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Show THE TRIUMPH MUST COME. Can any Mormon, even Joseph "F. Smith himself, entertain doubt that in the end American sentiment will prevail in the controversy which is now on in Utah? Experience has demonstrated two things. Tho leadership of tho Mormon Mor-mon church has always seemed to place itself in an attitude of antagonism to community sentiment and practioo iu the United States, and has provoked tho country to the last possiblo limit of en-durauco. en-durauco. Whon that point was reached tho vast majority spirit of the Nation asserted itself and tho leaders (dragging (drag-ging the followers after them) were, iu tho earlier stages of Mormon experience, ex-perience, compelled lo flee. At a later period, when flight had become impossible, they were compelled to ylold those practices which offended the sensibilities of tho country. When the leaders attempted to establish estab-lish their people in Ohio tho disposition to isolate their community lifo from that of the other citizenship of the! country, to set themselves completely apart from other humanity, to become a law unto themselves and for themselves, them-selves, aroused tho resentment of their neighbors. Maintaining their antagonistic antago-nistic attitude to tho last ditch, and tho controversy coming to the point whero there was a demand for one of two specific conclusions, the leaders refused to yield, and they were compelled to flee, dragging their followers fol-lowers with them. Going to Missouri, tho experience was repeated, and a second flight ensued, tho leaders refusing to yield and the followers faithfully sustaining them. In- Illinois the same determined attitude atti-tude of antagonism toward the country'' brought down upon tho heads of the people the wrath that twico before had driven them from their homes; but. this time the fury engendered expressed ex-pressed itself in fiercer reprisal, and much suffering ' ensued. The leaders, hero as before, refused to yield, and they fled, draggiug their followers with' them. Coming to Utah, and here being far removed front the established civilization civiliza-tion of the country, a longer period of peace was experienced. Tho leaders had more time and bettor opportunity to fix their peculiar beliefs and practices prac-tices in the lives of the people, who were taught that these thingo were virtues in the sight of God, and the physical expression of obedience of divine command. Hero they becamo more strongly entrenched iu fact, the leaders declared that in theso mountain moun-tain fastnesses the Mormon people peo-ple were impregnable against tho whole world. When advancing Western West-ern civilization brought to tho community a citizenship which was in accord with the rest of the Nation, a renewal of the controversy began. The same old resistance to National Na-tional sentiment aud commuuity custom assorted itself, but now with greater arrogance because of ' the largor strength of tho people. As before, tho conflict continued until it Teachcd the alternative point. Flight was now impossible im-possible because of the largo material interests of the church which had be-como be-como fixtures here, and because there wa3 no othor place to flee lo, and the leaders wero compelled to yiold to the overwhelming strength of the Nation. Poaco came to Utah for a while, the prico of this quietude being ri covenant on the part of tho leaders of the Mormon Mor-mon church that thoy and their people would come within tho law which governs gov-erns and the community practices which .prevail all over this broad land. Almost immediately upon acceptance by tho Natiou of theso pledges of the "Mormon loaders (generously uoconded in deed and word by tho local Gentiles), Gen-tiles), Utah began to grow iu tho esteem of tho country, Statehood wa3 granted '. and prosperity began hsr beneficent reign. Then came tho timo when tha pledges wero disregarded, the Statehood State-hood compact was broken and the whole Mormon people wero again precipitated pre-cipitated into a strife as dangerous to them ao it was ungrateful to the Nation which had extended its merciful clemcnc'. So that now, inatoad of esteem, thpre is dishonor; instead of peace, there is strife; instead of respect for lav, there is resistance to it; instead in-stead of a freo political community, thero -is a priest-ridden State; instead of harmony with National sentiment, there is antagonism to it; instead of , tho virtue of civilized morality there is the crime of God-forbiddon polyganry. Tho American party, representative of tho gloriouo citizenship of tho United StaLes of America., is waging a battle for Utah's reinstatement as a loyal Stato in the Union. Bcforo this result can bo achiovad there must bo a com-ydelo com-ydelo recension on tho pnrt of the Mormon Mor-mon church from political iulerfcrencc, from its cruel comnicrci.il policy, and from its law-defying, lioavcn-accuracd polygamy. Tho same old fight is being fought; tho same old triumph must come. What will the leaders have their people peo-ple do? Can thoy lice? No! Must they yiold 7 Yes! |