The National tribune., 1882-03-18
HORRORS OF P0LYGAMY.
Some Of the Evils the Edmunds
Bill viii Stop i'll Utah.
. STARTLING STORY OF THE RISE,
Pa0GRESS, AND lNFAMY OF
eoLYGAMY- - SHOCKING
SCENES OF MORAL
DEGRADATION.

y
City gives a graphic pen picture OF the
irichtfully evil effect of the polygamous
nrocti,e. that have so long Gisgraced civillza-
non in Utah. illustrating forcibly the urgent
necessity that exists for the proper leglsla-
ton to ',stamp out" this monstrous vice.
The Fdmunds' bill for the correction of tins
evil has now passed both Houses of Congress
and only awaits the signature Of the Presi-
dent before becoming law. The writer
says:
No man who has rot been an actual resi-
dent of Salt Lake can ever form the slightest
idea of the cunning, hypocrisy, and depraV-
ity of the band of imposters known as the
Mormon Church. In the first place, the
crowd presided over by John Taylor are not
Mormons at all, there being no so-caiied
revelation in the book of Mormon authorlz-
ing the practice of polygamy. 1t is fact ,
which does not seem TO he generally un&er-
stood, that the polygamous portion is an of !
shoot of the religion which was first founded |
in Palmyra, and that the old original church. |
called "The Jcsephite," comprises NUMBER
of harmless, law abiding people, who loathe
the filthy practices of polygamy, do not col
lect tithes of the poor and are and always
have been loyal to the Government. These
well.meanins but nisled people found their
faith upon the plates dug up and translated
by Joe Smith, and there has never heen any
thing in their belief, mode of life, or general
conduct which could distinguish them from
the Methodist or Episcopalian. The Ribie
is their book, and the latter revelation they
only consider as something clearing up some
of the obscure passages in the old Bible
This settles the cry that the crusade against
the polygamists is case of religious PerSe-
cution. The polygamous outfit had their
origin in Brigham Youngs scheming, de-
praved brain.
He brought about the pretended revelation
which authorized, or rather commanded,
celestial marriage, and inaugurated the vast
system of spoliation. called tithe collecting,
which put million of dollars year into his
pocket for the rest of his life. At the time
these revelations were made his fsnatlcal
followers were ripe for anything which came
from Young; they believed that he was the
local ag.nt of God and in direct communica-
ton with the Almighty. Polgyamy WIS
first carried on in secret, and then men with
half dozen wives began TO parade them on
tho streets 1t took among all classes; the
wealthy enjoyed and kept their harems stock
II with fresh material year after year. Lite
va. con .inual honey moon, and the apostles
s.d leading men had as many wives as they
rnlld .fTori 20 keep. Among the lower
ris-~s it served another purpose. Farmers
S.,pd that the women brought over in the
exigrant ships made excellent farm hands,
aud all over Utah. outside of Salt Lake, are
fields where women work like plantation
slaves from sunrise till sunset, while their
polygamous husbands lie in the shade and
smoke corn-cob pipes. The earnings Of these
farmers 20 into the Golfers of the church in
the shape Of 10 per cent. month"; and this
is why missionaries are sent abroad. They
secure serf labor for Utah, and the proceeds
of this labor go into the pockets of the thiev-
ing apostles, elders, and societies, who laugh
in their sleeves and keep the ball rolling,
really caring no more for the religious pro-
fessions than so many Government 11ules.
II is generally conceded in Salt Lake that
John Taylor and Joe Smith, son of the
prophet, are the only two men high in the
church who are fanaticsl enough TO believe
in Brigham Young's doctrines.
In the lower counties the polygamisss
rot and ripen in the atmosphere of depravity
and crime. There are whole families who
cannon read or write. The vicinity of Provo
is a good place to study the institution OF
polygamy. Families of twenty sweat and
swelter in q single cabin, all eating and
sleeping in one room. They live like wild
animals, cohabiting indiscriminately. In
cest is not considered crime but is actually
encouraged. These are facts which can b.
well authenticated. George c. Bates, wht
was for three years an attorney for the Nor
mon Church, and one of the most strenu
GUS spologists and defenders, finally chop
on the business in the following unequiv
ocal style in letter over his own signi
ture:
@In January, 1873, happened to visit tn
southern parts of the Territory on bushes
for the church, and, stopping to chang
NOISES ana Uluc, J. roW oioubo oAAC tsADAO A. '
polygamic wives Of one old bishop and II
and around the ranch some thirty-six larg
BOYS and girls of all ages, from ten TO six
teen and twenty years, and then end ther
learned that these young Mormons all alep
in one large single room overhead in tn
winter like so many pigs, and in tn
hot weather in summer they all huddled to
sether in the straw in the stable, living in pro
miscuous eoncubinase, and that several of tn
girls were bearing children to their brothers
and cousins and uncles, and that this wa
matter OF daily happening and was nc
discouraged but was winked at by the oil
bishop, who stood high in the church, as
natural consequence of their reiigou
teachings, that every woman's future hal
liue.< VS. enhanced by the number ,
cbiiatn she bore, no matter who might b
EhriT father.
in the portion of the country where thes
t-tmuahle things foment and tester a GeI
,il,, life is not safe. To shoot a man dow
T. .l.i ambush or cut the throat of sleepin
c.tisn driver bring no pang TO "a eo1
.,tr r Day Saint" for the doctrine OF bloc
a,oHrrnent fxes their conscience for all tim
a. al, -