Arizona republican., 1890-12-26
TRICKS OF MORMONISM.
Washington correspondence of the New Tor Tribune.1

to the Sea. is spending the winter in Washington. He is now a resident of California. This stalwart Kentucky Re- publican shows but little trace of the many fights he has been through. He made the only real fight that was ever made in Utah against the Mormon Church. In that office he sacrificed his means and several years of the most valuable period in n mans life in sue cessful struggle with one of the most powerful political and financial organi- cations in this country. General Murray has the look of fighter. He is over six feet in height. His figure has all the trim lines of young officer in the active service. His close-fitting, we'll made black clothes further contribute to the military appearance of this ex-cav- airy general. His short, curling hair is still dark. His forehead is broad and high, his eyes are dark, and his nose has the sharp aquiline form of com batant. The lower part of his face is covered by mustache and & short beard, now showing signs of gray. He surprised me by saying that the Mormon Church is stronger today than ever. This is in marked contradiction to the current sentiment upon the subject. There is a vague belief among the people who have given the subject any attention that the Mormon Church had abandoned polygamy and that the Edmunds law had been able practically to stamp out it's last traces in the Territory of Utah. General Murray says that polygamy flourishes today as it did in the past The law is evaded in every way. It was only the other day in the open courts that Mormon, who was being prose- cuted for polygamous marriage, was confronted with the evidence of the birth of child in proof of the second mar riage. The Mormon was able to show that the child was begotten in Colorado and so the prosecution in Utah fell. In other words, any Mormon today can have wife in any one of the adjoini ng Territories, and, in fact, any number of wives, without laying himself liable under the Edmonds law to prosecution in Utah. To prosecute him in the vari- ous Territories for plural marriages that he may see fit t) make is at present i'm practicable.
 General Murray says, however, that polygamy is the smallest objectionable feature of the Mormon Church. The attempt to stamp it out without going to the heart of the matter is like physi- elan treating patient for some minor malady when some disease is attacking his vitals. He says that the overshad- owing feature of the Mormon Church is the fact that it inculcates the doctrine of the supremacy of the Church in every walk of life over the Government. It is a compact organization which is in con stant rebellion to the authorities. He does not believe in disturbing any reli- gious organization in worshiping accord ing to it's honest belief. But when such belief becomes the basis of gigantic political conspiracy, he would so adjust the administration of its affairs as to make such political rebellion impotent.
 I asked Governor Murray for the remedy. 1 asked him if he did not think that the gradual approach of modern civilization would, in the end, do away with Mormonism. He said it would have as much effect as the drop- pingof water upon a gigantic rock. The rock might be worn away in time, but that it would take centuries to produce such a result. His remedy is simple, He would have legislative council ap- pointed by the President of the United States, and this council should be sent to the Senate for confirmation. All things relating to the administration of affairs in the Territory should be in the hands of this council. He did not be- lieve in having men connected with the administration of affairs in the Terri tory who believed that any church au- thority was superior to that of the United States. No man of that belief should ever be allowed to hold any kind of office under the Government. He would have the Mormon Delegate re- moved from the floor of Congress. He says that this experiment of governing Territory by legislative council was originally tried in the Territory of Lou isiana, when it was first purchased from France. It was thought at that time that the large foreign population could not be trusted with the administration of its affairs. The same experiment was tried aiterward in the Territory of Michigan. In the District of Columbia, for good and sufficient reasons, the local legislature has been abolished with the office of Delegate to Congress. The change has worked we'll. Such change in Utah would in time negative the powerful political and ever rebellious in- fluences of the Mormon Church organi- zation. But there is no one in Congress at present who appears to be actuated by any motive beyond that of personal interest. The Mormon lobby was never so strong as it is now, and so the settle ment of the vexed question of Mormon ism will be probably postponed for some time. Ex-Governor Murray thinks that in another way the growing strength of the Mormons could be checked by an order at Castle Garden. The Mormons who come over are assisted emigrants, and should not be allowed to land. The authority to send them back is in the