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amusement of some is the day's work of others； but the pleasure； not
to say the useful recreation； of many； is worth the labour of a few；
provided the occupation is freely chosen； and can be freely
resigned。 The operatives are perfectly right in thinking that if all
worked on Sunday； seven days' work would have to be given for six
days' wages； but so long as the great mass of employments are
suspended； the small number who for the enjoyment of others must still
work； obtain a proportional increase of earnings； and they are not
obliged to follow those occupations if they prefer leisure to
emolument。 If a further remedy is sought； it might be found in the
establishment by custom of a holiday on some other day of the week for
those particular classes of persons。 The only ground； therefore； on
which restrictions on Sunday amusements can be defended； must be
that they are religiously wrong； a motive of legislation which can
never be too earnestly protested against。 Deorum injuriae Diis
curae。 It remains to be proved that society or any of its officers
holds a commission from on high to avenge any supposed offence to
Omnipotence； which is not also a wrong to our fellow creatures。 The
notion that it is one man's duty that another should be religious； was
the foundation of all the religious persecutions ever perpetrated；
and； if admitted； would fully justify them。 Though the feeling which
breaks out in the repeated attempts to stop railway travelling on
Sunday； in the resistance to the opening of Museums； and the like； has
not the cruelty of the old persecutors； the state of mind indicated by
it is fundamentally the same。 It is a determination not to tolerate
others in doing what is permitted by their religion； because it is not
permitted by the persecutor's religion。 It is a belief that God not
only abominates the act of the misbeliever； but will not hold us
guiltless if we leave him unmolested。
I cannot refrain from adding to these examples of the little account
commonly made of human liberty； the language of downright
persecution which breaks out from the press of this country whenever
it feels called on to notice the remarkable phenomenon of Mormonism。
Much might be said on the unexpected and instructive fact that an
alleged new revelation； and a religion founded on it； the product of
palpable imposture； not even supported by the prestige of
extraordinary qualities in its founder； is believed by hundreds of
thousands； and has been made the foundation of a society； in the age
of newspapers； railways； and the electric telegraph。 What here
concerns us is； that this religion； like other and better religions；
has its martyrs： that its prophet and founder was； for his teaching；
put to death by a mob； that others of its adherents lost their lives
by the same lawless violence； that they were forcibly expelled； in a
body； from the country in which they first grew up； while； now that
they have been chased into a solitary recess in the midst of a desert；
many in this country openly declare that it would be right （only
that it is not convenient） to send an expedition against them； and
compel them by force to conform to the opinions of other people。 The
article of the Mormonite doctrine which is the chief provocative to
the antipathy which thus breaks through the ordinary restraints of
religious tolerance； is its sanction of polygamy； which； though
permitted to Mahomedans； and Hindoos； and Chinese； seems to excite
unquenchable animosity when practised by persons who speak English and
profess to be a kind of Christians。 No one has a deeper disapprobation
than I have of this Mormon institution； both for other reasons； and
because； far from being in any way countenanced by the principle of
liberty； it is a direct infraction of that principle； being a mere
riveting of the chains of one half of the community； and an
emancipation of the other from reciprocity of obligation towards them。
Still； it must be remembered that this relation is as much voluntary
on the part of the women concerned in it； and who may be deemed the
sufferers by it； as is the case with any other form of the marriage
institution； and however surprising this fact may appear； it has its
explanation in the common ideas and customs of the world； which
teaching women to think marriage the one thing needful； make it
intelligible that many woman should prefer being one of several wives；
to not being a wife at all。 Other countries are not asked to recognise
such unions； or release any portion of their inhabitants from their
own laws on the score of Mormonite opinions。 But when the dissentients
have conceded to the hostile sentiments of others far more than
could justly be demanded； when they have left the countries to which
their doctrines were unacceptable； and established themselves in a
remote corner of the earth； which they have been the first to render
habitable to human beings； it is difficult to see on what principles
but those of tyranny they can be prevented from living there under
what laws they please； provided they commit no aggression on other
nations； and allow perfect freedom of departure to those who are
dissatisfied with their ways。
A recent writer； in some respects of considerable merit； proposes
（to use his own words） not a crusade； but a civilisade； against this
polygamous community； to put an end to what seems to him a
retrograde step in civilisation。 It also appears so to me； but I am
not aware that any community has a right to force another to be
civilised。 So long as the sufferers by the bad law do not invoke
assistance from other communities； I cannot admit that persons
entirely unconnected with them ought to step in and require that a
condition of things with which all who are directly interested
appear to be satisfied； should be put an end to because it is a
scandal to persons some thousands of miles distant； who have no part
or concern in it。 Let them send missionaries； if they please； to
preach against it； and let them； by any fair means （of which silencing
the teachers is not one）； oppose the progress of similar doctrines
among their own people。 If civilisation has got the better of
barbarism when barbarism had the world to itself； it is too much to
profess to be afraid lest barbarism； after having been fairly got
under； should revive and conquer civilisation。 A civilisation that can
thus succumb to its vanquished enemy； must first have become so
degenerate； that neither its appointed priests and teachers； nor
anybody else； has the capacity； or will take the trouble； to stand
up for it。 If this be so； the sooner such a civilisation receives
notice to quit the better。 It can only go on from bad to worse；
until destroyed and regenerated （like the Western Empire） b