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Show A GOOD WORK. We have received a copy of a pamphlet entitled "Utah and its people," written by a "Gentile," an ex-U.S. Official. It is one of the ablest, fairest and most interesting expositions of the "Mormon question" ever presented to the public by a non-Mormon" writer. It is replete with statistical facts and historical truths, as well as with the most sensible comments, that cannot fail to secure for the work a wide circulation and strong influence. We can only guess at the writer's name, and that with much uncertainty, but whoever he is, he has proven himself capable of taking a view of his subject that commends admiration for its broad, statesmanlike liberality. A portion of the pamphlet was read to the congregation during the late conference. We present a few salient paragraphs: We give credit for sincerity to the bigoted Puritans, to the French Huguenots, to the followers of the Catholic Lord Baltimore when they sought to found homes on this continent; but for men who in face of far greater difficulties and undergoing a persecution equally as relentless as any from which our forefathers fled, we are content to shrug our shoulders, and with a sneer say, fraud and superstition. Men who never read the Book of Mormon tell us that it was a novel, that a book received by hundreds of thousands as God's word was originally written as a romance, and yet not one of them reading it as a romance would read it half through. I should as soon expect to see Swedenborg's works published in serial form to compete for fame with the "Haut-Boy's Revenge!" We have heard much of Mormon theocracy, of despotic powers exercised by Mormon high priests, and have been told the Mormon Church allows the struggling farmer to get established for the purpose of securing the result of his labors. We hear it gravely asserted that when the farmer is rejoicing in abundance and prosperity, a long bill is presented to him by the Bishop, in which there is footed up everything advanced him from his passage money down to a loaf of bread, or a glass of milk, given to him in the hour of need, and that he is now expected to acknowledge the debt and band himself and his savings over to the church, to become its serf. Let us examine this charge. One of the features in the Mormon Church which struck me most forcibly is its apparent democracy. Twice on every year, on April 6, and October 6, the Mormons come from far and near to assemble in semi-annual conference in the great Tabernacle which will hold comfortably 12,000 people, and when filled uncomfortably, by taking up all the standing room, 15,000. Travelers rotate meeting ox teams in distant canyons headed toward "Zion" in which will be, perhaps, some lone old woman with a scant stock of meal and bacon, making a one, two, or three week's journey "to get her soul warmed up" at the conference. At these conferences, lasting from four days to a week, every woman has a vote; male and female, humble believer and dignitary, meet on a common footing-having equal rights. At these conferences, and mark this well, every officer in the church, including Brigham Young in his day, and John Taylor now, has to be re-elected to each and every position they hold. It may be said that this is but a mere form; that the Head of the church is recognized as infallible and dictates his own election and that of his subordinates. As long as there is perfect confidence in the First Presidency and the Twelve we should naturally expect that their nominations would be heartily ratified. But here is a provision by which the Church itself can curb any of its officers, even to its head, whenever there is a forfeiture of public approval by a departure from the lines laid down by usage and the collective church. Again, in a religion founded upon a conscious fraud, where those in authority, are only seeking preferment and honors, where profit or ambition can alone be regarded as motives to action, how is it that there never has been a falling out among these clever rogues? You cannot understand it? Of course not, oh ye of little faith! The population of Utah by the census of 1880, is about 144,000, divided as follows. Mormons - 120,283, Gentiles - 14,155, Apostate Mormons - 6,988, Josephites - 820, Doubtful - 1,716. Total - 143,963. It will be seen that the "Gentiles" constitute only ten percent of the population, yet from this small minority are taken the imcumbents of nearly every position of influence and emolument. They have the Governor, with absolute veto power, Secretary, Judges, Marshals, Prosecuting Attorneys, Land Register, Recorder, Surveyor General, Clerks of the Courts, Commissioners, principal post-office Mail Contractors, Postal Agents, Revenue Assessors and Collectors, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Indian Agencies, Indian Supplies, Army Contractors, express, railroad and telegraph lines, the associated press agency, half the jurors in law, but at least three fourths and always the foreman in practice, in fact every position not elective. Take one of our small cities of about the same population, Elmira for instance, and imagine that there was in that city a small minority like that of the Gentiles in Salt Lake City, having the same privileges. In addition to this imagine this minority non-Christians, say Jews, Pagans and Infidels, and that they should denounce their Christian fellow citizens as knaves, as frauds, as whoremongers, their wives as prostitutes and their children as bastards. To make the comparison still closer you must further imagine that in this small minority there were comprised all the gamblers, all the land sharks, all the rum sellers, all the public prostitutes and all their patrons. What exhibition of Christian meekness would you look for from Elmira Christians? Let us be fair; would this boot fit on the other leg? The Mormons shrink from a civilization that introduces the brothel with its advanced guard, fills our papers with unmentionable advertisements, and makes of every city a sink of iniquity. A civilization that converts women to prostitution faster than it does to Christian life, fills our ears with clerical scandals and our criminal courts with "Christian" defaulters; that elevates ???Restellism??? into a social institution and lends to a prevalence of feticide and infanticide which, if its extent were known as only physicians know, might well fill us with horror and dismay. Some men are so constituted that they cannot associate with women without having their minds inflamed with lascivious thoughts; but shame, eternal shame, on the clergymen who imitating the refuse of our cities, speak of Mormon ladies and Mormon homes in connection with prostitution! Who would tear aside the wall religion and morals have placed around the nuptial bed, and gloat over free love arguments! "Hont soi qui mal y pense." If the Mormon home is not the childless home of the Eastern capitalist, or the home of the factory operative, in which the belt of the mill connects with the cradle and weaves human lives into manufactured fabric, it is none the less a home, consecrated by family love and scantified by religious observances, where the mother's devotion guides the feet of loving children. You know the Golden Rule. Apply it in this case, or, tell me why not! |