CONDITION OF MORMONDOM.—If, as Governor Cumming assures the country, peace and good will prevail in Utah, the Saints must be admitted to have a way of their own in making this state of things known. In deference to their prejudices the army after enduring Winter priv-ations at Bridger, takes a position more than a day's journey from the holy city. If the tented fields were nearer to the harems, the Prophet, Apostles, Seventies and Elders might feel the virtue of their women to be insecure. Accord-ingly, as the military arm is subject to the civil, General Johnston yeilds to Governor Cumming, and betakes himself to the safe distance of Cedar Valley. Meanwhile the saints return, though in no amiable mood, to the Great Salt Lake City. They are strenuously averse to politeness and hospitality. The Gentile stranger must not find shelter within their gates. He may sleep in his wagon, or on the ground, as he can; but by these self-styled peaceable, loyal fellow-citizens, he is refused the accommodations which civilized men uniformly accord to all but open enemies. Nor is this sort of persecution confined to individual strangers. An edict of Brigham Young forbids the Mormons to sell the necessaries of life to the soldiery.
Can this be styled peace? Are the comm-unity thus setting themselves offensively against the authority of the United States, to be re-garded as good citizens? We would judge the Mormons by their acts. Let whatever has been charged against them heretofore be dismissed. They claim to be loyal and true citizens of the United States. Does their present conduct sub-stantiate this pretence? What other people would be suffered to pursue a like course?
This Mormon farce must come to an end sooner or later. The time is not distant when Brigham Young shall no longer be able to de-ceive the Government officials. Although not present, the army is not distant; and the know-ledge of this fact alone restrains the Saints from greater outrages. The time is at hand when the anomalous relations existing between the Mor-mons and other American citizens must be changed, one way or the other. In what direction the change will be it is not difficult to con-jecture. That problem is solved by the entire course and bearing of Brigham Young. Evi-dently, the Prophet is bending before the blast for a temporary purpose. He looks for the day when, instead of fawning, he can fight. Hypo-crisy and deception first, defiance and resistance afterwards, are manifestly the programme of the Mormon leader.—Y. N. Times.
