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Show 48 Press reports of polygamy, p o l i t i c a l despotism, and the recent Reformation were received in the East with wide disapproval. Anti-Mormon feeling ran extremely high during the mid-l850s. Just prior t o the outbreak of the Utah War, Mormon Apostle Parley P. Pratt wrote from New York that "the whole country i s being overwhelmed with the most abominable lying, mockery, and n6 hatred of the Saints. In the national election campaign of 1856, the newly-formed Republican party put forth its "twin relics" plank in the party platform. This plan would have mandated Congress to prohibit the "twin relics of barbarism," namely1, polygamy and slavery, in the federal territories. The Democrats, depending heavily on southern votes, dared not go too far against slavery, but at the first opportunity, they would show the voting public they were as thoroughly anti-Mormon as the Republicans. This, according to the Mormon historian B. H. Roberts, was the underlying cause of the Utah War.' As soon as the Republicans were defeated in the election and President Buchanan was inaugerated on March 4, 1857, the administration began to take the steps necessary to push a military expedition against the Saints. When the situation became known in Utah, it was bitterly denounced by the church authorities. Apostle John Taylor vigorously attacked the administration's policy in a speech from Bowery in Salt Lake City on August 23: "They wish now to steal the Republican's thunder," declared Taylor, "to take the wind out of their sails, and to out-Herod, Herod." ...and as Pilate and Herod could be made friends over the death of Jesus Christ, so they go to work and plan our sacrafice and destruction, and make up friends on the back of it. They would crucify Jesus Christ if he were here,..."" The stage was set for a confrontation* all the necessary elements were present. All that was now required was a spark sufficient to ignite the |
