Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-07-22
Wednesday, July az. 1885.
THE TWIN RELIC.

Gen. Howard's prediction that &
Mormon rebellion would break out
Friday may be verified, but is not
probable. His apprehension is based
on the bitterness of feeling which is
known TO exist between the Gentiles
aud Mormons at Salt Lake City and
the additional fact that the 9th Of
July is the Mormon grand holiday.
1t Is the anniversary of the settlement
of Utah. The Mormons, led 10y Brig
ham Young, entered the Salt Lake
valley on the 9th day OF July, 1917,
and it has been kept AS holiday OF
their church ever since. On that day
the Mormons come into Salt Lake
City by the thousands from all parts
Of the territory. 1t is known that
they are all armed and it is expected
that they will be more defiant and in
sulting this year than usual, as the
recent insults to the American flag in
dictate the intenseanimosity they bear
toward the United States government.
There is corresponding bitterness of
feeling on the part of the Gentiles and
United States soldiers toward the
polygamists, SO ii would take very
little provocation on either side to
pricipitate IA conflict. In anticipa-
ton Of an outbreak occurring at any
day Gen. Howard says the govern
ment has made preparations for it.
The Mormon leaders must be too
shrewd not 10 foresee that an outbreak
at this time would result in their COM
plete subjugation, II not humiliation.
The country is in no mood to be trified
with By those pestiferous agitators.
The administration has indicated to
them that they are expected to con-
form to the laws or take the conse-
quences of their disobedience. And,
however bitter they may feel toward
the government or the people Of the
United States, the Mormons must
understand that they are in no condi-
ton to provoke conflict. But If they
are stricken with judicial blindness
and are foolish enough to invoke
righteous judgment by inviting
hostilities, then they should he
rewarded with their full deserts.
If the government is forced to take up
arms to quell them, there should be no
termination Of the conflict until Nor
monism is wiped root and branch
from the face Of the country. There
should not be left vestige of the bar
blrism on American soil. There is no
excuse for polygamy under any form
being tolerated in this country. That
feature of our constitution which
guarantees religious freedom was
never designed to protect crime under
the guise of religion. Polygamy is a
crime against our civilization, aud its
liberation IN this country Is national
disgrace. IL il stain on our form OF
government that brings the tinge OF
shame TO the cheek of every American
citizen. And when these social out.
laws ada offensive impertinence and
the bFavado OF brigands TO the crime
Of which they are guilty it is tim,
that the strong arm Of the govern
ment was stretched in protection o.
our national honor aud purity. While
the government must feel that II
would be justified in doing so, still II
hesitates to proceed without some pro
vocation from the Mormons to exter.
inmate their church and their so
called religious system. But II they
do make au outbreak, then the provo
cation will be ample, aud the national
power should not be stayed or its arm
shortened until polygamy Is crushed
out, even II the determination OF the
Mormons be involved In It. When
once entered upon the work should be
short, sharp and decisive. There are
some evils the people of this country
can endure, but Mprmonism Ia moi
one OF them. Polygamy il the biggest
rascal In the land and should be The
first TO go.