Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-03-08
IRONTON MO-, THURSDAY MARCH 8. 1888


lease for the Mormons; but the religion
as it exists and has existed is doomed
in the future by the very means they
have helped to bring about. The Mis-
souri, Pacific Railroad brings wealth
and trade to Utah. The enriching OF
MEN is fast making class distinction,
and it needs only the social intercourse
between Mormon and Gentle women,
eventually, to change much of Nor
mon civilization.
1.-THE politicians foisted on the people
use the Mormons' unfortunate senti-
ments and religious convictions for
pulling the chestnuts from the fire for
themselves in well nigh every instance,
and to pervert the facts is easy-when
facts are SO against them, as this makes
it seem. The apostate Mormons, in
many instances, while clinging with
deathless tenderness to their Mormon
relatives, give the most graphic and
touching side to the whole story. Ad-
mitting all the purity and goodness of
the Mormon women, they speak with
sneering contempt of the mean. lust
ful greed of the men, and paint in
glowing terms the jealousies of the
wives. One fears another may have
more children than she and thus build
up the kingdom faster for the father,
and win thus larger share of his re-
ri ho
Testament women, being regarded as
Sore affiiction.
II asked one of these former Nor
mons whether the infrequent visits of
the father to the family did not render
the tie between them stronger, infiu-
encing both to do all that was possible
to enhance the happiness of each.
No. she said; when the man comes it
is only worrying, fussing, and cooking
for him all the time. For my part, I
was always glad when father left;
didn't believe word of the religious
nonsense, or that Brigham Young or
Lee were one whit better than any 9TH
er men, and he was always angry with
me because did not This young
woman is married to a Gentle, and
she doesn't much fancy his being a
Mason any more than she did her ia
ther being a Mormon. So, you see, it
depends after all on the notion of an
individual as to show how he Or she
may feel concerning religion and all
else. One can see that the younger
women are glad Of the law that pro-
hibits plural marriages In the Terrific
ry. Church rule, the Mormon lines of
Bishops and patriarchs will be con-
tinued only through education. Early
marriage, large families and work-this
is the prevailing order of things in Utah.
of five or six children whose father and
mother are in early manhood or wom-
anhood. Few young men reach twen-
ty-five in Utah without marrying. I
went one evening with Ma S. aud her
numerous clan and the old patriarch
Pa s., to a young ladies' literary meet
ing, or mutual improvement meeting,
where all sorts of topics were discussed
by the people. have never seen great
er harmony in family life, more purity
of sentiment or modesty of demeanor in
women than among the people here.
An old man said to me: We are a law
abiding people, we conform to every
requirement. our plural marriages are
discontinued; out my sons would have
a right to ki II me if l put aside the wives
married to me by Gods sacred Bible
and covenants, and it is these whose
families you see around me- In the
four temples being built marriages and
of the most sacred character
will take place, and it is there our chill
dren meet to see the fulfillment of the
propecy concerning the coming of the
Lord to His holy temples That these
are intended to be used as
fortresses is not true. Camp Douglas
has twenty-one cannon pointing down
nn Salt Lake, and could in an hour de-
stroy the CITY,"