The Elko Independent

"A Yellow Feeling."

The Enterprise makes some remarks on the Cullom bill which appeared in this paper a text for an article on political and religious affiliations not altogether credible to its candor or intelligence. We are told that any criticism on the Cullom bill "must be accounted for on the ground that the Mormons as a body were rebel sympathizers during the war, and are still hostile to the General Government. This establishes a sort of political fellowship between them and the Democratic party"—and more of the same sort.

The Enterprise shows itself poorly acquainted with the politics of the Mormons when it allies them in sympathy with the Democracy, or any other political organization. It may suit a Radical press to unite in denouncing the Mormons just now, because a bill introduced by a Radical Congressman is pending in a Radical committee, but if Congress should happen to reject it, we shall look for a corresponding change in the editorial tone of the Enterprise. And when political favors are to be had, we have never found Radical office seekers backward about seeking for sympathy and assistance from this quarter. In a neighboring Territory, two years ago, a Radical candidate for Congress found this Mormon "rebel sympathizing" vote acceptable, and the only county which elected a Radical ticket was one exclusively populated by Mormons. The Mormons have no politics which have any connection with the Gentiles. They support men and measures for reasons purely personal. Their politics are absorbed in their religious organization, and devoted wholly to the aggrandizement of the church.

All this twaddle about rebel sympathy sounds exceedingly silly to any Gentile who has resided at Salt Lake City. The vilest rebel that ever hurrahed for Jeff. Davis during the war found as little favor or fellowship among the Mormons as the most blatant Abolitionist. They are all Gentiles alike and subjected to similar treatment. If there is any place in the country where partisan feeling is ignored, and Democrats and Republicans assimilate without regard to politics, it is there in the very presence of Brigham Young. No Republican or Democratic party ever had an organization in Utah.

In the consideration of a great national question like this, the Enterprise ought to be able to raise above a partisan view, and to treat the subject impartially, and with some reference to the facts. There is much that is objectionable in the system, but in this instance Wilkie Collins' remark has been justified: "I consider report in a general way to be a fool and a liar." The tendency of the age is against the Mormons, and as a temporal power they must soon pass away; but they are terribly in earnest, and like all religious fanatics will sacrifice "the world, the flesh, and the devil" to maintain their identity.

True statesmanship will look for means to eradicate an evil with as little injury as possible to the community, and to the whole nation. It does not consist in the denunciation, and bloody threats of extermination. We have had war and expense enough for this generation if it can be avoided. It is true the Government can exterminate the people of Utah; but cui bono? It can also exterminate the people of Nevada should they choose to incur its displeasure. When the doors of the temple of war are once thrown open, and the dogs of destruction turned loose upon American citizens, who shall close them, or who shall say for what cause this penalty shall be applied? The Mormon rule in Utah has been oppression and tyranny. So has the Gentile rule in many of the States been toward the Mormons. The Gentiles of Utah have suffered much from the outrages of outlaws who should suffer for their crimes. Democrats as well as Republicans unite in detestation of their acts, and will favor any necessary measure to maintain order and insure perfect security to every individual in Utah, be he of whatever name, country, or creed. The Democracy have nothing to do with the religious creeds of Utah. If there are polygamists violating the laws, punish them, and, if necessary, provide stringent measures to effect it; but polygamy is not inseparable from Mormonism. An intelligent gentleman who spent two years traveling through Utah and studied their institutions thoroughly, in every town from Soda Springs to Arizona, estimates the number of them having more than one wife in the proportion of one to five hundred. Most of the polygamists are in the large towns. Many towns numbering thousands have no families containing more than one wife. Men, like the Enterprise, would seemingly murder the entire town to punish perhaps a polygamist bishop.

Radical papers complain of hostility to the Government; i.e., themselves. In fact, there was the same manifestation against the Democratic administrations of Pierce and Buchanan, and the Whig administration of Fillmore, as shown against Lincoln or Gen. Grant.

The Democracy are in favor of a civil government in Utah that will effectually preserve the peace and maintain the honor of the General Government, but religious toleration is a cardinal principle not to be violated. The intolerant spirit which would crush one religious denomination will have but little respect for any other. The bigotry which aims a blow at Mormonism to-day only waits for the morrow to strike down the Hebrew and the Catholic.