Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-05-28
COMMUNICATION,
Lewiston, l. T., May 25, lSS

rial and petition of the Norman fraternity
to the President, presents some amusing
features and illustrates the effect upon
the human mind of protracted and con-
tinual indulgence OF the sensual appetite
In the catalogue Of solemn protests
against the oppossion they suffer under
our flag; there immaculate aud down
trodden followers Of Brigham Young say:
I'VE protest agrinst continuance Of ter
ritorial bondage, subversive of the rights
Of freenen and contrary to the spirit OF
American institutions"
"Jes SO. They are writing un-
der the crushing weight Of political, and
also, religious intolerance; subUersare Of
the rights Of treemen. They present
themselves to the American people and
seek state atliliatlon in the lustful lecher-
GUS and beastly prostitution which their
so-called religious tenets sanction and er-
deavors to legalize under that elastic pro-
vision Of the constitution" which guar
antees to our citizens the right of free
and unrestricted religious belief. The
Interpretation placed by them upon this,
world admired, statute, is such as best
conforms to the desires Of their carnal
natures, and they would cxpound it as
being carte blanche under which they
could legalize such practices as every in
stinct of decency and sentiment Of chaste
morality abhors with righteous and un-
compromising hatred. They would pre-
tend ignorance ef the fact that this unre.
stricted privilege is vouchsafed only to
those who haze religious belief; a creed
or standard of faith which recognizes
mans moral accountability to 'supreme
ruler Of the universe" or power in the
character of God, and in the Almighty
and immutabiity Of whose law is estab
lished the criterion Of moral government
for the guidance and regulation of man s
conduct. They would ask for admission
into our sisterhood of states with their
hands soiled and de6led by unlawful and
devilish practices, and their garments
permeated with the stencil of iniamy-
deoomposcd. They have the unblushing
effrontery t. stand upon the Threshold
Of our national state department; ring
the door bell, holding out the escutcheon
Of house (harem) Of ill-fame, demand
an entrance within the governmental house
hold. Yes, their territorial bondage"
is too severe. Their powers are too much
contracted. They should have room to
spread; more unlimited scope for the dis
ssmination of their pure and undefled
christianity aud constitutional religion.
1t is not enough that they have prostitu-
ted to a life Of infamy thousands upon
thousands Of duped and misguided WON.
en- aud entailed upon their offspring the
inheritance Of criminal debauchery and
shame. 1t is not enough that they have
hunted down, waylaid and brutally muir
dered hundreds Of honest, law abiding
western home seekers who happened to
cruise the pathway OF this peculiarly re
ligious sect; and these atrocities sane
toned by their constitutional christianity.
It is NOT enough that for years, under
the protection Of freedoms banner, they
Lave been permitted to cultivate the soil
of their Utah brothel, until, canccr.like,
its venomous fangs have penetrated the
moral vitality Of the entire American
commonwealth. They. are victims Of
popular prejudice and religious interfer-
ence." No. not popular prejudice, blu,
popular principle cries out against this
abomination OF denominations, fostered
and maintained in the modern .sSodam
and Gommarrah," situated on theshores Of
the great Salt Lake. If their moral auG!
theological creed is founded upon the
rock Of divine appreciation, no religious
Interference could shatter its well settled
supsrstructure. If it rests upon sandy
and insecure foundation it cannot and
should not survive the attacks OF God q
besieging armies. They do not want the
conscience Of other classes Of people to be
the criterion by which to judge them.
Certainly not. They do not wish con-
science to be the standard of moral gov.
erument by which to measure them !;
conscience would remove the sfalse-bos.
tom" in their half-bushel; conscience
would plsrylizc their polygamoas tongues;