The Mormon puzzle, and how to solve itBeers, R. W.
History
The Mormon puzzle, and how to solve it
Beers, R. W.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
The territorial schools now established are far too few to accomplish the
desired end. The National Government should make an ample appropriation.
It ought to put a public school in every city ward and every considerable
village. It ought to equip them with the best appliances and the best
teachers. It ought to fling their doors wide open to every comer. It
ought not to teach any religion, Mormon or Gentile; it need not; but it
ought to inculcate principles of patriotism and loyalty, and ought to
teach the pupils to think and question for themselves. The parental
instinct is stronger than a hierarchy. The appetite for knowledge is
invincible, even by superstition. It would not be necessary to establish a
compulsory system. It would be enough to establish a free system. The
schools established by the different Christian denominations have proved
that. Their Gentile schools are filled. The nation's schools would be
crowded.
This would also go a great way toward disarming the prejudice and
hostility of the older Mormons toward the Government. A great many of them
are immigrants from other countries, who on landing in America were
immediately taken to Utah; consequently the Mormon immigrant has known the
United States only as _an enemy_. It is time that we taught him that the
United States is _his friend_; and in what better way could this be done
than by establishing well-equipped schools for his children? This would
show that the Government had the interests of his family at heart. And we
all know that there is nothing which will so soon touch the heart of a
mother and father, too, as a kindness done to his child. Whatever
prejudice or hatred there might have been before toward that person, after
the kindness has been done to his child the prejudice departs and he
treats him as a friend. So would it be if the Government would establish
national schools of the best type in Utah. Many who are now its enemies
would be its friends. Yes, put liberty and education in that Territory in
the manner suggested, and liberty and education will solve the Mormon
political puzzle. "We can let the Mormons bring over their shiploads of
immigrants unhindered by us, so long as they bring them to a community
made free and enlightened. We can let them build their temple, so long as
we overtop it with the school-house and the college. We can let them
preach their superstitious liberalism, if we invite the ready minds of the
oncoming generation to demand rebelliously a reason for the faith and the
fear that are preached to them." Let the Government only grant a half
million of dollars, and school-houses can be built and equipped
everywhere. And to what better use could the money be put? It will not
cost as much to buy books and pay the salaries of competent teachers as it
would to dig graves in a war of extermination, and a far better result
would be effected, with no blood spilled and no tears shed except tears of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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