The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-03-18
the crime. has consequence. and 1t is careful to

the crime has consequence, and It is careful to
consider results. SO, to day with the institution
to be cut out. body and roots. from the side of
this fair Nation, the question is unsolved, what
are we to do with the victims? You may cure a
man OF the smallpox, but you must have a care
for his old linen, and must to it that his
nurses and attendants do not give off the germs
of the disease. 1t matters not whether
by the popular yoice-they are unavailing If
they go unaccompanied by punishment, and to
adequately and justly chastise Is oftentimes not
less difficult than to adjudge the guilt. So, the
sentence in this case must be grsvely considered
The difficulty of the problem is very great in
deed and it must tax the very best minds I'm the
National Legislature. POlygamy. as an institu
uon stands condemned by the judgment ot the
stible will of the American people, and one may
treat it as no more. But what is to be the result
of this extinction of the institution? We look at
mans surroundings and connections when we
proceed to fix the measure of his punishment
Has he a father mother? wife or child? Are
they provided for, or will they suffer If he is
taken from them? What is the best thing for the
State under all the circumstances of the case?
Now, according to my information, there are
more than 5000 men In Utah who practice polyga-
my In their daily lives and there are about 10 900
women who have been welded to the lnfamy in
less than Twenty-Five years. There 40. 600
school children think. But the exact statistics
are unimpOrtant; 1T Is enough to know that fem
mime helplessness and childhood's innocence and
responsibility cry out In challenge of our SYM
pathy not only, but OF our protection 1t will not
sweep. down into the sea the deiuded and the
Dlameless along with the guilty swine. To care
be no less sacred duty OF Congress to the coun-
try than to adequately dispose OF the real Grim
Rs sPS daess aa body sSuSb hSud s %um and
Its best talent and rpest experience Under the
Constitution 1t has practically sovereign power
fully and freely concerning the interests Of that
district as can the General Assembly OF
this, this state & upon % the t, affairs Of Marion
be In its details. is not subject admitting dis
cuss1on here and not. as understand II, within
the objects of this gathering Let it be enough
pie of America, who led tn black by the
hand as he emerged from his Southern bondage
and and sustained him him with Vi food and raiment until
he representatives philanthropy Quickens at
the coming of fire and pestilence and inundation
country shall be cared for IL psternai Indiiness
of spirit and that if the heavy and crushing bur
den OF their misfortunes may not be thrown down
through the fiction of the law, 1t may be lightened
to the utmost
have no care for the men. They stand as fell
ons before the law-abiding people OF this land,
indeed. Let it be understood of them that as
criminals absolutely unexcused they stand be-
yond the reach or the mercy of the law. do not
sneak thus of all the Mormons. OF the members
of that Church we can not complain. under the
law OF the land, SO long as the element of good
faith marks their religious observances, and their
the public good. But the polygamists If Utah. |
the socalled husbands, are men of means and
who know better and who indulge their sensual.
ity Ia grim and persistent defiance of
the law OF Congress and the moral sense
IN IN al the fullest sense ats sui
nee not concern US If Congress shall so order |
as that they shall everyone speedily be prose
cuted and condemned and their estates shall be |
confiscated for the benefit of their victims, and
themselves be cast out OF the land. believe that
nous against any interference with such re-
suit of their evil careers. They have brought |
degradation upon womaphood, end, though |
crimes, they must still leave behind them as
their intolorable work the downcast eye and the |
blush Of shame. They have instilled into the
and its OBLIGATIONS, which death alone can dis |
solve, and which years will but little obscure. |
spIes rmey nave nto sSs emeas nu
and fs tened upon their captives awful slavery
TO the maidsn they gave concubinage, to the off |
spring only the heritage OF deris0n. In the light
of the sun of to days civilization they stand black
and hideous IN their depravii.-. Let = cm, like
the In N withouta cJuntry, GO down to Tie vile |
depths from wheBce they sprung, unHept, un- |
hOncred and unsang, and, in mercy to their vic |
Tins only, let the curtain of oblivion cover them
known that in America the day of chsttel prop
erty in human beings closed with the War; that |
we are now eisaged in the holy and patriotic |
work OF lifting women up; that there is no re- |
treat so isolated throughout our broad domain as
that it may furnish sanctuary for the heathen |
apologists of this Institution. We want it known
that in America the lullaby and cradle song shall
be sung OILY Dy welded mothers, and under the |
home roof that shelters but one man and one |
woman.
Rev. w. A. Bartlett was next introduced |
and made one of his happiest efforts. His
remarks, though quite lengthy, contained
many good points and were listened to with
undivided attention by all present.
Governor Baker offered the following
resolutions, which were adopted:
Resolved, As the sense of this meeting that,
l. Poygamy is un- American, as well as crimi-
nal. and its punishment and suppression are
government.
2. Mormonism, separate and apart from poly
gamy has right to the same full measure OF pro,
mantle of a religious organization can no more
be permitted to give impunity to polygamy than
s. @ Neither the them National ma mort nor the State Govern
ment must interfere with the people IN matters of
religion. either as to faith or worship, but no ec
clesiastcal order or organization shall be permit
ted to interfere with obsruct the operations of
civil government, either in the definition or the
punishment of crime.
4. Polygarny, assuming the garb of religion,
defes the Governmentin in one of the Territories OF
the United States and it is manifest If 1t could
get similar control OF State In the Union, It's
suppression without civil wsr would be hopeless,
therefore the institution should by outlawed by
an amendment to the Constitution OF the United
States.
s. The Congress of the United States deserves
the commendation of the people for the passage
of the anti-polygamy bill, the same having
for this meeting was issued. When the same
shall have become law by the approval of the
President, as 1t doubtless will, the Government
should receive cordial and united support In
its temperate but firm enforcement
w. NJ. Wallace recapitulated what the
other speakers had said in an eloquent and
feeling manner. after which the meeting
adjourned.