THE WAY THE MORMONS TALK, WHICH IS THOUGHT BY SOME TO MEAN TROUBLE.
The Deseret News, of August 18, threatens the Gentiles in the territory with an outbreak of violence in opposition to the enforcement of the law against polygamy. It says:— Those who would be chiefly affected by any unsettlement of our affairs in this Territory are the merchants and business men. One prominent non-Mormon merchant of this city, yesterday, deprecated very much the retaliation for the murderous assault of last Sunday, because of its general effect on trade, and the arrest it would cause of the influx of capital. It should be understood that the course taken by just such men as he, is the real barrier for the material progress of the Territory. They have sustained by their means and influence the very agencies which have brought about the present condition of affairs. And they are likely to be the sufferers. It is fit that they should be. For our part we care little about such results. If a conflict has to come we would just as soon it commenced to-day as postpone it any longer. The Mormons, as they are called, can stand it if others can. They can get along if all their mercantile and other business interests were scattered to the winds or sunk in the bottom of the Lake. Our morning contemporary indulges in some remarks in deprecation of anything that would be likely to result in a “financial setback,” and says: “Nobody here can afford to revive the times of 1870–72.” To which we answer, Nobody can afford to meet such an issue so well as the Mormon people, who form the bone fide resident settlers of Utah. The transients and those whose sole object in staying here is to make money, can the least afford to meet it. But they have provoked the conflict. If there are any evil consequences to follow, on their heads be the brunt of the battle. It is true that our people have become aroused to great anger at the repeated indignities to which they have been made subject. And now when it is evident that Courts, to which they ought to be able to appeal for redress, are in league with their worst enemies, there is no wonder that agitation is exhibited, and that there are low mutterings indicative of a coming storm. We have uttered warnings of its approach, but they have been received with derision. Well, we warn no more, but will be ready for anything that may transpire. If the carpet-baggers want to inaugurate a collision we think they can be accommodated, but the time has come when the people will not succumb to their villainies. If there are any more attacks upon peaceable citizens in their private dwellings, the Thugs who attempt it will surely meet their deserts. And if there is no protection from the Courts we shall not any longer counsel submission. We are not here to bow down as serfs to Government appointees, nor to lick the bribe-stained hands of imported satraps. We are still in possession of certain inalienable rights which we do not propose to surrender; among them are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” We shall protect our lives as best we may from the murderous assaults of imported assassins; we shall contend for our liberties and resist the incarceration of honorable men in jails, while landsharks, conspirators, murderers, seducers and other vagabonds go at large; and we propose to pursue happiness in our way without the dictation of those corrupt scoundrels, who, while heaping abuse upon us are seeking to introduce here the foulest forms of vice, and to establish among us the debauchery, intemperance, infanticide and all the degrading adjuncts of modern “Christian” civilization with which they have been familiar. We want nothing to do with this foul brood, nor their loathsome, degrading and damnable influence; and if the issue is, to have them and their practices fastened upon us, or to endanger the financial prospects of the Territory, we say, Let it come. We settled in these quiet vales to serve God and build up Zion, and by his help we will do it; and we see no reason why we should bow our necks to the yoke, and submit to be smitten and spit upon by the vile and despicable crew who have provoked one small act of retaliation, which, if they do not desist, will be but the first drop of the drenching shower to come. We can afford to be called radical and to be denounced as incendiary. But we cannot afford to allow a few unprincipled adventurers to ride rough-shod over us and trample our rights into the dust. If the issue is to come, all right; we want it to be understood, that, best of all people, the Mormons can afford to meet it.