The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-03-17


We published In the NEW NORTH WEST
two weeks ago the full text OF the anti
polygamy bill as 1t passed the Senate. This
weeks kilograms state Its passage by the
House. Within ten days 1t will have be-
come q law or have been vetoed by the
President. There need be no Apprehension
Of the latter, and 1t may be taken rs an ac-
cepted fact tina. the United States has
This Is not the first measure that has been
enacted with this object In view, but IL Is
believed to be the most effective one, and In
devising q measure of sufficient stringcncy
and comprehensiveness to accomplish the
desired purpose Congress has trencbed close
ly on constitutional limits, and exercised
powers that thoughtful, able and well-mean-
Ing members doubted the propriety of. The
disease was desperate, requiring desperate
remedy. The evils existed as a stigma upon
the republic, and menace to 1t. The
United States had In 1t loathsome practice,
sanctioned by powerful church, and that
church assumed aud exercised control over
Its members superior to the nation. Here
were two evils, polygamy and priesthood
an uncivilized and unclean domestic life,
aud union Of Church and State-both of
which were hostile to the Government of
the United States. Great as these evils
were, those who heretofore sought to legis-
late for their suppression were met by what
were assumed to be grave constitutional
obstacles, and efficient measures introduced
were by doubts and timidity Topped and
emasculated until, when enacted, they were
ineffective. These same obstacles existed
at this session, but while some Of the more
radical and arbitrary features of the first bill
have been eliminated, the measure as en-
acted is an entering wedge that will rend
asunder the Mormon Church and State, en-
able an American citizen In Utah to be one
in fact as we'll as in theory, lifts the courts
above the clutches Of polygamy, and pro-
vides for the election Of a Legislature that
will enact the necessary laws to put Utah
on the plane of civilization.
The Utah laws at present provide sys-
TEN of summoning juries whereby one-half
of the jurors are Mormons and one half
non-Mormons. As every. Mormon in pass
ing through the mysteries of the Endow-
ment House takes an oath which he regards
as more binding than that which Is exacted
from him as q witness or juror, and as ole
hal IA nf ha fhnr
eleven, 1t is quite apparent why there are no
convictions for polygamy. Nearly every
member of the Legislature is polygamist.
Hence, although the Governor is vested with
absolute veto power, the Legislature passes
no laws looking to the suppression of polyg-
amy, and so the farce Is continued year after
year. The provisions of the Edmunds bill
meet these emergencies, and there is little
doubt 1t will be enforced. While 1t admin
listers heroic remedy to polygamous Nor
monism, 1t is not oppressive, and humane
provision Is made for the victims of the
licentious leaders and laymen of polygamy.
Against the bill the Mormon priesthood has
waged war in every form. Ii Is alleged that
a million dollars of the Church money has
been expended to defeat 1t. Petitions to
cause procrastination have been showered
ON Congress, and the inItatory measures
taken to organize State Government. But
these things have not availed, and we see the
beginning of the end of polygamy. 1t is
not likely there will be resistance. If there
Is the Mormon male population of Utah
will diminish rapidly.