Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-02-13
We have in the United States Mis-

| number. Millions OF dollars are con
| tributed annually to propagate the
gospel to the heather. It is not nee
essary to go abroad to seek him, he is
at our door and no effort made to In
struct, reclaim or regenerate him. DIR
McWilliam of Deer Lodge Institut
representing the Presbyterian board
done good work in parts Of Utah by
establishing schools, and teaching the
Mormons himself in school and church
opposition, threats J and menace
were used to intimidate him, but he
heM the fort" against terrible odds
and could no doubt give a very inter
esting account of his missionary
labors. The birth of Mormonism
took place under the aanipulations
Of Smith and Rigdon, and advanced
to its highest pitch of power under
Brigham Young. Distance lends en-
chantment to the view, and most GER
tainly distance lent largely to Brig
ham, investing him with sublime
qualities, natural endowments and ex-
traordinary administrative abilities,
which would bear considerable pair
ing down [ am inclined to think
that andacity, experience and a vast
amount Of cheek were the weapons
that gave Brigham Young such pow
er over the Mormons as people, In
many respects he was inferior to Or
son, Pratt or John Taylor, but over
shadowed them in being the recog-
nized head Of the Mormon church
and civil Governor Of Utah, under
Buchanan's administration. It was
perhaps in the latter capacity that he
showed to greatest advantage in the
eyes of the Mormon people, for pow
er and patronage remained at his dis
posal to distribute to his followers
Brigham's policy was to exclude the
Gentiles, or according to his sanity
harangue in the Tabernacle, ito send
them to hell across lots" and this
great christian sain, chief of the
twelve Apostles, prophet, seer and re-
vealor in the church Of Latter Day
Saints, was not above suspicion in con-
nlying at if not encouraging the put
ting out Of the way ohaoxious indi-
viduals, by the hands of the ''Aveng-
ers'' and destroying Angels a typical
band of assasins. The trial of John
D. Lee, Bishop Of the Mormon church
at Salt Lake City for melting the In
dams and for participation in the
Mountain Meadow Massacre, develop
ed the fact that Brigham Young was
an accessory before and after that
massacre, according to Lees testimo-
ny There is no denial of this, nor
can there be for if Lee was the insti-
gator and participator in massacre of
innocent people, men, women and
children, (the rehearsal of which is
enough to cause the blood torun cold)
and Young was entirely ignorant
before the atrocious deed was
committed, he was quickly informed
thereof, and instead of furnishing Lee
or bringing him to justice, he show
cred place and position upon him,
making him probate Judge, and Civ
ing him the privilege Of taking unto
himself twenty six wives-the latter
considered very great honor among
the ATorinons. The reader will un-
derstand the whole gist of this mat
ter better when bearing in mind that
Brigham Young was governor of
Utah, and bound to execute the law,
but instead discourage inquiry or in
yestigation.
There was no railroad in those days
and communication in consequence,
very slow, hence it was that consid-
cradle time elapsed before the muir
der of the emigrants became known
to the government; and when it was
known and commissioners sent out
from Washington to inquire into and
investigate the massacre, Brigham
and his followers, those connected
with the horrible deed, placed it on to
the Indians very conveniently, and SO
it remained until the free clement
the miners, prospectors and workers,
came rushing into Utah from the
states. and in due time became in full
and true information of how the emf
grants were murdered at Mountain
Meadows.
It affords no pleasure to recite the
tragic manner in which Bishop John
D. Lee and his confederates done
their ghastly work; surprising in bar
barity anything done by the Indians
on desert or plain. But it is a matter
of history, and any church denomina-
or individuals, participating in or
sanctioning such infamous develtry,
ought to be expelled from the United
States, or sent to hell across lots with
vengeance. In this connection it will
not be forgotten by good many. that