The Mormon Menace | Page 5

the Mormons breathed the freer as ones who had escaped that
Edmunds statute which was like a sword of Damocles above their
polygamous heads. To be sure, as a State Utah had her laws against
plural marriages, and provided a punishment for the bigamist; the
general government would consent to nothing less as the price of that
statehood prayed for. But the Mormon criminals, the Smiths, the
Lymans, the Tanners, and the Cluffs, were not afraid. They had gotten
the reins of power into their own fingers, and made sure of their careful
ability to drive ahead without an upset.

The Mormon Church, now when Utah was a State, went into politics
more openly and deeply than before. Practically there are three parties
in Utah - Republicans and Democrats and Mormons. The Gentiles are
Democrats or Republicans; the Mormons are never anything but
Mormons, voting on this side or on that, for one man or another, as the
Mormon interest dictates and the Mormon President and the apostles
direct. Every Mormon who has a vote occupies a double position; he is
a Mormon in religion and a Mormon in political faith. In that way
every office is filled with a Mormon, or with a Gentile who can be
blind to Mormon iniquities. To-day a bigamist in Utah has no more to
fear from the law than has a gambling-house keeper in the city of New
York.
That Mormon conspiracy, whereof Smoot in the Senate is one
expression, was not made yesterday. It had its birth in the year of the
Edmunds law and its drastic enforcement. In that day, black for
Mormons, it was resolved to secure such foothold, such representation
in the Congress at Washington, that, holding a balance of power in the
Senate or House, or both, the Congressional Democrats or Republicans
would grant the Mormons safety for their pet tenet of polygamy as the
price of Mormon support. The Mormons in carrying out these plans
decided upon an invasion and, wherever possible, the political conquest
of other States. They already owned Utah; they would bring -
politically - beneath their thumb as many more as they might. With this
thought they planted colonies in Nevada, in Colorado, in Idaho, in
Wyoming, in Montana, in Oregon, in Arizona. As a refuge for
polygamists, should the unexpected happen and a storm of law befall,
they also planted colonies over the Mexico line in Chihuahua and
Sonora.
Before going to the latter move they talked with Diaz; and that astute
dictator said "Yes," with emphasis. Diaz welcomed the Mormons; they
might be as polygamous as they pleased. He wanted citizens; and he
was not blind to those beauties of enterprise and courage and hardihood
that are the heritage of the Anglo- Dane. He bade the Mormons come to
Mexico and make a bulwark of themselves between him and his
American neighbors north of the Rio Grande. The Mormons hated the

Americans; Diaz could trust them. The Mormons went to Mexico; there
they are to-day in many a rich community, as freely polygamous as in
the most wide-flung hour of Brigham Young. Diaz smiles as he reviews
those prodigal crops of corn and cattle and children which they raise.
They make his empire richer in men and money - commodities of
which Mexico has sorely felt the want.
Once when a Methodist clergyman went to Diaz, remonstrated against
that polygamy which he permitted, and spoke of immoralities, Diaz
snapped his fingers.
"Do you see their children?" cried Diaz. "Well, I think more of their
children than of your arguments."
From this Mexican nursery the Mormon President can, when he will,
order an emigration into Nevada or any of those other States I've
mentioned, to support the Church where it is weakest. Moreover, as
related, the settlements in Mexico offer a haven of retreat should any
tempest of prosecution beat upon the Utah polygamists through some
slip of policy or accidental Gentile strength.
In Nevada, in Colorado, in Oregon, in Idaho, in every one of those
States wherein the Church has planted the standards of Mormonism,
the Mormon, as fast as he may, is making himself a power in politics.
He is never a Democrat, never a Republican, always a Mormon. What
sparks of independent political action broke into brief, albeit fiery, life
a few years ago were fairly beaten out when Thatcher and Roberts were
punished for daring to act outside the Mormon command.
Now, pretend what they will, assert what lie they choose, the Mormon
President holds the Mormon vote, in whatever State it abides, in the
hollow of his hand. He can, and does, place it to this or that party's
support, according as he makes his bargain. He will use it to elect
legislators and Congressmen in those States. He