New-York tribune., 1879-12-25

Mormons should be deprived of political
mower, and that no time is to be
lost. A statement has been issued show
ing what the campaign documents were
which the Republicans distributed during the
last campaign. The Greenback men talk of
electiDg the next President.
THE WAR AGAINST POLYGAMY.
TIE PRESIDENTS VIEWS ExPIAINED-HIs PLAN
FOR DERIVING The MoRMoNs OF POLITICAL
powER-So OPPORTUNITY TO BE LOST TO URGE
AGGRESSIVE LEGISLATION
upox Tue REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE.
WAsmSGToN, Dec 24.-"H necessary TO secure
obedience to the law" against polygamyl, said the
President in his last annual message. "the enjoy
ment and exercise of the rights and privileges of
citizenship in the Territories of the United States
may be withheld withdrawn from those who
violate or oppose the enforcement Of the law on
this subject"
This is all that the President has written in ex-
PLANTATION Of the policy of the Administration in its
dealings with Mormonism, but II was enough taken
in connection with the circular ont by Secre-
tary Evarts last Summer. not only to cause consid-
erable excitement among the Saints" of Utah,
but also TO arouse the attention Of Congress and
stimulate popular interest throughout the country
in this important and difficult subject The Evarts
circular has already borne fruit The representa-
mild protests against the circular. and explained
that they had power to prevent the emgra-
tion of people simply because it feared
that they might become law-breakers in this coun-
try; but they did agree to adopt measures for the
full information of all Mormon converts touching
the laws against polygamy in this country and of
the determination of the Government TO enforce
them. This was all the President and Secretary of
State ever expected to accomplish by the issue of
the circular.
While the President has not written out his plan
for the suppression of polygamy, he has explained
it in full TO many persons who have c0nversed
with him, and. among Others, recently TO the
correspondent of The TRIBUNE. 1t is, In
brief TO take the political power in Utah
land in any other Territory where the Mormons are
now OF may become numerousl entirely out OF their
hands, and to place it in the hands of the Gentles.
This may be going little further, the President
saws than Congress may be ready TO follow him, but
he believes that the most effective way in which to
assal the peculiar institution is to strike at its very
roots and to make the blows that are dealt such
hard ones that they will be felt by every Mormon.
In detail, the President would recommend the
establishment by Congress of Board of Regstra-
tion consisting of the Governor of the Territory
and the Judges of the District Courts. or
persons who should be appointed by them.
The duty of this Board would be
who desired to vote in any election or to exercise
any of the rights or privileges of citizens. All per-
sons presenting themselves for registration before
this board should be required to prove af-
frmatvely that they neither practical
polygamists themselves nor were sustaining
OF encouraging others so violating the laws
of the United States. This proof should be of an
affirmative character, Mr.. Hayes thinks on the
same principle that foreign born person is re-
qulred to prove afflrmativey, when presenting
himself for naturalization, that he bears a good
moral character and is likely to become good cit
izen of the United States. So, when person pre-
sents himself before the Board of Registration sug-
gested by the President. an examination something
like the following might take place;
Oacstion-Are yon a Mormon Answer.-Yes.
Q.-Arc you practical 9olygamstl 7 A.-No.
Q-Do you support or ecnatenanec any one VINO Is a
Q-You arc a member Of the Mormon Chnrchf A.
o. You pay Tithes for its support A. Yes.
O. VINO are the officers of tie Mormon Church A.
A. h. and c. (usmins the president apostle bishop
O. Are they Poygamistsi A. don't know.
On such showing as this the President thinks
that the Registration Board would have to refuse to
enroll the applicant. President Hayes thinks that
by applying such a test as this, GentiieS only would
be able to be registered and. as according 10 his
plan no one not registered would be allowed to vote,
hold any Office under the authority of the
United States the Territory local government,
OF to sit On jures. The entire Mormon population
would be shorn of political power and influence just
as completely as though the Latter Day Saints
all minors.
One of the first results which the President
expects would flow from political rev.
oution in Utah such he would
bring about would be the election of
Gentle Legislature which would act in harmony
with the Governor of the Territory This Legisa-
ture would probably pass very stringent laws
against bigamy, poly gamy seduction and kindred
crimes laws n regard to the character of evidence
that should be received in proof of bigamy, laws
taxing church property, and laws limiting the
amount of property which ecclesiastical bodies
might hold Such legislation as this would make
pOlyQamy crime most easily punished.
while now it Is of the most diff
cult 10 reach. and it would strike at
toe theocratic power of the Church. which.
next 10 poygamy IS one of the most Objectionable
features of Mormonism. Under pressure like thiS
the President thinks that poiygamy and the pay
rneut of tIthes would soon become very unpopular
among the Mormons in Utah. and prominent Gentle
residents of Salt Lake City have assured him that
neither the institution of plural marriages the
lheocratic power Of the Church could survive five
years.
The greatest danger III regard to the future Of
Mormonism. in the estimation of Mr. Hayes. liz
that before the power Of the institution is broken
there may be q conjunction OF Democratic OppOr-
tunity and necessity that will result In the adms
sion Of Utah as State II the Democracy should
ever control both houses of Congress and the execu
tive branch Of the Government and the electoral vote
Of Utah should be needed by that party in a Presi
dental election it would certainly be erected into