228 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
screw is not applied until the settler is firmly rooted ; the 
however it is sharply turned, and the man finds, when it | 
too late, that he has to pay very dearly for the start give 
him in life by his Mormon brethren. 3 
It is interesting, although not perhaps very profitable, 
speculate on the future of these people. 
Will they migrate, or will they remain ? Will ies modif 
their views and actions, or will they hold out agains 
Americanization ? The last year or two has shown, I think 
what course events are likely to take. The Mormons knoy 
perfectly well that they will remain unmolested and in f 
possession of all the lands they have taken without acknow 
ment from the United States’ Government, if they only gi j 
up polygamy. They may profess to believe what they li Ke 
and govern themselves as they please ; but if they persist i 
degrading women as they at present do, some method will b 
devised to break up the “institution.” Under the influene 
of this argument, the Joe Smith anti-polygamy party ar 
making rapid strides, especially among the outlying settl 2. 
ments scattered over Utah and southern Nevada; and eve 
the most orthodox of the saints are beginning. to discove 
that polygamy is not an essential doctrine. Even the grea 
Brigham has, I am informed, lately stated openly that he has 
received no direct revelation on this important subject ; and 
that therefore, at present, although he is in favour of it per 
sonally, he cannot speak with authority either for or again st 
the practice. This is fortunate, and leaves a very safe loop- 
unpopular amongst the majority of the women, especially the 
younger ones. I used to discuss the subject a good deal 
with a young Mormon wife of great intelligence, and 
although she professed to approve of it to me, I found out 
