The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-16
THE SUPREME COURT AND IT'S
ISM IN UTAH AND IN TEXAS.


ISM IN UTAH AND IN TRXAS.
Polygamy will now be torn up by
the roots, and such should be its doom.
It's pity "Old Brigham. did not sur
Yive the event to see and suffer. But
then vices proposed to be extirpated in
Utah are not local. The Supreme
Court of the United States declares it
has jurisdiction and proceeds to de-
stroy vicious Mormon institutions. A
court rarely denies its power and al
ways widens and never contracts the
sphere of its Jurisdiction. Human ma
ture is such that even courts love the
broadcast authority, and therefore we
have seen the Supreme Court of the
United States legislating upon the
subject Of currency and now, perhaps,
when the question of approving
DaVid's and Solomon's and old
Brigham's practices in Utah are
discussed and Congress has hesitated,
knowing not how to reach and extIr-
pate the stupendous crime, the highest
guardian of personal and civic rights
and of those of States asserts Its bound
less power and declares that Mormon
ism shall be no more. 1t may be Who'll
ly right. To strike down public vices
is surely we'll enough and the country's
laws may invest the Supreme Court
with the right to indulge sentiment
or obey an injunction of popular opin-
ion, but it has only begun the execu-
ton of task as broad as the continent
and involving vices more terrible and
ruinous than this proposed to be
eYiscerated from Utah. = Unctious
goodness, pious shams, strut
ting pharisaism and gowned red
headed sanctimoniousness, as per-
-sonated by Haven, will thank God on
Bonded knees in the presence of splen-
did affairs, that the Supreme Court Of
the United States has "done its duty;p
but the esrnestness Of these priests and
bishops rests upon the reflection
that Brigham's followers and their in
dulgences are now unauthorized and
unguarded by local law, and all sects
are on an equality. Judging from
the. practices of priests and bish-
ops OF all sects in Texas and elsewhere,
it seems that they would rather rejoice
that Mormon elders are bereft of special
privileges, rather than because public |
vices are supposed to be ameliorated.
Macauley said the Puritans did not |
weep because dogs and bears in bear
batting were punished fearfully, but
because the mob enjoyed the sport |
most keenly. Even so with Haven and
his ilk. 1t may not be Mormonism
that provokes their grief, and which
they would uproot, but the delights
of a state of society which gave
infinite satisfaction to Mormon elders
and Mormon pslam-singers.
Local law In Utah, now repealed by
an enactment of the Supreme Court
of the United States, licen-
sed vices and passions which
must be carefully cloaked in the States
by diligent hypocrisy. Society, as or
ganized AMI as it exists in Washing
ton or Boston, is more corrupt and de-
PRAYED than in Salt Lake City. This |
is true, or men and women thorough
ly cognizant of the vices of the Nor
mon territory and of those of Christian |
cities are incapable Of truth-telling.
The law interdicts absolutely the exis-
tence of prostitution in almost every |
city, and especially in Boston, and its
evils are aggravated, and only lessened |
in those that undertake to regulate and |
control and restrict the universal vice.
Utah izw ana morals constituent, we |
confess, foul blot upon the fair face
OF American civilization, and the Su-
preme Court, thrusting aside an impo-
tent Congress, which modestly ques-
toned its power to exhrpate social
vices in territory, usurps functions
OF local law-giving body and
transforms society at Salt Lake City.
Instead OF law and order and re-
spect for institutions, horrible and
ghastly enough, but no worse
than those that obtain in fact IN
Washington, New York or Boston, we
are now TO have thinly yelled hypoc-
risy, and legalized prostitution sup
plants Brigham's vicious social system.
II the condition of society in Utah be
made worse when concubines are re-
leased by the Supreme Court from OBJ
legations Row recognized, we do not
see that the illustrious jurisconsults
have done anything more than invest
Salt Lake City with the exalted virtues
Of Washington, where an Acklin is q
social prince and Simon Cameron
grand Turk.
We would only suggest, since the
Supreme Court has learned how to
cure % the hideous depraviiy OF Salt
Lake. that It cow expend share Of
its Legislative genius and benedcence
upon ungodly congressman and priests
and. while busying itself about the
morals of remote territories, it should
Also set up an inquisitioa IN Washing
ton and Boston. where. even il Nor
mon law and faith be imperative, !
worse than Mormon practices and
eodss Of mOrals surely prevail.