The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-03-02
THE PoLYaA1GY OUEsrION
EmPOris Expresses Hts Views Regarding
ths Erwin Relic"

EmPOris Expresses Its Views Regarding
ths Erwin Relic"
A number Of citizens assembled at
jays opera house on the evening of
the ed, in answer to the call of Mayor
Eastman for an anti-pOlygamy meeting
to be held at that time and place.
The meeting was called to order At
about 8 O'Clock, and on motion of L B.
Kellogg, Mayor Eastman was elected
chairman OF the meeting and A. w.
Stubs secretary.
On motion q committee Of Ave con-
sisting of Revs. Lott and TOmlinson and
Col. J. w. Feighan, were appointed q
committee to draft resolutions, setting
forth the sense Of the meeting.
DR.. Cordley. who was excused from
serving on the committee in view of
the call made upon him for an address,
delivered the opening speech Of which
the following Is a synopsis:
Mormonism is more than 9 religion.
It is also q political organization. It is
not only q church, but also 9 state. I'm
der It, church and state are one, and the
church Is that one.
But 1t goes farther even than this.
II proposes to organize society on 9
new basis, changing not only the pub
lie forms Of society, but transforming
the family and the home. The family
is the unit of our social order. The
state Is made up Of homes. Our idea of
home and the family is the outgrowth
Of our civilization and OF our religion
and Is accepted as unquestioned by all
civilized people. To change 1t would
be to change the entire web of our So
cial structure and to roll back the world
more than two thousand years.
Mormonism proposes TO change all
this and give q different form 10 the
family, totally different position
to woman, and Q totally different
idea TO the home. It would change the
entire interior structure of our social
system.
Theirs is not theory merely or we
might leave IL to run its course like 9TH
or theories. But they are putting their
theories into practice, and building up
. state on this new basis. The theory Is
entertaining itself in facts. It il grow
ing more and more difficult every year
TO deal with the question. Here are
Thousands of polygamous children,
Thousands of plural wives, all to be con-
sIdered IN any action We take, and they
are growing more numerous with every
year the evil remains. The longer the
matter is allowed to rest the greater the
hardships involved in dealing with 1t.
Every year thousands of men are led
into Il iRnorantlY. Every year thousands
Of innocent women are deluded by IL.
Every year thousands of innocent chill
dren are helplessly born into 1t. The
longer il stands the greater these EN-.
barrassments become. And no sane man
will claim for . moment that this anom-
ally and shame can continue In
definitely, right in the heart
of the continent and on the great high.
way of the nation. Its isolation has
hitherto been its protection. This isO-
lation is now at an end. Lincoln said
this nation could not exist half slave and
half free. Still less can it exist part
pOlygamous and half abhOrring polyga
my.
Our conflict is not with Mormonism
as religion, but with pOlygamy as .
crime. All peoples and all faiths are
welcomed to these shores, and every
man may worship God as he sees fit.
He may worship what he pleases,
when he pleases, and as he pleases, or
he need not worship at all. But how
ever he worship, or whatever he wor-
ship, he Is expected to obey the laws of
the land in his worship as in other
things. The heather may build his
temple and set up his idols; but If he
attempt to introduce human sacrifices,
the law will interfere to prevent even q
religious act which involves the crime
of murder. Guiteau processes to have
been inspired of God in the murder of
the president, but that did not change
the verdict. Two fanatics, . man and
his wife, killed their little girl Q
few years since in Massachusetts,
under . religious delusion, but
they were not acquitted on that account,
and allowed TO 60 about numbering 9th
er little girls on the same plea.
Aormonism as . religion must remain
uatil 1t yields to enlightenment and free
discussion. But polygamy must be
suppressed, not as Q religion, but Is Q
crime. Against Mormonism as Q faith
We bring the legitimate weapons Of en-
and truth. Against pOlyg-
amy a. . crime We bring the Law Of the
land, as against any other crime, and de-
mand that II be suppressed.
AnC 6uOiCuCC nS4t C8lACO IOI OOl.
Feighan, who favored his hearers with
one Of his characteristic speeches setting
forth the curse of polygamy in his
pointed, energetic style. He reviewed
the history Of Mormonism from the
time oF It's establishment by Joe Smith
and showed the utterly disreputable
character OF the entire fraternity Of the
originators of this monstrous evil. He
called attention to the audacIous inroads
Of the system, and declared that il was
for any man to beard the
evil in itR stronghold without calling
down upon his head all the organized
opposition of the Mormon hierarchy as
be illustrated In the case Of Governor
Murray. The speaker thought that moth
ing but the strong arm OF the govern
ment would arrest the encroAchments OF
, damnAble heresy which is seeking TO
extend Its empire and establish itself in
all the territories Of the great west. He
was in favor Of memorializinR congress
10 take vigorous measures for its sup
preston, and endorsed the plan Of dis
all polygsmists.
Col. FeiEhan was followed by Judge
who in . brief but com.
prehensiVe address noted the wonderful
progress Of moral reform In all direc-
lions during the last two decades
and congratulated the country upon
The quickened public sentiment
everywhere manifested on the giant
evil Of pOlygamy. He set forth the pc.
lent influence Of pure homes upon the
Of the country, and showed
how pOlygamy by degrading women
and violating the sancIty Of the family,
was fostering sore on the body polite
which must in the grand march Of NOR
II advancement go down. The address
vas full Of good points and vas well ne
ceiVed.
Judge Kellogg and DIR. J. J. Wright
being called for each made brief and
well timed remarks which were regard
q with close attention.
The following resolutions were unani-
adopted, after which the meet
Ing adjourned:
WHEREAS, Certain AOrmons in Utah,
under the guise of religion, are system
Aticslly and perslstsntly violating the !