St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-07-20
The Mormon Question.
From the New York Times

The growth of the Mormon power in
the west does not attract so much at
tention now as it will hereafter, but
here and there thoughtful persons can
be found who look with many misgiv-
ings upon the continual extension of
the system that has its root in Salt
Lake City. A well-knOwn editor of
Laramie declares that the Mormons
already hold the balance of power in
Wyoming territory, and "are spread
ing so rapidly over the northwestern
states and territories that before long
that entire section will be practically
under their control" 1t is well known
that in the last legislature of Idaho
half of the members in each house
were MOrmOns. In Colorado they have
large and thriving settlement, and
the leaders of the church have recent
ly made arrangements for the purchase
of land in that state for the use of
their immigrant converts. They have
firm fOOthOld in the southern terrific
ries. Thousands of converts have
passed through this city on their way
to the west in the last few months
Mormon missionaries are laboring sue
cessfully in the south, as well as in
Europe. and Brigham Young expects
to draw from the Old and the New
| World 81. 100 deluded victims before
the first of next January.
As for the Edmunds law, which was
regarded as Il measure that promised
| to be very effective, it is spoken of
! by western men as il failure, because,
it is said, it can be and is successfully
cvaded. So secure do the MOrmOns
| feel i'll their stronghold that they have
already sued for damages the United
| States Commissioners who were APP
! pointed to enforce this law, and the
suits are brought to the United States
district court. On Aug. Il there will
he Il general election in Utah, at
which members of the legislature,
probate Judges, sheritfs, and other To-
cal officers will be chosen. The chair
man of the Edmnnds commission is
confident that the new Legislature will
he elected by mOnOgamiStS, owing tn
the enforcement of the provisions OF
the Edmunds law concerning registra-
ton. The GentilcS of Utah declared
Il few months ago that 10000 persons
would be DISTINGUISHED, but also as
serted that those not disfranchised
were and would continue to be com
plctcly under the control of the
avowed polygamiSts and of the church
They added that the Edmunds law
had served only as "a gentle irritant,
had consolidated the people, strength
cned the power of the priests Ovel
their followers, and failed to diminisl
the number of polygamous marriages
They urged congress to take all poliu
cal power from the Mormon people
and provide for territorial Legislation
by establishing legislative council
+ the members of which should he ap
pointed 10y the president.
These statements and this appeal in
dictate the feeling of the nOn-MOrmOl
population. 1t is possible, however
: that the Legislature to be elected mex
month will disappOint those who pre-
diet that it will he completely unde
- Mormon influence. None of its mem
bcrs can be avowed pOlygamists unde
=. the law as construed by the chairma
of the commission, and it remains t
=. be seen whether these Legislators vii
he in harmony with the Edmunds law
Those who impatiently assert that tn
Mormons cannot be controlled by tina
law or any other law of Congress ma
have good reasons for such an opinion
: but the country will await the actiO
of the new legislature. The cOurs
taken by that body will show whethe
or not the new arrangements for regis
trntion and franchise have had "A goo
effect.