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Show HOW MORMONISM, & c. 187 dark. I would not have the reader infer from this that I believe the Mormons above such acts, for on that subject I have something to add in my next, but I doubt if Porter has been more guilty than others. The weight of opinion with Gentiles in Utah is against me in this particular. Porter Rockwell has become exceedingly fond of whis key in these latter days, and but seldom visits the city with out getting drunk. On such occasions he manifests none of that violence which one might suppose would then al most certainly exhibit itself in one so desperate as he is-represented to be. When drunk he is perfectly harmless, and the exuberance of vitality on such occasions is relieved by loud shouts, which may be heard for squares. He is otherwise orderly and well- behaved, even when drunk. He wears his hair long, and a friend informed me that he has not cut it since the murder of Joseph Smith, and says he will not until he has avenged his death upon the man who shot him. He may be more especially the avenging angel of Joseph the martyr, if not one in general. CHAPTER XX. CRIMES OF THE MORMONS AND HOW MORMONISM MAY BE ERADICATED. THE leaders of the Mormon Church claim to be tolerant ; but they are so only so far as their tolerance may conduce to their interests. That they have been guilty of rigid per secution of those whose acts seemed to endanger the suc cess of their corrupt sect, and that they have been prompted by malice and desire for revenge in perpetrating the gross est crimes, are indisputable facts. |
