Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-04-15
rne Evils of Mormouism.

assed and put in force many years ago
his abomination had grown 10 such
dangerous proportions aud become SO
fmly established in the Great Salt
AXE Valley, that it dehed Federal au-
hori,y and disregarded the laws of the
United States. 1t held al most supreme
pwer in the Territory of Utah and
tas fast obtaining control over Nevada,
Montana and Wyoming. The mor-
IONS now mum Der about 200, 600, not a
ery dangerous number it is true, in u
ppulation of 10000, 900, but the yearly
occasions to their numbers were asio9-
hing. The conflict between po'yga-
lists and non. polygamistsin this c1un'
" has become no less irrepressible
Ian that of slavery before the civil
lar.
THE system of polyg'my which now
agues the nation, originated In this
buntry, under the name of Mormonism'
ithin the memory of many now liv-
Ia, 1t first concentr rated its followers
Nauvoo, Illinois, under the leader
hip of Joseph Smith, The first temple to
1ormonism was built there, but they
here driven from that city in the year
AZ, when they Immediately took up
eir line Of march for the Great Salt
IKE Valley. When they left Nauvoo,
ey we're much distracted ana broken
,. The Government at that time
uth the slightest effort could have ex
I rminated polygamy, but that oppor-
1 Unity was allowed to pass uniEproved
be Government not only neglected to
kush it out at that time, but it has
nee made polygamy honorable by ap'
bintirg Brigham Young, the chief OF
I lygamists Governor of the Territory
Utah and by admitting polygamistf
the halls of Congress. We do not
ish to say harsh things of the Govesh
Cent, out it is responsible for that sys
IN OF polygamy that seized Utah in
grip and reached out Its arms Il
Fasp in all the Pacific States and ter
tories. Had it performed the duty II
rs lately zRrbrpned forty years ago
lis alS&s> kasn would not to-day be :
oing element in our social and pc
tical structure.
but what is to become of these Nor
IONS? That is a question of no LITTLE
bnseguence to the people Of the coun'
y. There are about 2O0,00O polyga-
lists, for all Mormons are not polyga-
bists, and of this number it is esti-
hated that there are 20, 600 born in plu.
al wedlock, so called, by the Mormons
these children and to the mothers
Tho bore them, the late action of Con
ress means social revolution. These
hothers and their children are to be.
Sbme absolyed and freed from all allie
lance to the husband and father in
tlural wedlocb. What is to become Of
hem when the Federal law comes In
Ind sewers the relation Of husband and
wife, of father and shiIdrep ,thoag Oh the
Relation be that of vsal9Ck . Who Ii
10 care for, ard become responsible ioi
hese unfortunate mothers and CT il.
lren" This is question Of great n! o.
ment and demands and mHst receive
careful and humane consideration from
khe Government. In word they shou!d
become the wards of the Government.
The care and maintenance of these
mothers and children once SOLVED and
Fairly settled on a wise and humane
basis, all other questions connected
with the abolition of poIygalc >. ms y
ibe regarded of easy solution. The cues.
tion should be met aud solved by the
present gene ration
The plan to cur rnird for the Cover .
ment to adopt would be to take The
mothers of these children AZ its wards
10 be provided for at the expense OF the
Government uutil the children born IL
plural wedlOCk shall have settled again
in sir gle wedlock or shall have passed
away by death. These anforl nna, {
mothers and children might be PFC
vided for on government farms, or IN
communities which may engage in the
various departments OF manufacture
Public schools should be provided fol
the children at the Government e1.
pen Sc. 1t will never do for the Govern
me,st to leave the mothers and chill
dren unprovided for and unprotected
Such an act on the part of Government
would be barbarous in the extr emo AND
u disgrace to the christian name and T.
the civilization in which we live. Tina
it will cost large sums of money to pro
vide for the wayds Of the Government
and to enforce the laws necessary t
suppress the abornination, there ra
DO no doubt, but now tia. the Govern
ment has made start in ths right d
rection it cannot turn back, no matte
what tho cost may be. should the e1
pense not exceed $4,000, 900 ANIMAL
for the next ten or fifteen ears. we ma
esteem ourselves web OIL. Fortunatel
The revenues Of the Cove rnmsnt 81
ample to piovide Whatever shall
needed. This is enc of the great que
lions of the hear, and the America
people demand At tho hands Of the la
making power, snch legislation as sha
prove efiectual in the suppression OF II
entire system Of pulls gamy IN a human