Year: 1866

A Curious episode in onr history has been
the history Of Latter Day Saints. America
must furnish the next great new religious
sect, intimated Southey, years ago. Whether
that prophecy found its fulilment in Mormon
ism we do not know. Rising in New York,
migrating steadily westward, rolling over our
own county, but leaving no abiding impres-
sion, not tolerated by tolerant people as it
sought to base new social institutions upon
established old ones, it sought shelter and
empire in the, desert.


Salt Lake letter writer's say that the ire
pressible conflict has commenced in the city
of the Saints. Polygamy is being attacked in
stronghold. Rev.N. Mcleod, who is pastor
of the 'sGentie church, - in the Mormon cap
ital, has assaulted the vicious creed of the
Saints, and especially polygamy, with fearless
eloquence and earnest logic. His church is
crowded with Gentiles and Saints as we'll. and
his labors are not frnitless. A correspondent
of the Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Northeastern
writing from Salt Lake says:


Every observer can easily understand now
that the power of the Mormon hierarchy has
passed its zenith and is now slowly but surely
declining. The dark principles upon which
is built the foundation of Mormon religion
are fast melting away in the light of truth, as
knowledge and civilization advances in Utah.
The blind delnded victims of the One Man
Power are having their eyes opened now to
the deception their leaders have practiced
upon them and one by one the fairest and most
intelligent Of their daughters have abandoned
the church of the Later Day Saints and come
over to the ''Gentile'' party Even in the
face of these glaring proofs of the decay of
his empire in the hearts OF his people, the false
Prophet Brigham employs threats, entrealies
and commands to inveigle his reluctant fol-
lowers into polygamy. 1t would seem that,
believing his own desperate situation and the
consequences of his dark career Of crime when
the hand of justice shall be laid upon him, he
has determined to involve others in the same
mighty ruin with himself Nor will there be
proof lackingto condemn him when his day
of trial comes. The Mountain Meadow mas
sacre that dark page of crime in the annals
OF Itah's history, IS one fearful evidence Of
the secret power and atrocity of the Dante
band Of this city Of which Brigham Young was
the grand master.


Judge Titan, from this CITY, has recently
departed for Washington, carrying with him
an order signed by Brigham for the execution
OF company OF wealthy men who were to
start from salt Lake to California in the
spring. The secret atrocities perpetrated
here in days when the "Gentiles'' had scarce
ly set foot upon this soil. have not yet reach
ed the public ear in the States, but hear that
government is now turning its attention to the
affairs Of Utah. The States have more en-
hghtened comprehension of the peculiar in
stitution of Utah. and in the downfall of Nor
monlsm its crash will be heard and hailed by
those who have anxiously awaited Its death
struggles beyond the pale OF those Western
hills.


American civilization and freedom, passing
through the crucial experiences OF the various
forms of social, political and religious error
that remain to us as relics of European deca
dence and absoluiism. unto perfectibility
peculiarly American and exalted, will have
won another triumph by the overthrow of
polygamy, and be thus farther advanced to-
ward the great consummation.