The Magazines and Mormonism.
The Mormons—perhaps we ought to say Mormonism—are receiving determined and persistent attack just now—big guns, eight-pounders, hot shot, explosive shells, chain-shot, grape and canister. The efforts of the antagonistic religious press are eclipsed by the popular magazines. In the Cosmopolitan of March, Alfred Henry Lewis writes on the polygamous side of Mormonism under the heading of "The Viper on the Hearth," profusely illustrated by vipers in various forms, but always with open mouth. Mr. Lewis shows how Mormonism is entering politics. In McClure's Burton J. Hendrick writes on "The Mormon Revival of Polygamy," but he clearly shows from indubitable evidence that the practise has been continuous, and the "manifesto" a farce in the church, a blind to the world. Mr. Hendrick also shows why the young women generally favor polygamy. Pearson's December issue shows how that church is a great grasping monopoly of which the head is president of not less than thirteen great financial money-making schemes, and director in others, among which is the Union Pacific Railway Company. The criticizers are just and the warnings needed.