They have had four HEGIRAS, or exoduses, in their history thus far; and many think they see indications, in the strong pressure of the law that is now brought to bear upon them and the temporary flight of some of their leaders, that they will soon enter upon another pilgrimage. And it is supposed that Mexico will be their next resting-place. But the Mormons are too strongly intrenched in Utah to be easily uprooted. They have too much at stake there to leave unless driven out by the point of the bayonet, as they were from Missouri and Illinois. But God forbid that this nation should do anything which would drive them beyond the borders of our land to infect the atmosphere of another! We can overcome this great evil in this land of light and liberty far sooner and easier than it can be overcome in any other land under the broad canopy of heaven. Nay, more; we are responsible for it. It was bred and born in our country. Yes, this iniquitous system sprang out of the bosom of the American nation; and _the American nation is in honor bound to grapple with it and throttle it_. The honor of the nation demands that it should be uprooted as speedily as possible. But the fact is, that we are confronted with a powerful organization, a gigantic evil. And let no one suppose that a few words written on paper sent out from Government headquarters at Washington would destroy this system any more than a few words spoken authoritatively by Congress would destroy Romanism or Presbyterianism in our land. Many years will be required at the least for the effectual stamping out of the iniquities of the Mormon system. The great PUZZLE to solve is this: What remedies will be _effective_ and accomplish the object in _the shortest period of time_? In endeavoring to find the solution of this puzzle, we must regard this system in its THREEFOLD CHARACTER--viz.: as a _political_ system, as a _social_ system, and as a _religious_ system. This we will endeavor to do in the chapters that will follow. PART II. THE POLITICAL PUZZLE. "The strange spectacle presented of a community, protected by a republican form of government, to which they owe allegiance, sustaining by their suffrages a principle and a belief which sets at naught that obligation of absolute obedience to the law of the land, which lies at the foundation of republican institutions."--PRESIDENT CLEVELAND. CHAPTER V. Mormonism a Theocracy--Manoeuvring for office the cause of the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri and Nauvoo--The "State of Deseret" formed--Lands illegally obtained--Brigham's movable house--Government officials compelled to flee--Federal troops sent--The oath of disloyalty--The Endowment rites--The American flag at half-mast--The control of the nation their aim--The political puzzle stated--Its causes--Necessity of Government action.