Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-01-13
The Morn on Question.

Beyond doubt one of the more
important questions which will de-
mand practical answering during
the next four years is the Mormon
question. 1t has been postponed and
dallied with until further temporiz-
ing would be serious wrong. The
population of Utah is large enough
to entitle it to admission into the
Union as a State, and its rapid
growth forbid5 Territorial vassalage
much longer. At least, such vassal-
age is already serious impeachment
to the growth of that region, rich as
it is in agricultural fields and miner
al deposits.
Every Territory has one Delegate
in the House Of Representatives.
with authority TO speak but not to
vote. For quite number of years
the Mormons of Utah 50 far respect
ed the monogamic sentiment of the
country as to send to Congress a
man who had only one wife, Mr..
Hooper, formerly Of Galena. This
gentleman was a devoted friend of
Brigham Young but, for polite or
personal reasons, remained the hus-
band of one wife. But finally the
Church of the Latter-Day Saints
grew boider and more defaut, send
ing to Congress q practical poIyga-
mist, George g. Cannon. For sew
eral terms he has dlsgraced the
House by his presence.
Cannon received a large majority
Of the votes cast at the last Con
gressional election in that Territory,
but the certificate Of election has
nevertheless Just been given by Goy-
ernor Murray to his opponent, Allen
& Campbell. Of course, the seat
will be contested, with Mir. Camp-
bell having the advantage Of possess
sion and in % position to advocate
his own cause. The whole subject
q Mormouism will be brought In
issue, and should be treated in a
non-partisau way. Cannon was first
tolerated by a Republican House,
but he is equally Indebted to the
Democracy fer subsequent recogui-
ton. Nather party has ever pro-
perry grapped with the evil, while
neither is at all committed to it.
There ore two points made in be-
half Of Campbell. First, he brings
very good evidence to prove that
Cannon was never naturalizea and is
not eligible on that account. Second,
he lives in open defiance Of the
United States laws against pJlyga-
my, and for that reason is disquai-
fed. 1t is entirely competent for
the House 10 refuse him admittance
on the latter ground without any
hair-sp,ittine or nice balancing of
testimony. The constitution says
broadly, leach house shall lie The
Judge Of the qualification Of its own
"meubers.' If o majority Of the
next House choose to declare a po-
lygamist unfit for membership, that
is its privilege, and it is to be hoped
that Cannon will he barred oat
finally on precisely that ground.
THE issue between the two C's Of
Utah is only initiatory, at most,
to the great Issue raised by the
peculiar institution OF that Terri
tory, nor eau any principle be
really settled 10y The exclusion ott
Mormons from Congress. The AK!
must be laid at the very root Of the
tree, and by the strong hand Of
national authority the growing evil
must be suppressed.
If should be one OF the great
ambitions Of President Garfield to
number the overthrow Of Nor
mouism among the trophies OF his
Administrations Chicago J0uraaL
4 story o. Suffering.