Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-29
RETREAT OF THE SAINTS.
The Power Of the Mormon Church
Rapidly OH the Wane.
THE CONTEST IN SALT LAKE CITY.
The Growth of the Gentle
Vitaiizing Business and Social
Life-Characteristics ofthe
City-The Prospects.
Mormon and Camille.

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 2 6.-The portly,
benevolent passenger was a conspicuous fea-
ture of a crowded train between Ogden and
this city. He was social, instructive and
thoroughly acquainted with the phases of
life in this valley. His enthusiasm for the
institution founded by Joseph Smith betrayed
his sympathies, and his rotundity convinced
me that he was just the kind of a man to ex-
tend a tatherly protectorate over a dozen or
less wives. AS we approached the capital of
Mormonism, through a succession of en-
chanting meadows and grain fields, dotted
with comfortable homes, orchards and large
gardens, my genial companion pointed out
the new temple which lowered above the
forest of trees surrounding the city.
"You should not fail to visit the temple,n
he said, as | expressed a wavering purpose to
remain over. sit is one of the greatest
monuments to religion ever undertaken by
man. The famous tabernacle stands beside
it. Polite attendants will show you through
the building, and you will find the Mormon
people social, generous and enterprislug.n
Subsequent experience did dot Justify this
horid encomum 1t is impossible for a stranger
TO remain in the city one hour without being
made aware of the conflict which divides the
people. IL is visible in social as well as bust
ness relations. The very air one breathes is
filled with IL.
Few people outside of Utah realize the
magnitude of the struggle going on here for
political supremacy. Ihe people are divided
into two distinct classes-the Mormon or
peoples party, and the gentle or''liberalr
party, and both are intensely active and
united. The balance of power which the
Mormons welded with such severity in
times past is now to a large extent quartered
in the penitentiary, 300 of the saints having
been sent behind the bars TO do penance for
breach of morals. The rigid enforcement of
The Edmunds law branded polygamy as a
crime and drove it from the highways into
obscurity, A significant change in the for
mer style of architecture has resulted The
long row of doors which we're so noticeable
in Mormon houses a few years
ago have disappeared almost en-
tirely, and common every day windows have
marriage are more sinned against than SIN
ming. They are forced by their parents to
shun the gentiles as they would "A leper, and
when they meet on the streets the latter are
not slow to remind them of the crimes Of
their fathers and forefathers. The chusm is
continually widening. Mormon leaders,
stung by the sterner repressIye measures OF
the government, eXhort and even command
their fiocks TO have no dealings, business or
+ social, with the gentiles, The imprisonment
OF ~polygaInists is denounced as persecution
and the victims pictured as martyrs for
Christs sake"
The efforts Of the government TO confs-
cate the property of the church have been
abortive. the MormOns were 100 sharp for
the officials, TIL vast business OF the pop,
the street car lines, factories and other prop
erty was turned over. to corporations aud
placed in the hands OF trustees before the
law went into operation. The buildings aud
grounds used for church purposes could not
be touched. The result was that the off
Gals found less than l,0O0,000 worth Of
property which the church failed TO put out
OF their reach, This sum did not seriously en-
barrass an institution with wealth running
up " the tens OF millions. The property