The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-27
POLYGAMOUs ZION.
A Day of Hope for Utah.

an Glasses 4its 20 J nave 5iBtt IDLUu
that many OF The statements there made
are sharply challenged by prominent
MJruOus iu the place. Ia this state of
things it is but right that their side
should be presented and the Mormon
view placed side by side win the
"upO-tate" and gentle" view. First,
The MOrmOns Indignantly deny that the
testimony of apOstates from the church
IS 10 be received, claiming it as a self-cyi-
dent truth that in every region, "apOs-
tatcs and traitors are not to be believed
in matters pertaining to the institution
they have left. In this instance they
say, cmphatiCally, that the woman with
three husbands now living did, in no
ease. when divorced from one man, have
another iu view, that the former bishop
was au honorable man and while he did
marry a mother and her daughter, yet
did so simply 10 give the former
home ,, and that the story OF a second
daughter OF the same woman being
obliged 10 flee in the night TO escape
from him i- a base fabrication Of his
enemies As TO the present bishop,
slough he did espoure his "No. 2, -
secretly, yet it is not admitted that he
ever denied her. Let us hope for the
credit Of our lellow-mcn that these quail
ihcatious of the dark story are to be
allowed "the Saints
Let us turn now from the unsayory
potygamous class, which is the dominant
one in Zion, both in politics and religion,
and look for q moment, in kindly way,
al lhe average faithful believer. He is
generally "a man Of simple, honest nature
and of "a naturally religious and some
what credUlous disposition. lie II not
strictly ilitcrate, Tor be can make some
Roadway in reading his Bible and the
Dessra Ners (the leading organ of the
Mormon church,; but his education is
decidedly limited. Here, as elsewhere,
10 j, little knowledge which is a dan
gcrous thing. He believes with all his
heart that through the church alone is
there any chance Tor cXaltation in the
life 10 come; but except where the out
side world opposes the progress of "the
Kingdom he has a rather benevolent
interest in it, and, while pitying its lack
of enlightenment, he is disposed to find
"a subordinate heaven, a sort OF fringe to
the celestial glory, in which it may be
permilted TO bask in the radiance stream
=
eraily of courteous bearing really in
dustrious, upright in his commercial
dealings, and, IN matters uncOnnected
with his religion, a man OF veraclty. |
remember the verdict of two Scotch
Presbyterians (stauuch anti-MOrmOus, of
cuuTse) to the effect that in their busi-
ness dealings with the men of Salt Lake
Citv they found the Mormons far more
men of their word than the Gentiles.
Indeed, it has been said by non-Mormons
more than once that the average Latter
Day Saint is superior to the average
Gentle in Utah; but any one conyer-
SAINT with the facts of life and morals in
the mining camps, where the majority
Of Utah Gentiles are found, must confess
that this is saying exceedingly little.
But on the whole, were the MormoDs
but freed from Mormonism, and especl-
ally from its baneful teachings on mari
tal matters, there would be few more
desirable emigrants who come to our
shores.
To-day the whole Latter Day Kingdom
from Idaho TO Arizona, is in a ferment be
cause l.. =. law has not only been imper-
tinent enough to concern itself with this
marriage question, but has actually laid
its strong hand on polygamy with intent
to crush it. The polygamist Is in sore
perplexity and distress; the very sight
of 4 stranger fills him with apprehen-
siou. A L. :. Marshal would seem to
have q Gorgon's head mounted on his
shoulders from the terror which bus
presence inspires in some breasts. Ills
appearance on the streets IS often the
signal for polygamist stampede; ms
presence in settlement means the
absence of the choisest Saints" at hi
approach men lose all knowledge of theil
nearest neighbor, and even children for
get where their parents are to be tounc
and pretty much all about them. A
marshals are quite numerous in Zion a
present, the prominent men IN the priest
hood have left for parts unknown; nave
found imperative business calling then
elsewhere. Some went on missions, no
a few apparently to Washington, wher'
they are reputed to carry on very I'M
portant missionary work III rooms no
very distant from the rotunda OF th'
CAPITOL. But whatever the destination
the fact remains that the chief officer
i'm "the Lords" kingdom have silently
stolen away. In vain the officer OF JUS
tiee knocks at the various houses OF tn
Latter Day prophet and his counselors
The most vigorous search fails to dis
cover q trace of the great men who so re
Gently awed boththe true believer and th
Gentle. with their mighty forms. 1t
estimated that, in couple of month;
$50 residents disappeared from Salt LAX
alone. One leader is said to have escape
in the guise of an elderly and angula
female. while a certain bishop reache1
the railroad station by riding thither
a dry goods box. In many places me
have been detailed to watch the arrivs
az the trains; and the advent of straI
ger often causes commotlon TIL n
business is known. Every movement
the marshals is watched and they SOM
times have quite retinue OF tollowel
keeping them under surveillance
Very generally throughout the territor
this "persecution" is considered one
the worst "the4 church" has ever seer, AN
not a few leading men have premon
ton that the day of Judgment Is close
hand.
And yet nine months ago the Mormc
hierarchy, with all its adjuncts, was q
parently as firmly established in insolel
strength as at any time in Its histor
Previous to last fall, polygamy was n
only the MolOeh at whose horrid shriI
Utah protrasted herself, but its devote
were the dominant power and the soci
aristocrats of this region. They lift
thair foul flag against the fair, blue ski
20 ITtah and shouted defiance 10 the Ia
and its officers. / heard polygami
daclare before Mormon audience, tn
lie was one of the sovereigns OF Il
eo,ntry. and anyone injuring him "
sr,,;lty ~ treason. If any man came
Sara IL deprive him of his liberties,
hole in the ground two feet by SIX won
be the only quarters voucnsaieu ~.
The polygamous priesthood answer
every attack upon them with invectis
every legislative attempt at putt
dow1 polyeamy with evasion or op
defiance and derision. For over twen
wears the United States statute agaii
1olypamy lay dead letter, during VIM
time whole generation grew up "
TODAY see nothing strange In suci
state of things, because they have kno'
NJ other. The Mormons loudly p
claimed. as they do still, that polygal
was from ethe Lord" and could ne'
be nut down; they would never 9
render 1t. no, never. "Ihe Lord y
on their side and the Saints would SUR
prevail. "Why do the heathen rag
they exclaimed derisively, and
people imagine vain thingY The x1l
of the earth set themselves and
rulers take counsel together against
Lord and against His anointed7 :
Hsthat stitch in the heevens snsli 10y