New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-21
TIE MORMON PROBLEM.

Governor Murray, of Utah, was one of the
visitors at Mentor, the OthGf day, and is re-
ported az saying, after he came away, that
General Garfield entertans very positive ideas
of tho Mormon question and Is in favor OF
employing vigorous measures to suppress the
crime of polygamy. No doubt the Governor
is right. The new President, like his
two immediate predecessors, will be sure
TO give good deal of attention to
the monstrous anomaly of the existence in
one of the Territories of an order of society
founded on the semi-barbarous marriage in
situations of the Oriental world. He will un-
ouestionably recommend measures for the ex-
tirpaton of polygamy. But too much must
not be expected of him. Congress, and not
the Executive, must act first, if anything is to
be accomplished to hinder the Saints from
continuing their abominable practices. Presl-
dent Grant and President Hayes have both sent
Governors, Judges and DistriCt-AttOrneys to
Salt Lake City pledged to make special effort
to break mp the peculiar institution of the
Mormons; but with the best intentions these oiii-
Gals have accomplished next to nothing. Pres
ident Garfield can do no more unless Congress
comes to his aid. The great obstacle TO the
enforcement of the United States statute
against polygamy lies in the measure of self
government which the people OF Utah
enjoy in common with the people of
The other Territories. Their local laws
sustain and protect pOlygamy, aud they
shield themselves from the operations of the
Federal statutes behind the right of trial by
iury. Unless a jury is made up exclusively OF
anti-Mormons or in other words is packed to
convict, a man put on trial for polygamy is
sure of an acquittal.
For persistent aud malignant disease n he
roc remedy is required. If pOygamy is to be
soon destroyed, Congress, we believe, Will
find it necessary TO take away the
right Of sei-gOyemment from Utah and
treat it, not as political organization
possessing the privileges enjoyed by the other
Territories but as n region under the direct
control of the National law-making power.
The next thing would be to create governing
commission for the Territory with full powers
to enforce the laws against all new offenders
and large discretionary authority in the matter
of prosecuting men for pOygamOus marriages
in the past. 1t will be a comparatively easy
thing to put a stop to the extension of
polygamy. The certainty of mourning the pen
altes of the existing law would, after n
few examples deter the MormOns from con-
tracing such marriages. Much moro serious
is the problem of what to do with the cOmpli-
Gated families which have grown up during
thirty years existence of tho system of
polygamy. This is a GOrdian knot which can
not be cut by u blow Of the sword of National
authority without intllcting great misery upon
women dcluded by fanaticism and upon innO-
cent children. 1t will take time to straighten
out all the crOOkedness of Mormon society.
Relieving the men from the support of their
illegal families is certainly not the way to do
it, for this would be to let the chief sinners
90 scot-frce, while their victims are left to
starve. Neither would it be wise or just to
begin wholesale prosecution of the male
polygamists of the Territory with view of
sending them all to Jail. unless the Govern
ment is prepared to establish vast aims
house to take care Of their families.
We believe that Il commission made up OF
humane and discreet men could work out the
problem in the course OF few years. 1hey
would have to possess power almost arDl-
trary in its nature, and the right OF jury trlli
would have to be set aside for time 90 enable
them to stop at once the contraction OF new
polygamOus alliances. Their authority should
also be n constant menace to those VINO i've
in polygamous relations, and Mt the same time
nm aid to enable such persons to dissolve
their criminal ties in such way as to work
as little harm as possible to the women and
children. The failure of previous Administra-
tons in dealing with the Mormon problem
hos come from the necessity they were under
of working inside the restrictions of the Ter
ritorial system; if President Garfield is to
have better success Congress must place Utah
outside that system.