-
ton. 1t has grown and strengthened
with the progress of time, until to-day
its proselytes have found an abiding
place in no less than six Territories,
and its emissaries have been sent
throughout the length and breadth of
the Union. Less than one year ago
they canvassed the neighboring State
of Georgia, and on their return to
Utah were accompanied by number
ofconverts to the Mormon faith, whom
they had induced to forsake home,
friends, everything they held most
dear, by a promise of unlimited pros
perity in this life and eternal happi-
ness in the life to come. | also have
it on reliable authority that they are
even now at work in the neighboring
county of Union, converting to Nor
monism any who can be led away by
their specious sophistry. Predictions
for their downfall have been many
and loud. Ten years ago it was
prophesied that the innovation of
railroads, with the commerce and civ
ilization which they would bring,
would prove disastrous to the Nor
mon cause. Railroads have been built,
commerce and civilization have rolled
their tides westward, and have poured
through the gates into the Mormon
CITY, but Mormonism still fOurishes
1t was also thought that the death Of
Brigham Young would strike its
death-blow. 1t has been five years
since Brigham Young was gathered
to his fathers, and Mormonism still
lives.
But it is not alone the body social
of America that is being polluted by
this monstrous evil. The body poll
tic, as well, is beginning to feel the
weight of its power, and that weight
is increasing with every succeeding
year. As stated above, it is not III
Utah alone that the "Saints have
gained possessions. Arizona, Idaho
Nevada, Wyoming and Colorado are
beginning to feel the effects of theil
rapid, silent immigration, and grad
ually, almost imperceptibly, are being
influenced by the Mormon vote. Fol
politics as politics they care nothing
I They are now a unit for the Demo
cratic party, simply because the Re
publicans are in power, and theil
policy has always been to vote agains
the party in power. If the Demo
cratic party should secure control o
the Government, the Mormon vot
would be solid for the Republicans
The object at which they are aiming
and toward which, with characteristi
determination and zeal, they are work
ing, is to secure the balance of powe
in the surrounding Territories, an
by making these the base of their oPe
rations, to strike fatal blow at tn
United States Government.
The above statements are not foun
led on imagination, nor upon baseles
rumors. They are facts obtaine
principally from a gentleman who ha
recently returned from tour throug
he West, and has studied the Moi
non question thoroughly and closely
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