Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-03-19
WEEKLY CITIZEN.
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 1882
THE MORMON QUESTION.

The present is an age of sensatlon- The people demandit it and the want must be supplied, whether or not the facts justify its promulgation through the press. Just how much of the sensational tales are to be credited as gospel truth depends upon the susceptibility of the person who reads them.
 The Mormon question IS the all absorb ing topic ofthe present. All the terrible features of the mysteries underlying the polygamy and blood atonement features of that so called religious creed that have been made public through the newspapers, are given full credence in some quarters and spurned as hbelous falsehoods in others The facts will ap- pear when the question IS dispassionately reviewed and bereft of its sensational features. There can be no question that under the cloak of religion as embodied in the Mormon creed, there he many gross evils whose horrors will appal the civilized world when fully known. The following letter, gwen in the Salt Lake Tribune a few days ago, if true, gives some light upoa this grave subject. In the absence of coTroborating evidence 1t must be taken as the reader chooses to view it. Perhaps the letter is genuine and perhaps it is not. In the former case It would indicate a most deplorable state of anarchy in Utah:
 George Q. Cannon asserts in recent interview that the Mormon people are unanimous ID their opposition to the Ed munds bill. Iknow that this Is not true. have been a Mormon for twenty-oDe years. and I still believe in all the prin- ciples that were taught me when l em- braced Mormonism in England l do not belieyein polygamy and blood atone ment, but 1 never heard of those prlncl- ples until I came to Utah, m lS63. Neither do believe Tn the obligations We are forced to take on ourss'Eyes in the E ldowment house I know many per sons who are Mormons in the same sense that I am but who believe Il all the principles that were first taught them, but who do not believe in polygamy, 
 ness that IS practiced in the name of re- hgion. Women of this class are on their knees to-day praying that the Edmunds bill lnay become a law. l know women wLo signed the Mormon memorial to Congress because they feared to lose their own and their children's bread If they refuse Yet these very women are hoplng and praying that Congress will put down polygamy. One woman who signed the memorial because she dared not do otherwise, said to me; IT Congress gives Cannon his seat, and don't put down polygamy with strong hand, will say the members of Congress are as bad as the Mormons.' Another woman, friend Of mine, says: I do not know the man who brought the petl- ton to my house, but supposed him to be q Gentle I asked him if the peti- tiCn was against polygamy, and he said it was. have suffered terribly ID pO- lygamy, and signed my name quickly enough, but after l had done so, some thing in the mans manner made me sus- picious, and l asked him If It was not the Mormon petition against Edmunds bllt? He had my name, so then he told me the truth. l asked him to cross my name of, but he would not do It. Another woman said: When they brought the petition to my house they told me the Edmunds bill would take away our homes and strip us of every thing, and I signed 1t because I believed what they told me. have not yet seen the memorial myself Those who brought it around knew better than to ask me to sign it. They think l have a rebelllous split. And my husband said to me On- ly a few days ago: When the law of God is in full force, and We get rid of these d-d Gentiles, and cut throats, then all such women as you III be killed
 4 Mol SON WOMAN"