The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-10-23
PoLYGAMoUs MoRMoNIsM.
A Possible Solution for the Problem.

One of the foulest blots of the nine.
teenth century, as far as the civiliza-
tion of he United States is concerned,
is the xists ice of polygamy within our
domain. Driven from the east by the
pressure of public sentiment, it sought
to leap far beyond the limits of civilian
ton andsentrench itself in isolation by
occupying a district thought to be hope
lessly a desert. Born of im%posture, it
has been successful through infatua-
tion to a degree that staggers compre-
hension. Everyone is familiar with its
history-how it has caused the desert
to blossom as a rose" and the other
great material accomplishments of its
blind devotees. 1t sought to establish
a hierarchy with a tenet which has
been repugnant to the Christian sense
for ages. The nation thought it but a
temporary barnacle which could at any
time be removed by a single sharp and
quick movement at the hands of the
government. How miserably has such
an idea been realized. Polygamv in all
its disgustingness and demurallzibg eff
fects is still a power in Utah and ada
cent Brighamite dioceses. 1t is now
charitable to suppose that the thou
sands of deluded followers inveigled
into Utah did not know that they were
to be the supporters and adorers of po-
lygamy. 1t is reasonable to suppose
that thousands now in their very
souls detest that feature Of the
would-be hierarchy, and would rem
ovate and fumigate the ''church"
if they could. This opposition was de-
veloped sometime previous to 1862,
when a number Of mormons, then as
sembled in Salt Lake, broke off from
the main body and established them
selves in a sort of colony, led by one
Morris, and were known as the Morris
ties. This little bunch of dissenting
saints Brigham Young determined to
destroy. Accordingly on the 18th of
June, 1862, they were attacked, and af-
ter making a desperate resistance were
overpowered and lost ten of their peo-
pie, some of whom were ruthlessly shot
down after having surrendered. They
were taken to Salt Lake City, tried by
the hierarchy and bound wei in the
sum of fifteen hundred dollars each tn
appear for trial in nine months. Among
this number was John Eames of this
city. These brave d~issenters, il they
accomplished nothing at the time, SOW
ed the seeds of a d"issension which may
probably prove a solution of the whole
mormon difficulty. There are now more
than 10000 mormons in the Rocky
mountain region who regard the polyg-
amous feature of the church as an
abomination. And, strange to say,
highly orthodox in the essential doc.
trines of the scriptnre-men who be-
lieve that the mormon church thus
purified is indeed the church of
latter day saints. Impelled by this
infatuation they try to serve God in
sincerity and truth. No one can deny
but it is a high aspiration. 1t is sought
after in all the churches-perfect puri-
6cation, blameless and without sin.
This branch of the church are shocked
at the rebellious attitude of the Brig
hamites toward the government, and
t~eachStheir followers that the govern
ment established by Washington is the
best on earth and should be reyered as
such to the end. Stripping themselves
of the faint of polygamy they stand on
an equal footing with any sect in the
country as far as worshipping God &C
cording to the dictates of their own
consciences is concerned. There should
be a line drawn between these people
and their abominable brethren and
given all the moral support the govern
ment and people can bestow. LOYAL.
faithful, but infatuated-may express
it all. But they possess all the ele-
ments of strength which is the desider-
alum of any country or statesman.
God speed John Eames and his follow
ers if they go hand in hand with the
better sentiment of the nation in clear
ing out a blot that will forever stand
in history as the work of the most con-
summate schemers that wei deceived
mankind or any portion of it.