Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-02-13

1
other hand it may be considered that
great difficulty existed in getting tes-
timony, as no witnesses would appear
against Brigham Young. Besides it
was impossible to get conviction in
Lees case without the connivance of
Brigham Young, and hence compro-
mise was entered into. Be that as it
may, Lee was thrown over by the
Church and Saints, Of which he was
ornamental and exemplary, and JUS
tice, slow but sure, was avenged by
his execution.
There can be but little doubt but that
Brigham Young found at this time,
the sceptre of power and authority,
departing from him. The execution
of Lee impressed him with impending
fear. The railroad he could not de-
stroy. The Gentiles could not be kept
out. There were besides, too many
apostate Mormons; Of all, these were
the enemies most to be dreaded; they
knew all about the Endowment, Aven-
gers and Destroying Angels. Times
were not as they used to be in Utah,
had they been, six feet of soil would
entomb every apostate opposing
''tithing" or the will of the rulers in
Israel, which is Salt Sake City. But
there was still strand of the old rope
left; that strand was polygomy. The
more men and women drawn into the
vortex of guilt, the more supporters
were to be reckoned upon; as all such
were living in open defiance of the
United States, and must of necessity
sustain Brigham Young. It was the
boast of the prophet, seer and revela
tor of Utah that be could have any
law passed by Mormon legislature,
sanctioned by congress. Money was
an important factor, and no man
understood better than Brigham
Young the force of addition, division
and silence.
1t must be that the followers of
the prophet are not SO cute as he was,
or probably the fault is with the tith-
ing returns. Or it may be that the
United States officials are more hon
est, and more diligent in the line Of
duty. It would be part of wisdom
on the part of the Church leaders to
disavow polygamy and throw the vile
thing into the Great Salt lake. Tell
the unthinking multitude what the
President of the United States thinks
about it. He says:
There is no future for it. or the
system that sanctions it, which is not
opposed to all that is of value in our
institutions. There should be no re-
Taxation in the execution of tue law
now in operation, and I will gladly
approve of further discreet legislation
which will rid the country Of this blot
upon its fair fame.'
As already shown, Bishop Sharpe,
one of the cleverest men in the Nor
mon church, has gone back on polyg-
amy. He will not remain in a defiant
attitude towards the United States
The law he says is too strong for him
and he bows in submissisn to its
strength and justice. 1t would be we'll
for all the Mormons to follow his ex-
ample, and abjure this twin relic of
barbarism. The Edmunds Bill, how
ever stringent, does not apply to the
majority of people in Utah who dis
countenance polygamy. They can be
Saints as long as they like, and be-
lievs in Brigham or Joseph, or both,
but they must not sin against the law.
1t was enacted to be enforced wherev-
er it became necessary, and it is past
denial that the laws have not
been respected or enforced in Utah,
as they have been throughout the
country.
The Mormon rulers in Utah are
more potent than the President of
the United States. They possess a
distinct and separate government.
The legislature is composed entirely
of Mormons; also the local govern
ment, police and county officials.
They issue their own paper money;
good only in the section where it
eminates. Some Of this money is good
in the stores and some is not. There in
'shingle'' money, which will purchase
shingles and nothing else. So with
''store" money to purchase dry goods
and groceries, and leather money to
purchase leather.
Outside of Salt Lake City and the
mining towns, no enc outside of the
Church can go into business, because
the money circulated will not pass in
any other place, and besides, dealings
with the Gentiles is strictly prohibit
ed, except by the leaders. Freedom
of speech does not exist, and Of what |
is going on in the world outside OF
Utah. the masses are stupidIy igno-