The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-01-23

matter Of absolute necessity. Po-
lygamy is q growing evil. No law
passed by the National Congress can
reach it. That it must be eradicat-
ed from our country no good citizen
will deny, and the sooner we crap
pie the monster the less trouble and
expense will attend the strangling
of it.
Mormohism Is gradually bat sure
ly growing up to be a mighty pow
or in this land. The So called
"church" is extending it's influence
day by day. It's agents and "miss-
ionaries" are penetrating every
State in this Union and every coun-
try under the sun, and are constant
ly spiriting away men and young
women to be added to the rapidly
growing Mormon communities of
Utah, Montana, New Mexico, etc.
Already those people are strong
enough to. defy the government of
the United States and openly insult
the public officers who are sent there
to look after them. Under the pre-
text of being . religious erganiza-
tion-s regularly constituted church
they claim not only immunity
from prosecution under the laws,
but protection under the Constitu-
ton of the United States. This will
not do. The horrid evil must be
eradicated. Mormonism-at any
rate the polYgamOus part of it,
must go.
1t is true. tho Constitution of the
United States guarantees to every
man the sacred right to worship
God according to the dictates of his
own conscience. But this does not
give any man or any set of men the
right to establish a society for the
purpose of teaching and propagat-
ing immortality, undermining the
foundations of good society and
transferring the beastly usages of
Paganism or Mohammadism to this
country. This is an abuse of free
dom. 1t is an outrage which can
not be and will not be submitted to
by the people of this land. Nor
monism must go.
General Rosecrans ought to intro
duee his amendment Immediately.
The Congress of the United States
ought to adopt it unanimously al
the present session. The States
ought to unanimously ratify the
amendment as soon as it is submit
ted to their legislatures. The Pres
ident should proclaim it as part of
the organic law of the land at the
earliest possible day, and then the
order should be transmitted to those
people forthwith to quietly submit
to the Constitution and become good
moral citizens, to leave this part of
the world forever-or take the con-
sequences.
Marriage is civil institution-re-
cognized as such by all civilized gov
ernments. 1t is not interfering with
a mans religion to say by law that
he shall not have but one wife at
one time. The divisions of people
into families of one man and one
woman seems 10 be the law of ma
ture, the order of Almighty God
it is the very foundation of good
good society, good govern
ment, the world over 1t is the law
Of Christianity. 1t is the law of all
the States of the Union. 1t must
DO the law of the United States, and
Mormonism must go.
Joe Smith and Brigham Young
both claimed to be inspired" men,
and they were inspired" But their
q inspiration" came from the Devil.
was "inspired" to murder
Garfield for the good of the Re-
publican party" He was hung as
he ought to have been. Joe Smith
was shot as he ought to have been.
And old Albert Sidney Johnston
ought to have hung Brigham as
nigh as Haman for inspiring
he Mountain Meadow massacre in
1852. That hanging would have
wound up this whole infamous Nor
non business more than thirty years
Igo.
We would not interfere with any
nan on account of his religious
news. We are very far in our feel
ngs from prosecuting any religious
ect This is a free country, and we
hank God for the great freedom
'ur people are permitted to enjoy.
We feel like saying topesple every
where, here is the great country
pread out from ocean to OCEAN
rem the lakes to the outcome
nd occupy it, work and be prosper
us and happy-profess any sort of |
eligion you please worship the |
rod who made you and who made |
his wonderfully rich land accord |
ng to the dictates Of your own con-
cience-but, as church organiza-
ion, let politics alone. Religion is
ne thing. Politics is another. Let
he church look after spiritual |
Kings. Let statesmen attend to |
matters. In that way
ur Union will continue to be pros
'erous and our people happy and |
rec for ages to GENE.
Mormonism as polygamous par
y-Mormenism as a pclygamous |
church" must go out of existence,
r leave the United States. 1t would |
e bad to have to kill those men,
tut better do that than suffer the
,reat evil to remain. Bloodshed is
lot always a crime. Ever since civ
Iization and christianity started on |
heir wonderful career, it has been
ound necessary occasionally to |
beet, and shoot with loaded guns. |
{ is to be hoped these fellows with |
he incrdinate animal propensities
n Utah may not carry their head |
trong wickedness to the shooting |
'oint, but if they do, the shooters
will be on hand, the guns will be
Daded, and the shooting will be |