CUTTING OUT POLYGAMY.
It is apparent from the interest in the con-test between Campbell and Cannon for the Delegateship of Utah, from the considera-tion devoted to it in the President's Message, and from the bills Senator Vest has so speed-ily offered in Congress, that the question of Polygamous Mormonism is to receive special attention from the present Congress and the present Administration. Straight Mormon-ism as expounded by Joseph Smith has ex-isted since 1830; as expounded by Brigham Young, with the polygamous annex, since 1852, although previous to that it was se-cretly practiced. It is not creditable that from this latter date until now the United States has not enforced among the Mormons the law against the crime of bigamy, which is done in every other Territory and in every State in the Union. The Latter-Day Mor-mons claim polygamy as a part of their reli-gion and take refuge behind their alleged constitutional rights. They, or any other of the hundred sects in existence, might just as properly claim any other crime to be a part of their religion. Were it not an existent fact the world could scarcely comprehend that a great civilized government would tol-erate the state of affairs existing in Utah and be baffled by the shrewd criminals of that Territory.
Mormonism as a religion at its best seems a most preposterous piece of nonsense to all except Mormons. To them, or at least to the masses of them, it is perhaps an all-suf-ficient belief. As organized by Young the Church is a protective, co-operative, indus-trial, and spiritual organization, equally competent to supply carrot seed or save s souls. It cares for both the temporal and spiritual, part of man, assisting its proselytes picked up in the starvation corners of Europe to reach Utah, earn a subsistence, acquire a home, live sensually, and then promises transportation direct to heaven by the Mor-mon route. This all goes under the name of a religion. But it is more than that. Mormonism is a political organization. The believers in it place their allegiance to the Mormon Church and the duly constituted officers thereof above their allegiance to the United States and the laws thereof. This they deny, but it is not the less true. One element of this proposition is proven by their persistence in polygamous marriages, a custom not only antagonistic to the princi-ples of all civilized people, but in direct de-fiance of the law of the United States against bigamy. For years repeated efforts have been made to efface this stain on the fair fame of the country, and they have been foiled. If that crime, which even their own Bible condemns, were discontinued, the Mor-mon Church would doubtless be unmolested, despite its other un-American and treasona-ble characteristics; but those who control public sentiment there, and have "revela- tions," and collect tithes, and such things, have persisted in retaining polygamy unto this day. We believe the time has now come when it will be suppressed. President Arthur is a very business-like kind of a Pres-ident. There is no other very important do-mestic matter pressing and he avows his pur-pose to aid in suppressing the "twin relic." The work has already commenced in Con-gress by the introduction by Senator Vest of bills embodying President Arthur's recom-mendations and which go to the roet of the matter in preventing bigamous marriages. These measures will become laws and if the Mormons are wise they will obey them. If they cease to take plural wives it is probable the polygamous marriages heretofore con-tracted will not be interfered with and the legitimacy of offspring will be recognized, while continued defiance is certain to end disastrously. The polygamists have played the role of the lively flea very well; but Uncle Sam is wetting his fingers at last and they will be caught. It may be a trifle bind-ing on some of the luxurious Bishops to see a fresh young girl without marrying her, but it is necessary to submit to "the powers that be," and if polygamy is right Joe Smith and Brigham Young will make it all up for them when they cross over Jordan. Whether it is or not, a decent regard for the sentiment of civilization and the laws of the country must be had. Polygamy has run to the end of its tether and it will be suppressed if it is not abandoned.
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