The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-12
THE TWIN RELIC DYING OUT.

ures, poIygamy and theocratic rule. This is
probably due as much to the steady friction
of hostile public opinion as to any direct
legislation. No body of people can live in the
midst OF another community and surrounded
by an aggressive civilization without being
influenced by its environments. Even the
Indians become partially civilized by contact
with civilization. 1t looks as if the Mormons
were becoming Americanized. The preserva-
ton of its peculiar features always depended
isolation. Brigham Young was shrewd
enough to understand this when he led the
Mormons to Utah and planted his colony in a
mountain region then deemed inaccessible.
So it was for many years, and as long as it re-
NAMED so Mormonism fourshed. During its
years of isolation it grew apace and struck
deep root. 1t was only when the advancing
tide of American emigration began to find its
way into Utah that the friction began Since
then it has steadily increased, and for many
years past there has been a constant
warfare between Mormonism and American
ism. 1t should seem that such a con-
one end. however long it might be delayed.
Mormonism would have to go. The advanc-
ing tide of American emigration is too mighty
and the assimilating power of American civil
lization too great to be permanently resisted
by any opposing institution system. Nor
monism has shown wonderful vitality, but it
has been fighting losing battle ali the time
we mean, of course. in respect of the prin-
ciples any practices IN which it came in con-
fict with American ideas. It was only q
question of time when, in these respects at
least it would have to yield to the aggressive
influence of American civilization. It looks
as if the yielding point were near at hand.
AS before stated, the two distinctive features
of Mormonism are theocratic rule, or church
control of politics, and polygamy. Deprive
it of these features and it becomes an ordinary
religious sect, as commonplace as any other
obscure sect of harmless eranks. As to the
first of these, the recent municipal election
in Salt Lake is very significant. Always
heretofore the Mormon Church has controlled
the city government with an iron hand,
naming candidates, interfering in elections
and having everything its own way. It did
this as long as it could, and when it could no
longer, it yielded In the recent election it
consented to the nomination of mixed ticket
composed of Mormons and gentiles, and made
no attempt to control the election. The
mixed ticket was elected and now for the
first time in the history of Salt Lake gentiIes
will sit in the City Council and there will be
truly representative and progressive municipal
government, free from church dictation. Rev
olutions do not go backward, and the church.
having surrendered its control Of municipal
politics in Salt Lake, cannot assert it again.
This is the beginning of the end of its tempo
raj power. The next step, and probably a
very early one, viii be territorial Legisla-
ture, which will repudate the authority of
the church and iegislate in compliance with
the demands of the American people.
There are also indications that polygamy is
dying out A correspondent at Salt Lake
who has been investigating the subject says it
is the general belief there that polygamy if
not dead is rapidly dying. Now and then,p he
says, "there is an arrest and sentence to the
penitentiary, but never of recent case of the
violation of the law. There is in the penitentiaFy
to-day but one man who married polygamous-
ly since the passage of the Edmunds act of
1882. and in little while there will be no
Mormon in prison for the offense of living
with more than one woman as wife. AS fast
as they can discontinue the unlawful relation
that is to say, when apolygamisthas it within
his ability to conform to the law without an
open and violent. if not scardalous, repudia-
ton of his surplus wives-they are doing it.
And as far as can learn or judge from patent
indications, there is no desire for a return
to the ugly system. On the contrary the
feeling is one of relief rather than regret over
the death of the institution" Assuming this
TO be true. it shows that polygamy is fast pass
ing away. The fathers and founders of the
church, the Mormon Bourbons, will, doubt
less, cling to it as long as they live. but the
new generation of Mormons will yield to the
pressure of American public opinion. and, as
the correspondent says. will be glad when the
odious institution is done away with. De-
rrived of these two distinctive features Nor
monism will cease to be either dangerous or
troublesome, and will soon be absorbed and
assimilated into the great body of American
life. as obscure and as harmless as the Dunk
ards. Boom the city.
The exposure OF. fraud is always good
thing. John L. Sullivan. the Boston bully,