The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-27
The administration and tho MO r
MONS

tuOMb.
St. Louis Republican.
Mr.. Cannon, the Mormon delegate, in al
interview with tho Cheyenne Leader, express.
es confidence in his ultimate victory ovel
Mr.. Campbell, the holder of the certificate
of election. He says that all the lawyers and
congressman in Washington with whom he
has consulted, agree that he cannot lega lIy
DO kept out of his seat Instead of having
anything TO fear from the republican house,
he has, no thinks everything to hope from
II; because republicans are avowedly hostile
to the principle on which the clai n of his
rival rests. He learns from good authority
that President Garfield does not approve
tho giving of the certificate to Campbell. On
the other hand, Gov. Murray has just left
Washington for Utah, after q consultation
with the president which, according to the
telegram, has "given him great encourage.
menl." It's admitted, however, that the
president did not unequivocally indorse
Campbelps claim, and that while determined
10 take active measures in regard to polyga-
my, desires to protect Ms far Ms possible its
innocent victims; therefore does not favor
"the stamping -out policy" of Murray.
Ii the presidential attitude is correctly
reported II will satisfy every body except the
very few whose prejudice and passion OBJ
scuro their sense of justice Polygamy has
no friends In this country except the polyga-
misls themselves. Public opinion is unan.
nous on that subject and equally unanimous
in demanding the extipguishment of an in
stitution which isa crime in the eyes of civ
ilization as well rs of law. Blu! none save
the few mentioned are anxious 10 "do evil
that good may come" The vas, majority
want tho extnguishment TO be MS speedy and
effective as possible, but at tho same time
free from unnecessary harshness aud without
suspicion OF Injustice of any sort. They re-.
cognize the fact that the Mormons, aside
from poygamy, ara people whom tho mn.
ton cannot afford to lose, and that even in
getting rid of polygsmy the nation cannot
Afford to devote thousands Of women and
children TO infamy aud ruin. Ia short, the
views attributed to President Garfield are
substantially those of tho country ut large,
and In his efforts to give them practical
shape no will DO sustained by an overwhelm.
ing popular sentiment. II cannot be denied,
however, that the task Is exceedingly delicate
and difficult, and ono that will need all the
sta,csmapship of the administration for its
successful accomplishment, The first step,
II seems to us, should DO cou,ultalion,
through government commission, with tho
Mormon leaders, for the purpose of Mcer-
tanning, definitely and dccisivoly, whether
they and their people arc so ilrml, welded
TO polygamy that it will not be- abandoned
under any circumstances. If this Ia lho case
thin there is no alternative but vigorous and
persistent repres.ive measures, be the conso.
quences what they msy. On the contrary II,
MS We slil believe, tho Mormons arc willing
10 stop pclygsm, just where ii is, and pu, /,
in process OF gradual extinction, rather than
face such reprasivo measures and their inev--
liable results, then tho work viii be com.
parat,velyeasy, Bat until the polygamists
arc convinced, beyond all doub! and perad.
ventu,e-whch they never have been vet
that poygsmy must go, peacoably or forci
bly,, they wi cling 10 IT, This conviction
can best be reached, we think, by u formal
meeting between representatives of the
government and representatives of the
Mormons. The matter will ihon be brough,
to tho "Yes-or- No" point nj once, thereby
furnishing abasis for prompt and intelligent
action on the part Of the administration
and thcre is no basis for such action now.