Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-04
GRoNTH OF noRMoNIsM.

The expansive and growing strength
and power of the Mormons Is phenome-
nal. Notwithstanding their false as
sumptions Of divine revelations, the
corruptness Of their system, and the
immortality Of their practices, they
grow and thrive rs an ecclesiastical
political body polite, and are reach
ing no uncomfortable influence In
civil affairs. The reason of this, in a
measure, is that demagogues seize upon
the Mormon element as factor to pro-
mote their own selfish and unworthy
ends. Much Of the growing strength
of the Mormon dynasty is due to the
lax morality largely prevailing in our
outlying frontier territories. Adven-
turers and roughs and criminals a rex
TO these regions, and are but too ready
to seize upon any means, however des-
titute Of principle or morality, to sc-
complish their selfish purposes.
The facts of the growth of this cor
rupt and eorrupting Mormon excres-
cence are truly startling. The Nor
mons not only now control Utah, their
chosen promised land, but they are get
ting control Of new territories. They
are swarming in Montana. They al
ready bear large sway in Idaho, where
they have 1900 votes. They have only
to import, and this they can and will
soon do, 5000 voters into Nevada to Sc
cure every office and the entire legisla-
ture. Their corrupt use of money, OF
which they have au abundance, enables
them to purchase any legislature that
they NAV want in either of the above
named territories. They are strong and
increasing in Wyoming, and if not
checked by the overthrow and extirpa-
ton Of this vital, energizing element,
pOlygamy, they will soon have full con-
uol Of every territory, as they now do
in Utah.
They are indefatigable in their efforts
and labors They have some 300 "eld-
els" out as missionaries, prOselyting in
this and foreign lands, notably in Eng
land and Wales. They boost ofannual
accesSions by this process of over 5000.
At this rate, unchecked, they will soon
occupy all the fertile lands not only in
Utah, but in the other territories
"Gentiles," as they are called, will hest
tate to go among them, and they will
soon grow into power that may sue
cessiully defy the national government
itself. We see what is being done in
the green tree, and, if left alone, what
will be done in the dry?
1t is time the people were aroused to
this growing, threatening danger. Tneir
system is a menace not only to moral
ity, but to civilization itself 1t levels n
fatal blow to all purity of life, and is the
antagonism Of every social and domes-
tic virtue. This increasing band Of
pseudo religionists and impOsters must
be no longer tolerated; an immediate
and radical check must be devised,
They should be treated Is moral leper-
and outlaws, and the ban of civil and
moral outlawry should be pronounced
against them.
The greatest danger in this ease is the
general apathy of the people, who, far
away from their practices, do not real
ize their practical enOrmities as do those
who come in immediate contact with
them. Now, before this evil, wicked
system gains added strength and power
and control, is the time to cope with
and throttle it, and overthrow it, when
its overthrow will produce the least de-
mOralizing effect on other interests.
These Mormon leaders, are, in their
practices, criminals to-day in the eyes Of
the law, as it even now exists, but under
the "fOrcible feeble" administration
our government these or; minals riot in
crime unchecked and with brazen de-
fiance. The law such as We have should
be vigorously enforced, but such other
enactments should be adopted, even
an amendment to the constitution, as
should uproot and forever abolish the
besstly practices of the blasphemous
pretenders who claim to be the chosen
prophets of the Lord. Let the final
struggle come at once. Let it be quick
and decisive.