The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-02
MORaONISR
Dangerous to Our Free Institutions.
Some Nuts for Elder whitaker 70
nrn.t.-uannt arnndann Of Biz


Some Nuts for Elder Whitaker 70
crack-wnat Grandson Of Brig
ham Young Says.
sIR.-l noticed in your paper Of the
SOth ult., a long Interview with Elder
whitaker, of the Mormon church. who
Is now in our city. In which he would
make It appear that Mormonlsm Is not
that ugly, dangerous thing that most
people think It to be, but rather a very
innocent and rather excellent system.
know you viii let both sides be heard
in part, at least.
To show that the danger from Nor
monlsm to the nation Is neither small
nor remote, 1 would have you quote
from an address recently delivered at
Irvington- on- the Hudson. by Eugene
Young. grandson Of Brigham Young, to
whom Mormonism largely owes It's de-
VelOpment. The words are those OF
one who has felt the curse OF Mormon-
Ism IN hls own person, and knows
whereof he afiirms:
"Of the power and growth OF Nor
monism," Mr.. Young said: "Entrenched
behind the lines OF state II absolutely
controls, appealing to the generosity Of
the nation to leave II untrammeled un-
I'll its plans shall mature, Mormondem
to-day is spreading Into half dozen
surrounding states, controlling the elec-
ton OF members OF the house OF repre-
sentatives and United States, and seek
ing a power that some day Will enable
Il to dictate the choice OF a President.
I'VE comfort ourselves in these days
with the belief that we have the freest
country on the face Of the globe. We
see no room In our land for car or king
or emperor. Yet within Its borders we
have one OF the most absolute despot-
iBms In the world. Trammeled by no
constitution. by no code Of laws, by no
customs that may not be changed by his
word. the head OF the Mormon church
holds within his grasp the happiness
and fortunes, even the life and death,
OK almost half million OF our peo-
pie.
Jurisdiction. He can call the young
woman from home or school, the young
man from the pillow or the office, and
send them TO the ends Of the earth.
From childhood TO the grave they are
subject to his call, expected to obey In
stantly and implicitly. Politics, bus-
iness, religion are equally within his
province.
"dis Is a system OF government as to-
tally unlike that OF the republic as II
well could be, He is the supreme dc
tator, the law, the courts. the every
thing. He levies his taxes. tenth part
Of the earnings Of each man, woman
and child beneath his sway. Unless
Maid mon NnH marry tFFith.
in the church. none can have his child
rem properly baptized, none can enter
the precincts of the temple, and take
part In the secret observances there.
He has his courts, bodies of high
priests, whose voice Is louder than that
Of the civil courts, whose jurisdiction
knows no limit. and whose decree may
mean riches or poverty He has his
army, thousands upon thousands Of
young men in the priesthood, who will
obey his command. no matter where It
may lend them Once, at the behest
OF Joseph Smith. this army was led
against the citizens OF Missouri; once.
at the command of Brigham Young, Il
resisted an army OF the United States
and once, part Of 1t slew more than two
hundred men. women and children at
Mountain Meadows, whose only 01ense
ives that they disagreed with the
church.
In fact. out in the Businesses Of the
Rocky mountains, another nation has
grown up, and Is being fostered by the
republic, until such time as II shall be
ready to bid defiance to our power
Where this Mormon potentate rules
there is no room for Americanism
Freedom OF thought, freedom Of the
press. freedom Of the courts and free
don, NJ the ballot are hanisbad The
prophet IL the law-maker. the con-
science OF his people, and to him repub-
lican principles are Of use only as they
can serve the ends Of his church"
SAMUEL SCHWARM.
Wheeling, December l.