Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-20
8ailp &tunfbsf 5Ournal.
Augusta. Monday Morning. Feb. 20.
Anti.POlyganny.


The anti-polygamy bill passed the Sem
,te against strong opposition from the
democratic side. The debate in the last
hcuse reminded those who heard it Of ante
belium debates on the Slavery question
No one advocated polygamy but several
took the more effectual way of opposing
IN extirpstion by pleading the want OF
powsr under the constitution to deal win
The evil. Mr.. Morgan (democrat). "f Al
ALBANIA, thought the Senate should move
verv cautiously upon the matter and deal
very tenderly with it. He denounced the
bin as m expost facto act, and bill OF
sttainder BY which a legislative act was TO be
employed to override the Judicial powers
Of the government Mr.. Yes. of Missouri
(democrat). protested against the bill as
establishing a star chamber iDquisition.
and as being wrongin principle and against
public policy and he tradtionsof the gov
eminent. Mr.. Brown, of Georgia, tdemo-
craft while not avowing himself a poIyga-
mist in belief. dill all he could to create
favorable opinion Of the institution and
that the Mormons are absolutely honest
and sincere in their belief of the sanctiiy
of polvgamous marriages. Mr.. Jones, OF
Florida. (democral), also Senator Bayard'
disagreed with the majority Of their demo-
cratic colleagues; but Mr.. Pendleton oil
Ohio mildly conceded with the general
democratic opinion in favor OF leaving the
institution alone. Mr.. Sherman, (repub-
lican), had doubts about the utility OF the
bill, but would vote for it, though he be-
lieyed a remedy for existing evils could
not be found except in the entire abolition
Of elective government and the Temporal
~ substitution of a government of COM
missioners with full executive powers
Thus it is plainly seen where the two
great political parties stand in regard to
the extirpation of polygamy in Utah. As
the democratic party apologized for and
defended Slavery so now it opposes meas
ures to root up and destroy polygamy in
the territories. Every polygamist in Utah
will approve its course in behalf OF the
institution. Every man who regards the
Mormon doctrine and practice in regard
TO marriage a anti.chrislian. immoral and
dangerous to the State, will find that the
republican party represents his views and
will endeavor to carry them ont. The
bill adopted in the Senate is an earnest OF
the resolu,e pupose of the republican par
ty to Join conflict with the supporters OF
polygamy.
The bill makes polygamy an offence pun
ishabc with fine or imprisonment; pro-
vides that those who have more than
one wife living at the same time shall be
rejected IA Jurors and makes those who
practice polygamy ineligible as voters at
any election over which the United States
OF holding ONCE M 'ttrs eu,rrti. y"an',hle
other place under the authority of the
United States.
The bill now goes to the House, where
the power of the democracy will be ex-
erted TO prevent its passage. In the Senate
the bill was well managed by Mr.. Ed
munds. debate was not allowed Ia run riot,
and yet the opposition had a fair hearing.
When the bill becomes wv n beginning
will have been made towards the destruc-
ton of the Mormon twin relic of barbar-
ism. 1t is plainly evident that the
longer the evil is let alone the more
formidable il becomes. Let us not wait
until like Slavery the monster has acqur-
ed such strength that its abolition can only
be effected by vast bloodshed and enor-
nous expenditure of treasure.