Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-22

election for members of the legislative
assembly will be held next August, and
that body will hold its next session in
January, 1884. 1t is to be hoped that
1t Will comprise sufficient number of
me. bers who will be disposed to bring
this territory into harmony with the
sentiments of the people in other parts
of the country.
We have been engaged in the dis
charge of our trust only few months,
not long enough to fully test the opera
ton of the law as to its ultimate results
But, so far, it has been a decided sue
cess in excluding polygamists from the
exercise of suffrage; and We are of the
opinion that the steady and continued
enforcement Of the law will place poly
gamy in condition of gradual extinc-
ton, and the domination thst ia cem-
planned of by non-Mormons in Utah
and elsewhere will, at no distant day,
be much ameliorated. In accepting
the trust committed to US, it was not
expected by the commission, and, we,
suppose, not anticipated by congress
nor the executive department OF the
government, that the desired results
would be accomplished at once, nor in
the brief space of few months; but
there Is reason to believe that the oper-
alton OF this law and other influences
are setting strongly in the direction Of
REFORM and that. the hitherto dominant
faction will be supplsnted by Young
Utah in the conduct of public affairs.
There Is no doubt that the enact
ment Of the law of congress under
which this commission was appointed,
has agitated the public mind of this
Territory to a remarkable degree.
Hitherto there has been very little pub
lie discussion of political questions, and
IN general the people have not attend
ed political meeting in large numbers.
But we are gratifed to find that in the
campaign proceeding the November
election of delegates to congress, the
people ofall classes have manifested
LIVELY INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
and have attended the political meet
lngs IN large numbers. Many of these
meetings have been held by both par
ties in various parts of the Territory,
and able addresses have been delivered
by speakers on both sides. 1t is an
encouraging sign that many of the lib
eral meeting have been large attended
by Mormons, and in many instances
they have composed the chief part of
the audience. 1t is proper to add that
SO far as we have learned these meet
ings have been characterized by ex-
ceptional good order, good humor and
decorum. On Saturday night before
the election both parties held large
mass meeting in Salt Lake City, and
We'd with eacn other in display of nat
ional flags and patriotic music.
Our attention has been called to the
proprietv of our recommending con-
gressional legislation of radical char
acter. But we are not inclined to adj
wise such measures, unless upon fur
ther observation and experience the
wisdom and necessity of such legisla-
ton shall be demonstrated. The area
OF the Territory is 81 900 square miles.
The population is about 10000, about
10000 being non Mormons, many of
whom are so-called apostates from the
1ormon church. The people are gen
orally engaged in agricultural pursuits
Prior to the completion of the Union
Pacific and Central Pacific railroads
there were very few non ormons resi-
dent in the Territory. Since 1900 the
business of mining has become an
important interest, and from that time
the total output is over S60,000,000 in
silver, lead and gold. There are also
valuable deposits of coal, iron, copper
and other minerals. The mines give
employment to q great many persons,
and have been the means of attracting
large non-Mormon population, to the
Territory. Many of the non Mormons
Tor Gentiles) are doing a prosperous
business in banking, mining and mer-
cantils pursuits.
the legislation of congress, as We un-
derstand it, is not enacted against the
religion OF any portion of the people OF
this territory. The law under which
we are acting is directed against the
crime of polygamy, for the extiipation
of which this commission will freely use
all the powers delegated to US ard will
from time to time suggest to the gov
ernment such supplemental legislation
as may aid in suppressing this reproach
to the civilization of this age and coun-
try. We trust that this object will be
accomplished without resorting to
measures destructive to self-govern-
ment, Furnishing the whole people, the
innocent as we'll as the guilty, with DO
litical ostracism. At all events we are
unwilling to advise such course until
the act of congress under which we are
acting shall be fully tested. Besides, a
proper respect for the legislative branch
of the government would restrain us
from impeaching the wisdom of their
enactment at the very threshold of the
work committed to us, and long before
the time expressed in the act of con-
gress. II, however, the next session of
the legislative assembly elected under
the act Of congress, shall fail to respond
to the will of the nation, congress should
have no hesitation in using extraordin-
any measures to compel the people OF
this territory to obey the laws of the
land.
For the commission:
Very Respectfully, ALEX RAMSEY.
Chairman.
Hon. Henry NJ. TELLER, Secretary oil
the Interior, Washington, D. c.