Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-02-20
UTAH.
How 10 Oyerthrow PoIygnmy.

How 70 Overthrow Pelygnmy.
In looking for q remedy for the evils
existing in that Territory, Mr.. Roberts,
who writes from Salt Lake, argues that:
!, The Government must administer the
laws.-To do this, the official personnei of
the Territory must be reconstructed, so
far. at least, that there shall be no Nor
mon appointed to any Federal office.
The Collector of Internal Revenue is q
Mormon, and the venue last year was
ESQ, 900. 1t should have been $500, 900,
while the tithing yielded some $3.50, 900.
Then, Congress must revise the local
Territorial laws at several important
points. Senate bill 404, now pending,
was prepared by an able jurist Of Utah
expressly to meet the case, and should
be- done Immediately. That done, the
way will be clear. But it is objected,
that any attempt to enforce the laws
against polygamy would be regarded as
persecution-would cause collision and
bloodshed, and that the thing had bet
ter be left until the Pacific Railroad is
built, and then population will como in,
and quietly settle the whole question.
To this l answer promptly: That murder
and polygamy always require the strong
arm of the law, and that, too, even I'M
der the most favorable circumstances.
The law, with severe penal sanctions
the halter and the prison wall-most
effectually administered, is the great
thing that holds in check murder and
lust. No land under the sun keeps down
these evils by mere accessions of popu-
lation, and moral suasion and railroads;
much LESS can this be done in Utah,
where these evils have run riot for 80
many years. As to collision and blood
shed, there is no good reason to fear it
at all. The Mormon leader is essen
TALLY a coward. The Mormon masses are
the ignorant p~easantry Of Europe, I'M
skilled in the use of firearms, and no
training they have ever had here would
make them anything more than an ele-
ment of military weakness instead Of
strength. A little increase of the force
at Camp Douglas, the guns Of which
command this place, would insure safety.
II. Furnish this people at once Nth all
the appliances of The Christian Church.
First and foremost, give the pure gospel
by the living teacher, moving among
them, enlightening and i%nstructing
them. Here are human beings, and the
gospel is adapted to them. This is mis-
sion ground in the true sense, and a
large field at that. The Rev. Mr.. Nc
Leod we'll represents the Congregational
Church. Let him be fully sustained.
Let other churches be represented by
their most energetic men. Let all work
in harmony. 1t is rough, hard, difficult
work, and will be for years, and just
now dangerous. Second, Wise and be.
n~epolent provision must be made for the
,oomen and children. The laws will be
enforced against Polygamy here very
shortly, and no bloodshed either-I
mean not by any public collision. There
may be, and I think will be, constant
disturbance, if not assassination, up to
that time. The city is in commotion
to-day. | am witness to the annoyances
sought to be practiced on one of the
Federal officers. But what is to be
done with these poor women and chill
dren? If one-fourth Of the men are in
polygamy, and it is reported that the
Mormon leaders are enforcing it on their
followers now on pain of expulsion,
there is a large field Of Christian enter
prise in providing an asylum for the po-
lygamous women of Utah, when, by the
administration of law, they are thrown
out homeless and unprotected upon the
public common.
Christian women of favored America,
daughters of Columbia, we beg your
sympathy and careful attention to this
question; and if need be, your enlarged
contributions 1t this time in this be-
half. We wait the action Of the Gov
eminent. If, previous to such action,
or at the time, e~xigencies arise here,
and we expect them, we shall need as
sistance.