Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-12-15
MURNONISM IN THE TERRITORIES.

That vast region of the United
States extending from eastern Neva-
do into western Colorado-almostf from
the Sierra Nevada to the Rocky Noun
tains-and reaching from British Co.
lumbia to Mexico, including all of
Utah, Arizona, and Idaho, and por-
tiotis of Montana, Wyoming and New
Mexico Territories, and also portions
of the States of Oregon, Nevada and
Colorado, to say nothing of isolated
portions OF southern California, fur
nishes the homes Of the one hundred
and thirty thousand souls who consti-:
tute the membership Of the "Mtormon
Institution"
What Rome was to the Empire,
Salt Lake City is to this great region.
All roads lead to it; all laws which the
faithful Mormon feels himself in con-
science bound to obey and respect,
come from it. The edicts Of the En-
peror and Senate at Rome were no
more certain Of enforcement and the
obedience of the rcmotest subject by
the force Of Roman arms, than are tie
precepts Of the Mormon President and
his council by force more potent
than the sword. Rome was not so
certain of the revenues of its provinces
as is the Mormon government of the
tax dues of its most distant adherent
Regularly as the seasons come the
1.-THE of all, in constantly increasing
volume, flows from all directions to
its treasury, enforced through no ma
chinery of statutes, assessments and
delinquent sales, but by subtle, un-
seen power which will not be denied,
and cannot be defrauded.
Like an octopus the central power
ut Salt Lake has stretched out its feel
crs into all this region and fastened
them so that it's dominion is felt in
every habitable part. In nearly ever,
vocation are representatives. of this
"peculiar people" whose eyes turn to
"Zion" as faithfully as ever Moslcm's
turned to Mecca.
1t is not pcty nor religious senti
ment which controls the most Of them
for vice and wickedness is as prevalent
AS ignorance among them. 1t is I
freemasonry, fraternity, confeder
alton for mutual strength and bene6
united for common cause with on,
acknowledged head: The earliest
simplest and strongest form of govern
ment. Coupled with this is the reIig
ious branch of the system, inscparahl,
permeating the whole, from which thi
complex organization of Mormorisn
as it now exists has been gradual
evolved.
Whether the originators Of this re
markable scheme of salvation contem
plated at the time Of its invention
that out of it would grow such an in
stitution as it is at this time--a stat
rs well as a church--is doubtful: va
rious innovations and additions TO tn
faith have made their appearance
since then; but the elements wer
there, and it wanted but the ambitio
and genius Of a Brigham Young t
combine them and unite its follower
ina political alliance, founded upo
religious belief, strong as the hope {
Immortality and as lasting as supers,
ton in an ignorant mind.
The rapidlty OF its growth has bee
phenomenal. Proselytcs from Europ
are coming at the rate of Thousand
yearly; while tine increase from birth
must be greatly in excess Of grow,
from Immigration. 1t is claimed ii;
the total increase has amounted i
half year, % more than TWEEN,
thousand
Heretofore the people Of Ameri'
have looked upon Mormonism from
moral point of view and contente
themselves with denouncing the pra,
tco Of polygamv; but lattcrly they b
gin to realize that it has other Al
more dangerous features; and the eli
lightened press throughout the couI
try are discussing the problem i'll i
political aspect.
1t is fact that in the various cou,
ties OF the States and Territories me