National Republican., 1882-12-08
THE ANTI-MoRMoNs.
Those OF Them in Utah Want Stronger
Laws, Hacked by Force.

Those OF Them in Utah Want Stronger
Laws, backed by Force.
Tho memorial of tho nom Mormon people Of
Utah to the President which wns'submitted
to tho House yesterday was protese at length
against tho Mormon OWLS and on appeal for
more thorough legislation which plainly sug-
gests force, should milder means continue in
effective. The following is foroible quota
tion from the memorial ON the effects of the
Mormon rule:
II taxes the people to build school, houses and
therein teaches the tenets Of the sect by teachers
licensed only by its priesthood-most OF whom
nre incompetent and unlearned except In Nor
mon doctrines. II fills the public offices with
bigoted seotarians and servants, without regard
to capacity for official station or public employ
mcnt. 1t divides the people into Glasses By re-
ligious distinction, and falsely teaches its ad-
herents that those not OF their hith are their enc
miles, thus sowing suspicion and bigotry among
the masses. II confors on women the suffrage and
then forces her to use 1t, under the lash Of iIs
own degradation. 1t robs thousands of women OF
honorable wedlock and brands their children with
ddishonoI so that they may DO forever deferred
made Utah land of disloyalty. disaffection, and
hatred toward tho government; has retarded its
plO at variance and discord with tho $4,000 600 OF
leopc Of the United States and made its history
which many more might be added, we arraign Il o
Mormon power In Utah. and invoke against IL and
| its monstrous pretensons and practices the con-
sderate Judgment OF tie citizen vOtcr, tho States
man, and tile Christian, and humlly submit that
our attitude toward 1t is not only justified, Dut de-
mauded by every consideration that ourht to % =
trol the true American citizen i'll the sci &c Lf
political duty.
1t appears that tho petitioners want tho
President to have the power and to appoint n
Legislative council to govern the Territory
and they hint atan efficient backing of armed
forces.
OF this, age the inadequacy OF the Edmunds
law, the memorial says:
| The law of July l, 1867. forbidding pllygmy
aad annulling certain acts of the leglslG.iyu g.
sembly OF Utah: the act of June 23 1874 in rut,..
to the of this Territory, aud the act of
March, 1889, all conclusvely prove that your hon
orhble bodies have realized the necessity of Ma
tlunnl LEGISLATION to suppress the evils peculiar to
| this Territory.
| Each of these succeeding acts were more strin-
gent than its predecessor, and while the Inst ONE,
popularly known us the :" Edmunds BILL" indi-
Gates an intention TO strike ut the vital point tho
| political power of the Mormon church. we are in
truth compelled TO say tnat iii its practical opera
ton 1t has not effected and Will not effect the de.
sired reforms.
While from reliable data we estimate that 1t dis
franchises not less than 10000 persons who would
otherwise be voters, yet such Is the scrvity of the
followers OF the priesthood that such dsfranchise-
ment has no practical effect on the remainder of
the sect The local government is still composed
OF the Mormon church, and the Mormon church
tent MS before. The dlsfranChised portion dictates
the course of those who are not DISTINGUISHED as
COmpCtely ana aOsOlutely as De1OTc ana tnero are
no indications of any desire or intention on tho
part of the latter to assert themselves against
their diSfrsnchised church superiors,
| 1t will be perceived that the Gentle or Liberal
tcketwas in majority in only one Ut the twenty
three counties. And this after the fullest discus
sion in the press and on the rostrum that was ever
had in tho Territory.
We respectfully submit that the failure after
years of active earnest endeavor of the loyal ee-
ment in Utah to make inroads upon the Mormon
vote to win by political agitation and discussion
any considerable number of Mormon voters from
allegiance TO the Mormon priesthood to loyalty tc
the National authority, demonstrates that the or
dnary American methods are without force or
effect in dealing with the ills and evils that aflct
the body polite in Utah.
The Mormon people regard tho past efforts of
the national government Us weak and futile, and
as indicating that the Nation is not in earnest in
its avowed intention of suppressng polygamy and
priestly domination In civil affairs In Utah.
The laws already enacted have served only as a
gentle irritant, have consolidated the people
strengthened the control Of the Mopnon priests
over their followers and failed 10 diminish the
celebration OF polygamous marriages, for the rea-
son that they regard the church superior to the
government.
When the Nation demonstrates that It Is thor
oughly in earnest, and takes all political power
will the vexed problem be solved.
A legislative council of say nine, eleven or thir-
teen members, to be appointed by the PresidAnt,
aud confirmed by tho Senate, with power to leeis.
late for the Territory in place of the present egis
lature in the opinion ofthe Liberals Of Utah. pre-
sents the most FEASIBLE and effective plan that has
yet been suggested.
The signers call themselves the Utah Terri
| torial Liberal Central Committee.