The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-09-13
DIsFRAHCEIsEMENTs.

DISFEhnChlsEME NAo.
IRE commissioners have not only |
1ebarred from the polls those against
whom the Edmunds act was in
tended to run, namely: men and
women living in poIygamous rela- |
tons. but also those who have been |
polycamists, though their lives now
ard for twenty years past have been |
those of continent bachelors. It is
clear that the law was never in
tended to operate against any one
who abandoned the prescribed
marital relations. On the
contrary the whole tenor Of tie
act is directly opposite to the inter-
probation put upon it by the Com
mission. The intention was TO over
look past offenses, to rub ont old
scores and start with a clean slate.
This view is clearly sustained by
the seventh section of the law,
which declares:
That the issue OF bigamOus OF polyg-
snous marriages, known as Mormon
marriages, in cases in which Ioarriage s
have been solamnized according to the
ceremonies of the Mormon sect, IN any
territory OF the United States, and such
issue shall have been boso before the
lst day OF January, AID. 1888, are
hereby legilimated.
This section meant simply that
what had been done could not be
helped, but would be forgiven and
forgotten provided the the alleged
offense was not repeated. Ii
was au invitation, a bid to
polygamists to cease their plural
marriage relations and avoid
the harsh measures Of The law.
Then if the act did not intend to
run against present polygamists
who conformed to its requirements
and accepted the premium offered,
it certainly could not mean to Oper-
ate against persons who had been
polygamists years ago, but had
abandoned the relation long before
the act had been talked of. Still less
could construction be placed upon
the law which would disfranchise
those persons who had been polyga-
mists only when polygamy was no
offense against any law.
Tha disfranchised as gracefully
as possible, considering the serious
ness of the ease, submitted 10 the
strained Interpretation of the act.
They felt that they were being per
secuted and prescribed even beyond
the intentions and desires of those
who had helped to pass the bill; and
they grieved over the loss of their
political rights. At the same time
they realized hat the depriv-
ing them of the right
of suffrage could not ma
terially affect the result OF
any election, as their friends
would outnumber the opposition
three or four to one, still preserving
the territory to the people.
Now another effort is being made
to extend the acknowledgements, by
depriving women Of the right tC
vote-a right and privilege they
have enjoyed undisturbed for twelve
years. The Commissioners, we arr
glad to know, have refused to b,
n party to this plot. w
do rot believe the trick will b,
| successful, for the courts will hardl,
dare accept Z : responsibility o
ruling against the validity of al
act that Congress has sanctione,
though repeatedly urged to annul i
and which furthermore is in sue
perfect harmony with the CROWN
popular sentiment of the age
Woman suffrage may prove
| failure, but very large prOportio
I of the American people hav
made up their minds tina
| 1t should have a fair an
general trial before being COZ
demned. Here in Utah the exper
ment has certainly not been fai
ure. 1t has worked so satisfactoril
that the popular sentiment of tn
country is strongly against any il
reference with it, and woul
soundly condemn its forced 6iscor
tinuance through the machinatior
Of a clique of irresponsible but al
bilious place. hunters.
We can inform those VIII
| are scheming IN this matte