The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-02-11
An Impending Connics.
by HON. SCHUYLER ooLrAx.

Ou tno moEtnon Qutriiou, DtODlt
may cry "Peacei Peacei" but there can
be no peace until polygamy, that ''twin
relic OF barblrism," is surely "plaoed
ia the process of ultimate extinction, I"
or is permitted by governmental toler-
alton to overrun and possess the other
territories OF our American interior, as
il has Utah. The people may ignore
IL; statesmen may shrink from grap-
pling with ID; executives may allow the
notification OF law 10 pass even with
out rebuke; but still the iniquity exists
and grows, constantly increasing the
number OF law-defers, constantly
strengthening and fortifying the pow
er OF the system. as year after year
passes by.
Nor does il attempt to hide itself from
public view. Banned by the law
prohibited under penalties, by the'be
it enacted" OF the American Congress,
condemned by the public opinion OF
every civilized land, il openly de-
nounces as unconstitutional, and un-
worthy OF obedience, the law OF the
Union whose flag floats over its abid.
ing place-mocks at those who demand
its enforcement, and goes on and on,
most de6sntly, in its illegal plural
marriages, which could he tolerated in
no other civilized nation in the world.
More than this, Congress has at last
most powerfully intrenehed u in its
own Legislative halls, by seating its
thrice elected champion, who boasts OF
his four wives, in Congressional chair,
in spite OF the GENTLE protest against
il.
The recent meeting OF Mormon wo-
men, to eulogizo polygamy, can de-
ceive no one. Besides their absolute
dependence on their husbands, by the
abolition OF power in Utah, and by the
inevitable workings OF the polygamous
system itself, they are compelled, after
being beguiled into il by their church
doctrines, either To advocate and de.
fend it, or else to proclaim themselves
dishonored and their children illegiti-
mate. Indeed. the indifference OF the
American public to this iniquity has
been the direct cause Of its growth.
The MorL.ou accessions are very large
lv, almost entirely, from Europe.
These ioreign-born women, arriving in
Utah from abroad, finding polygamy
openly practiced there, commended
and commanded 10y the church, urged
incessantly by the bishops and not
punished by the government, find it
difficult, II not impossible, 10 resist
the public opinion around them, the
persistent ininnctions CT their pulpits,
the persuasive counsel of their elders,
and the appeals Of their suitors. And
thus, year by year, are the numbers in
-. La
strengthened and fortified against at
tack and overthrow.
IL is evident, also, that the Mormon
magnates Whose commands are regard
ed by their followers as inspired), not
content with Utah alone, are casting
their eyes toward adjoining territories,
in at least two of which they already
claim the balance OF power. IL is but
a step from seating an open avowed
polygamist. in spite of contest, in
the very Representative Hall where
the law he dehes was reported aud vot-
ed, to seating himself aud another like
him ia law-breaking, in the Senate
Chamber itself II is bat n step from
a polygamous territory in defiance OF
national law, TO a polygamous state.
whose domestic institutions will then
be Fashioned and fortified aud protect
ed ty state law and state rights
The Gentiles in Utah, after twenty
years Of Intellectual petitions TO Con
gress, are making one more appeal this
winter, TO the people and Congress
both They plead for q fair election
law, and instead Of the half Mormon
aud half Gentle juries provided for in
Utah, for juries Of law-abiding citizens
10 be drawn and impaneled exactly as
ia other territories. They feel that il
Is not their cause for which they appeal,
but for the cause Of the nation aud its
insulted law. IL these outrages against
the law are 20 be allowed to continue
If the strong arm of the government
is not TO be raised against law-breakers
m Utah or elsewhere-there can be on
" one end 10 the matter. A polygam-
Gus territory will mature, at last into
pnlygamous state. Though the Gen
tiles could then move away, as they
doubtless would be compelled to do,
by unfriendly legislation, the dishonor
OF the nation would then be complete
and probably irretrievable. The peo-
pie OF the United States cannot expect
this GENTLE minority in Utah TO keep
up much longer this unequal contest.
The faithful few" there, faithful TO
the Law, faithful TO the government,
faithful to the national authority, have
done their full duty Ii remains now
to he seen whether the millions OF peo-
pie, whose law is thus openly secuted.
aud coutemptuously trampled under
foot, will do theirs.
Probably this whole question has
never been more forcibly and tersely
put than in the following truthful aud
automatic remarks OF Hon. A. II. Ste
phens, of Georgia. during this very
month, though applied by him TO 9th
er questions he was discussing with an
interviewer az Washington:
"lhe maintenance OF the majesty OF
tue law is the only hope of the preser-
vation of the rights OF free people.
IL any Federal law has been thus vio-
lated, the wrong should be righted
through the Federal judiciary, and as
u is the duty OF the Governors, respec-
lively, TO see that the state laws, as eI-
pounded by the state courts. are en-.
forced, so IL is the duty OF the Presi-
dent to see that the Federal laws, as
expounded by Federal courts, are en-
forced ~ Chicago Advance.