But it may be urged that all this is but the senti-
ment of the " Church,?' and that sentiments do not
constitute treason in this country ; that we cannot
deal summarily with a Church, no matter what senti-
ments it may hold or teach. True. But it is not de-
manded that the " Church " as such should be dealt
with at all. It is only demanded that it be f imstrated
fn the attempt to establish within our borders an
♦ " North American Review," March, 1881.
68 The Mobmon Problem.
avowedly treasonable system of civ;l government/
ever hostile, botli in sentiment and in action, to the
rightful Government, and that it be dispossessed of
the power by which it maintains a priestly despotism
over an entire Territory, to the exclusion, in a great
degree, of national authority, and in defiance of the
rights of American citizens. Unhappily for the de-
fenders of Mormonism, it has not confined itself to
treasonable theories and sentiments. There has never
been an hour since its organization, in 1830, that the
" theocracy " has not been in open antagonism to the
nation or its laws. The facts cited by President
Buchanan, in the proclamation already quoted, consti-
tute more than sentiment; and so also do the main facts
of the entire history of the saints. Let us see what
is the record of this people " that must not be inter-
fered with on account of their religion." Mr. Bea-
dle, in the article before i-efeiTed to, has given a con-
cise summary. We reproduce it here for the benefit
of those sympathizers with a '* persecuted Church
that claims the protection of the nation." It is
truthful and accurate in every particular.
