Spirit of the Mormon Hierarchy.
A LATE number of the Independent contains a series of articles from leading men in Utah in answer to certain questions concerning Mormonism, asked by Joseph Cook. The following, an extract from the letter of Dr. McNiece, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Salt Lake City, will show that Mormonism is not simply vile, but that it is exceedingly cruel:— "The only protection to the life and property of Americans here, which they can rely on, grows out of the fact that the governor, the secretary of Utah, and the higher court judges are Americans, and represent the American ideas of government. These officers are now appointed by the American people through the president and Congress; and the governor is armed with absolute veto power. That is, the Mormon legislature can pass no law over the governor's veto. Now, let Utah become a State, and let the governor, judges, and all other officers be the representatives of the priesthood, as they inevitably would be; every intelligent American here knows and feels that the sooner he got out of Utah the better. I have heard this view expressed again and again by the most intelligent and courageous men here. And from what I have seen of the bitter, anti-American and diabolical spirit of the priesthood, during the nearly seven years of my residence in Utah, I believe that opinion is altogether too well grounded. If Utah were to become a State, I believe the life of no Christian teacher or minister would be safe in Utah outside of this city and Ogden, where the Americans are mainly concentrated. With a brave and efficient governor, and with American courts, we have not been able in the rural towns to prevent the midnight stoning of the windows in the houses occupied by our teachers and ministers. Life has been thus endangered again and again. Our school houses and churches have been repeatedly injured and set on fire. What would we do if the governor and the judges were Mormons, under control of the priesthood, as they would be if Utah were a State?"