Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-10-16
For Sheriff.
WILLIAM b. MILLER.
For County Surveyor,
CHARLES +. TOWNSEND.
LAW IN UTAH.

We see that the Fall Term of National
Court at Salt Lake has been brought to
close after vigorous and remarkably sue
cessful administration OF the law against
polygamy.
Three or four "apostles" of the first rank
and a large number of interior lights of the
church of the Divine Harem have been con-
victed and sentenced TO divers periods OF
Imprisonment The Light of the Harem,"
in Utah, it may be remarked, is now illum-
mating chiefly the gloomy cells and corri-
doris of penitentiaries in different sections
of the country, for the convict saints are not
incarcerated in Utah, but are distributed
among the different prisons and work.
houses in the land of the 'Gentiles." Some
are in Michigan, some in New York, some
in the land that was sanctifed, metaphor
icaly speaking, by the footsteps OF the first
"Pilgrims" that fled from the violence Of re-
ligious intolerance in Europe 10 establish a
new form observation-disclosures in America
1t would appear that the vigorous admin
istration of the law against polygamy has
melted anew the vehement out-cry among
the libidinous saints that the government is
prosecuting them on account Of their relig-
ion. AT the recent general conference Of
the saints an epistle, or Mormon "encycli-
CAL" from two of the church Presidents"
Craylor and Cannon,) was read, in which
those ecclesiastical worthless mathematical
the government, the law, Judge Zane, and
anybody related to the administration, In
the most robust tcfms Of clerical vitupera-
ton. The law was expressly designed, they
assert, 70 destroy "the principles of the Nor
mon religion" 1t was mot enacted in the
interest of morality, but aimed directly
against religious liberty for purposes of per-
secution," the proof of which, To the apos-
tolic Mormon understanding is that those
Mormons who renounce and abandon the
practice Of polygamy are not molested.
The vigorous execution Of the law has
demonstrated in its effect upon the more in
telligent Mormons the truth that the cure of
polygamous barbarism would be found not
in more law, bat in more vigorous admin
istration OF the law rs ii now exists. Almost
fromthe emergence of Joe Smith in the role
of divine reveIator the followers of that
religious mountebank have had the habit of
revilng and treating with contempt every
law Of the land, as well as every usage of
decent society, that has not been agreeable
TO the deiverances of their nasty prophets
During half century the administration Of
justice temporized with them, extended TO
them the soft glove instead of the iron
gauntlet, and so encouraged among them
the pestilent idea that the pretense of relig-
ious liberty clothed them with right To
disregard whatever laws were not agreea.
BILE 10 their alleged religious principles y
II is only recently that a merciless applica
ton Of the penal law has begun to disabEse
the marc thoughtful among them of that
notion and encourage them 10 speak, though
timidly, of the uselessness Of further resist
ance But to such prudent suggestions from
the wavering aud faint. hearted. the indur-
ated old sinners, like Taylor and Cannon,
respond ave did not reveal celestial mar.
riage. We cannot withdraw or renounce II.
God revealed and has promised to maintain
and bless those who obey 1t. The only
course TO pursue is to maintain the cove
nants made. and trust God for whatever may
follow. We can under no circumstances
surrender the principle Of conscientious re.
ligious conviction, and we claim that such
surrender is in conflict with the guarantees
Of the constitution which duty binds us 10
uphold" a20it
Stated more distinctly, the Mormon claim
is that the Mormon religion, unlike any
other religious system that civilization rec.
ognizes or tolerates, consists not In theory
Of the relations OF the finite TO the infinite,
not in any beliefs or principles If right liv-
ing, but in the practice Of a barbarian mar
ital system. There have been, perhaps still
are, so-calied religions among primitive
tribes Of savages that permitted and enjoyed
the sacrifice Of animals and even of human
beings. II is said that the negro King of
Dshomey, as head Of the church, annually
slaughters great number Of young negro
girls TO appease the wrath of the GODS
Doubtless II is just one Of these religious
rights such as the Mormon leaders claim.
The religious zealot has liberty in this
country TO hold any religious opinion or be-
lief that his singular conscience may be ca
pabe Of receiving, however vile, wicked Or
offensive 10 other people II may be; but il
does not by any means follow that he is at
liberty 10 carry into practice religious be.
lief in eKterninaiiDg heresy by roasting
heretics, converting sinners by the mob law
methods of the Salvation army" or multi
plying and replenishing Zion by the "celes.
fial marriage" denominations Of the Mornons.
II IS not denial that the celestial mar.
riage" system is a divine institution any
more than II is denial that the salvation
army" nuisance is divine institution. II
may be that in some celestial realm that lies
beyond the limits OF the perceptible, such |
s..... L.