The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1881-12-21
ADVERrIsING RATES


ground Of its unconstitutiOnality, ~
prohibiting the free exercises of relig-
ious faith. That case having finally ex-
ploded this pretensiOn, il might have
been expected that the institution Of
polygamOus marriages would be aband.
oned, but such does not appear to be the
case. Delegations of Mormons visited
Washington for the purpose Of appeal
ing to Congress for such legislation ~
might annul or mitigate the effect Of
the law rs declared by that decision.
and some committees Of Congress were
disposed, for the protection Of innocent
women and children, to take such
measures as would legitimize the chill
dren of such marriages born within II
year after the PRONUNCIATION Of this de-
disiOn, and to ameliOrate the condition
Of the unfortunate females who had
been the victims Of these practices, but
accompanied by provisions adequate, 50
far as legislation could go, for the absO-
Lutte suppression or punishment of fu-
ture polygamOus marriages. But these
measures were not at all satisfactory to
the Mormon interest, which seemed To
demand not only "indemnity for the
past" but security for the future )"
and, for reasons not easy to explain,
Congress failed to make any provisions
upon the subject.
There is no reason to suppose that the
final settlement of the rightful power
of Congress to provide for Furnishing
polygamy, notwithstanding it may he
exercised under a claim of religious
duty, has had any effect to deter Nor
mons from a continuation or even in
crease Of the practice.
Notwithstanding the difficulties at
tending prosecutions for this crime
growing out Of the laws regarding the
formation Of juries, technical rules of
evidence, and the fdlsehood of witness
es, there is fair reason to suppose that
If Congress should choose to enact suit
able legislation to meet the case, and
the Executive department should en-
deavOr to enforce such legislation with
the same vigor that it exercises in pun
ishing Illicit distilling, the practice Of
polygamy might in n very few years
be entirely broken up. But, judging
from a dozen years Of effdrt and failure
to pass laws in this direction, the hope
of immediate legislation cannot be con-
sidered as very well grounded. Even
and persistent Executive policy, and
with judicial courts in the Territory
that will hold 1t to I've the same duty to
administer the law against polygamy
as against other crimes, 1t is probable
that decided check to the growth Of
the institution could lie established. II
the people of the United States are
really IN earnest in desiring to prevent
the establishment ola powerful polyga-
nous State in the heart Of the conti-
nent, whose chief institution is so in
opposition to the social institutions and
moral ideas of all the other States, and
which Utah once becoming a State
with IT. can never he lawfully broken
up by the national power, it will he
easy TO accomplish the extinction of
polygamy by lawful and by just means.
The encouragement Of non-Mormon
immigration, and the encouragement
of the approprlation-which has been
extensively practiced-of large tracts
Of the most valuable lands to or for the
benefit of the Mormon Church, would
have valuable effect in the right di-
rection. Another effectual disposition
of the subject might be made in the
annexation Of different parts of the
Territory to the contiguous States and
Territories, by which the concentrated
strength of the voting power Of the
hierarchy would he broken, and polit-
ical MOrmonism would find itself in
minority in the making and admins
tration Of local laws. II no measures
of legislation are TO he resorted to, and
If the administration of existing laws
continues to be feeble, lax and inter-
mittent, Mormonism in Utah, with its
cardinal doctrine polygamy, may no
doubt count on pretty long career
Senator Etimunds, ia fdrPer's Mage
zine for January.