The river press., 1882-01-18

mons would of course be amenable. Magin-
mis- remarks that such division Of Utah and
distribution of its parts would not only be
perfectly legal and proper, but would have
the advantage that its new boundaries would
be natural instead of artificial.
The plan suggested by our Delegate, which
seems to be the best solution of the Mormon
problem offered, is not favorably received
among the Latter Day Saints, and their press
at once proceed to say naughty things about
Major Maginnis and ridicule his scheme
which is the very best evidence that they are
afraid of it, AS q specimen brick of this
sort of Mormon literature we give the fol-
lowing from the Salt Lake Herald
The Delegates scheme is not exactly new,
nor was it original with him. 1t is simply
the oft-suggested proposition to divide Utah
aud apportion her to the surrounding States
and Territories. This scheme was talked of
in Congress a good many years ago, and
there seemed to be strong desire to carry it
into effect, when it was Thad. Stevens, we
believe, who brought his powerful logic to
bear upon it. He said if family were af-
ficted with smallpox it wouldn't be wise to
scatter it's members throughout the commun-
ity. The part of wisdom would be rather to
confne them in as narrow quarters as posi-
BILE. He didn't desire to compare Mormon
ism to smallpox, nor had he anything 10 say
for or against it; but if the Mormons were
as bad as some of his fellow Congressman
insisted upon painting them, he thought it
would be dangerous to scatter them.
But seriously, if the desire is to destroy
the Mormon power, the very worst way of
going about it would be to carry this plan
into effect. The Mormons already hold the
balance of power in Idaho, and were Cache
county, with its fourteen thousand people
equal to nearly half the population Of all
Idaho-attached to that Territory, the Nor
mons would have our northern sister depend
ency as firmly under their control as they
now have Utah. They are power in Wy
oming, and any addition to that Territory
from this would make our northeastern sister
completely Mormon.
We are inclined to believe, however, that
Maginnis is not in earnest in his seeming OPP
position to the MOrmons, and desire to break
their power. 1t was pretty generally under
stood that at the late election he was not
above asking and accepting Mormon votes,
and while their support may not have carried
him through, it is certain his small majority
would have been less had it not been for
Mormon votes. 1t is possible that Mr.. Ma
ginnis now desires to reward them for stand
ing by him by increasing their political pow
er and influence, giving them two States and
three Territories instead of confning them
to one Territory.
1t is evident from this little display Of
malice. on the part of the Herald toward
Delegate Maginnis that the Mormon leaders
are not in the least taken ap with the idea of
division, and fear it as much, if not more,
than any proposition that has been made
There is little danger that the Mormons
would gain the balance of power in any of
the States or Territories named, and by such
a change of boundary lines their power as
well as their iniquitous system of polygamy
could be effectually wiped out.