The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-14
THE TWIN RELIC
Attitude Of the Government on the
Polygamy Question.
VIEWS OF A CABINET MINISTER.
The President VIII See that the
Law Is Enforced.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


WAsHIsGToN. August 10. 1870.
The Mormon question has. said in these
dispatches OF the 9th inst. risen to international
Importance. The synopsis of the London Times edi-
torial OF yesterday the points of the official circu
lar of our government respecting Mormon immigra-
ton. which were first made public through the
HERALD, was carefully read to-day by the men,
bers of the Cabinet in Washington, and it
remarked that when the text of the letter
given out there would be nothing in it,
as tho HERALDs despatch covered substantially the
language of the letter and the position taken by the
administration to check the growth of Mormonism
in this country. The article in the Times says that
'when the suggestions of the United States are
before in detail they may modify the impression
produced by the telegram"
CABINET MINISTER.
One member OF the Cabinet who had given the
Times article his careful consideration said that the
comments of the '.Thunderer'' were based upon u
correct understanding of the tenor of the letter ad
dressed to our diplomatic representatives in the
countries of Europe where the Mormon proselytes
are secured, and that the text would not change
modify the opinion Of the Times He continued =
"But great victory has already been won. and the
first blow against the growth OF Mormonsm in the
United States has been dealt in the most effective
manner. will tell you how it has been done. In
the HERALD of Monday last article on the
manner in which the Mormon missionaries carried
on their work of securing recruits in Europe. 1t
was to the effect that the missionary agents were
obliged to the prejudces of the people
and explain away as best they could the
abhorrent features of the Mountain Meadows mas
and the peculiar institution Of polygamy,
and that these stories about the and the
troubles in the Utah Church circulating among
the peasantrv Of Europe and required much expla-
nation on the part of the missionaries.
DISCUSSION PROVOKED.
Snow, that is undoubtedly true and the way the
facts were disseminated was through the press.
There reason for their publication save that
they facts in connection with the institution
of polygamy yet they were widespread and deeply
rooted III the minds Of the people. Now the circular
letter of the Secretary otate is Of such nature that
it will provoke in the press througho the
length and breadth of every country where Mormon
immigrants obtained. The article in the Times
indication what the general criticism will be
the attitude of the administration. Now, the
least the European governments can do is to warn
their people that polygamy the essential feature of
Mormonism, is now crime and SO punished by the
laws OF the United States. You have then. In the
first place. the very widest circulation of the infor-
nation it is desired should be impaired in
the strongholds of Mormonism in Europe and
next confirmation of the forth in these ar
ticles by the official announcements of the govern
ments OF the countries where the recruits OBJ
tanned. When it is known that polygamist is la
bic to Imprisonment all the tact Of the Mormon mis-
sonaries will not be able to explain away the evils
of joining the Utah Church. In other words,
that which tho President and Secretary of State
have desired should be criticised by the European
pected and will contribute most etfectually toward
creating prejudice that must be fatal to further
migration to Utah.. But supposng it does not. what
then?
ON THE GROUND OF JUSTICE.
THE letter OF the Secretary OF State asks the CO.
operation of the European governments in the
ma terO q the ground Justice their subjects
many OF whom have already been deluded
into joining the Mormons. and secondly
the ground that as our laws make polygamy
penal offence have the right to protest against
Europeans coming here to increase institution
theocracy which is great moral evil and member
ship with which is well defined crime our
statute books. The right of every nation to police
its own territory has never been denied. Ii we
knew that shipload of paupers was going TO
be landed at New York, there is question
about what the President would do. They
would never be allowed to land, or if VIC knew
of any number OF persons coming to this
country who were known to be professional thieves,
they too would be turned back. So, when the Lon
don Times says that it would be necessary tor tho
United States to declare the profession of Mormon
ism be offence in itself and to institute kind
OF inquisition into the religious opinions of imm
grants. it is assuming that which this admnistra-
ton most emphaticslly denies. Plurality of wives
mon Church. and It does not need
inquistion to establish that fact. Polyg-
amy. after contest in the courts running
through five years. is punished as a penitentiary
offence. it is not an issue ma by this adminisra-
ton, but fact growing out of a law pronounced
valid by the highest Judicial tribunal IN the land.
COUNTRY NOT AN ASYLUM.
s'Those being the facts, have the power to
exclude the Norman immigrants Tor else have not
the right of self lection 1t is right not depen
dent upon the consent any other nation but right
of self-defense, and all the transatlantic steam
emgrants recruited for Utah. and this administra-
ton will deny the right to land them. The common
law of Christendom is founded code of mo-
rality which recognizes the restriction of
the possession or only one wife. This country is
not asylum people OF peculiar religious views.
and part of our territory is set apart for the
propagation of the customs OF patriarchal times.
The issue is plain one: that, polygamy
porters will either have to back down or
tight. II. therefore. the amicable request
sent forth TO aid our government in checking the in
crease from Europe is not regarded no additional
legislation will be necessary TO discriminate TO
VINO shall land on our shores. Moreover, there is
not 4 man who to the United States as q
Mormon emigrant who comes intending to become
n citizen OF the country. They come with the in
they duped into coming is
why they should be permitted to violate
the attitude of the administration this question
abroad will warn tho peasantry of Europe OF what
they may expect il they come here for the purpose
OF Joining the Mormon Church, and need not ask
advice OF any foreign nation as TO whom we shall
allow to land upon our shores"
INDICTMENTS FOR THE PoLYGAMIsrs.
'What VIII be done i'll Utah about indicting the
Mormons?'
when the Grand Jury meets in October next the
law will be faithfully respected and every effort
made to bring the leaders to punishment.
An important question has yet to be deter
mined to the statute of limitations, and
/ suppose the of George Q. Cannon the delegate
from Utah. will be taken up. He was indicted with
Reynolds in 1874, but pleaded the statute of limita
tons. That is question to be determined"
There viii then be a vigorous prosecution of all
the that are prosecuted by the Grand Juryg"
mot only avigorou prosecution but every facility
WAL be given the Grand Jurors to investigate the
institution of polygamy. Until the case OF Reynolds
finally settled the government not pre-
pared to act. Now the law is plain, and the govern
mcnt must either maintain 1t or confess its inability
to do Such concession this administration
VIII never make to poygamy. Why, when
the application OF Reynolds for pardon
was before the President his purpose
to grant IL decided that he did not think it
even necessary to consult members of the Cabinet
about it, 1t came up one day incidentally, and in
conversation the fact revealed itself that all
OF the Presidents opinion. The story that Reynolds
is allowed the freedom OF salt Lake City is bosh.
United States Marshal Shaughnossy knows his bust.
ness too well ana the views of the Administration
too thoroughly to jeopardize his official position by
any slph uct ~ Ia bnpu a