History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

394
MORMONISM AND POLYGAMY.
Grant it, they answer; is it a crime'? May not people
legally labor hard, practise frugality, worship God
after their own fashion, and vote as they choose? Is
this contrary to the free enlightenment of American
institutions?
Of what are the people of the United States afraid,
with their fifty millions of free, intelligent, progress-
ive men and women, that they should deem it their
duty to be seized with such a savage hate toward this
handful of poor and despised religionists? In the evo-
lution of society as an organism, the fittest is sure to
remain. If this principle be true, it is perfectly safe
to let the Mormons alone. Their evil practices, as
well as those of their enemies, are sure in due time to
be dissipated by the ever-increasing enlightenment of
between Mormon and non-Mormon. The table includes the Mormon settlements
in Idaho.
Mormon. Non-Monnoa.
Murder, manslaughter, and all assaults endangering life 41 317
Rape 1 5
Prostitution 95
Keeping brothels 27
Lewd conduct, insulting women, exposing person, nuisance,
obscene and profane language 4 47
Forgery and counterfeiting 8
Drunkenness, etc 109 594
Violation of liquor ordinance 18
Gambling 52
Robbery and burglary 4 62
Disturbing the peace 34 111
Bigamy 1
Destroying property 15 26
Aison 2
Obtaining property under false pretences , 25
Opium-smoking, etc 16
Stealing railroad rides 19
Vagrancy 147
Violating prison rides 6
208 1.57S
Confined in Utah penitentiary 6 22
Confined in S. L. co. jail 14 97
Confined in Oneida co. jail 1 30
Confined in Idaho penitentiary 6
Confined in Bear Lake co. jail 1
The prostitutes enumerated are those in S. L. City only; to these it will
be safe to add as many more living in the outside towns and mining camps.
In 1880, the population of Utah was 143,963, that of Oneida co., Idaho, was
6,964, and there were 3,235 souls in Bear Lake county. About 7,000 women
were in 1S85 living in polygamy in Utah. See Richards' Crime in Utah,
MS., passim.