New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-27
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY q, 1873
The Mormon question.

For many years the Mormon question has
been a puzzle and source OF annoyance 10
our Government. A state within the state,
subject 10 priest rule, unrepubilcan IN form
and in spirit, with institutions and practices
no; only revolving to the moral feeling oil the
nation, but most iagrantly at variance win
their laws and those Of the whole civilized
world. Mormonsm and the Mormons occupy an
entirely anomalous position in the American
Union. The evils growing from such state
Of things are manifest; yet every time wheh
the Administration andlegislators found them
selves confronted BY them, they have been
hatfield in all their cndeayOrs to come to a
final settlement. At first sight the case APP
pears plain enough, and there can be no
doubt that almost any other Government
woull have dealt summarily with it by stink
inc al once a decisive blow by legislation,
and if that were disregarded, by force OF
arms. The difficulty lies in peculiarly OF
our own people, and just Of the better por-
lion of them. IL is that nice, strict respect
for the law, characteristic of the Saxon race,
which is carried To such point that even
wrong that is felt as such by the majority,
will be tolerated TO the utmost limit II
some legal difficulty is in the way OF its re-
moval slavery, though doomed in the end,
would vet have had lease of life for an in
definite number Of years, If its representa-
tiyes had not been the first to resort to vio-
Ience and to defy the Constitution yet 1t
took nearly two years Of civil war and re-
verses to convince the people that its over
throw was necessary and lawful. About
polygamy, the most shocking feature OF Nor
monism, public opinion is great deal more
agreed than it ever was respecting slavery
In fact, il is unanimously condemned; there
is no class of people outside OF Momondom,
whose personal interests can possibly IN
fiuence them to advocate or excuse polygamy,
and foreigners, unacquainted with the char
acter and disposition of the nation, might
well wonder why the great and powerful Re
public has thus forborne with the ofiense
given to its citizens by handful OF men,
There is a technical obstacle in the shape OF
an old statute, and moreover, that broad
spirit Of liberation which always allows
the widest range Of religious liberty to each
and all, no matter how obnoxious the tenets
and practices Of certain sects may be to the
majority. The dodge of the Mormons to
make polygamy part Of their religion has
thus far secured them the IMMUNITY which
they would not have enjoyed under any other
circumstances.
Now, with all due Difference to the honest
convictions Of Others and with the greatest
leniency towards their errors, we hold that this
ought not to be so. If once we admit that
practice declared immoral or criminal, and
prohibited by law, must be tolerated when
INDUCED in under the guise of religion, there
would be no end TO the abominable customs
which might be introduced as parts of certain
religious creeds. The distinctive line in this
respect is very easily drawn, and its detinl-
ton simply this: that any religious practice
or ceremony is legitimate, unless it confilcts
with the criminal or civil laws Of the c0un-
try. From this standpoint legislation on the
subject would not seem very difficult, and
we trust that Congress will heed the Presi-
dents message, and before long provide for
the gradual CSllnCtlOn Oh ~ duoiLdiouo
State right in our midst. We say gradual
extinction, for, with all adherence Of POI
lygamy, We should not think it fair to sup
press il too vigorously after so many years oil
federation. There me victims among the
Mormons as wsll as offenders. Among the
first, We count emphatically the women
poor, ignorant, oppressed, and deluded crea-
lures, to whom, at all events, miserable
lot has fallen. They, at least, married IN
good faith, in accordance with their errone-
Gus notions, and, in many cases, were made
to yield merely to the supreme authority and
power of the Prophet and the Elders OF the
Latter Day Saints. 1t would, consequent
ly, be cruel to sever the ties of affection
which may exist, even among Mormons, TO
deprive them Of the shabby support and pro-
lection which they have thus far enjoyed, by
denying to them the rightful claims OF mar
RED women. We should, therefore, adro-
cate legislation that will doom polygamy TO
die out, and, while dealing most leniently
with those already living in it, will provide
for the most rigorous means against its re-
currence.