El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-01

I HAVE found occasion in my rec
1 objections 10 refer several times TO
I the rebellion OF the Mormons in Utah
against the United States. Several
readers Of these articles as they have
appeared In The Herald have asked
FOR further details regarding the
Mormon trouble. 1 find that / can
not relate the story OF the uprising
better than by quoting the secretary
OF war. Hon. John B. Floyd. in his
annual report to the president in 1855.
He gives the history Of the Mormon
trouble i'm detail and asks that con-
sress permit the raising Of rive adj
diuonaI regiments because Of tlis
trouble.
also have available the repor- Of
capt Stewart Van NlieL whom I have
previously mentioned as having gone
TO salt Lake City, Utah. for a COIL
ference with Gay. Brigham Young.
while the American forces Ehich I
bad accompanied west on M first
trip, remained camped at HAMS Fork
on the Green river in Wyoming,
which sheds considerable light upon
the Mormon war and its causes
and the manner in which It was
viewed by the 1Tormous.
The Mormon Uprising.
viii today quote the secretary Of
war
Utah and the expedition thither has
very recently assumed SO eNrraorul-
nary and important an attitude. that
I deem 30 proper TO dwell upon IL
somewhat more at length than, under
other cIrcuustauces. would have been
required.
The territory OF Utah IS peopled al
most exclusively by the religious sect
known as 1lormons. From the time
their numbers reached a point SUI
Gcient 10 constitute a community ca
pable Of anything like Independent
action, this people have claimed the
right to detach themselves from the
binding obligations OF the laws which
governed the communities where they
CHANGED 20 live They have substi-
tuted for the laws OF the land theoc-
racF, having Tor its head an indivld-
ual whom they profess 20 believe a
prophet Of cod. This prophet ''a-
mands obedience. and receives 10 ~
plicitly from his people. i'm virtue OF
what he assures them to be authority
derived from revelations received by
him from Heaven Whenever he finds
10 convenient TO exercise any special
command. these Opportune revelations
Of q higher law come 20 his aid. From
his DEGREES there is no appeal; against
his viii there is no resistance. The
general plan hy which this system Is
perpetUared consists in calling into
active play the very worst traits Of
the human character Religious fan
atheism, supported by imposrure and
fraud. Us relied on TO enslave the dull
and ignorant; whilst the more crafty
and less honest are held together By
stimulating their selIisluess and il
censing their appetites and lusts.
Running counter. as their tenets and
practices 90. 20 the cherished truths
OF Christian morality. it is not 10 be
wondered at that wherever these
people have resided. discord and con-
dict with the legal authorities have
steadily Characterized their history. I
Plan Secession.
From the first hour they fixed
themselves in that remote and almost
inaccessible region Of our territory. Z
rom which they are now sending de- |
lance 20 the sovereign power. their ]
whole plan has been 10 prepare for a {
'uccessful secession from the author ]
~ or the United States and a uerma- I
tent establishment Of their own They |
AVE practiced an eZclusiveness IN I
Ike any thing ever before known I'm i
! Christian country, and have inCul- I
ated a Jealous distrust or all whose I
'eligious faith differed from their I
iWn- whom they characterize under /
he general denomination Of gentiles.
they have filled their ranks and I
arems chiefly from the lowest classes !
4 foreigners. although some parts OF 1
he United States have likewise con- /
ributed to their numbers. They are i
low formidable from their strength, /
nd much more SO from the remote /
less OF their position and the diff /
ulty OF traversing the country be-
ween our frontiers and Great salt 1
AXE. This Mormon brotherhood has /
carcely preserved the semblance OF 4
bedieuce to the authority Of the i
United States FOR some years past: !
lot at all, Indeed except as 10 might
0nfer some direct benefit upon them
elves, or contribute TO circulate pub
.c money I'm their community. When
yer it suited their temper or caprice.
hey have set the United States au-
hority at defiance. or late years, /
well grounded belief has prevailed .
hat the Aormons we're instigating I
he Indians 20 hostilitles against our /
itiZens. and were exciting amongst I
be Indian tribes a feeling Of insub-
and discomfort
L. = Tries to Avoid Collision.
I need not recite here the many in
tances in their conduct and history |
n which these general allegations /
re founded. especially the conduct
hey have adopted within the last 10
lonths towards the civil authorities
the United States
Tt has. nevertheless. always been
he policy and desire ef the federal /