Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-01-19

amy that had been so skillfully woven
in the desert and the result is too well
known to need recapitulation.
In 1862 the first attack was made up
on this Theocracy, followed at regu-
lar intervals by other legislation which
was as unequal to the task in hand as it
was spasmodic and the net result, up
to within year, or, in fact, to the pres
ent time, has been strengthening of
the W lis ofthe Mormon Zion and settled
tirmer in every Mormon breast the be-
liefthat the general government is pow
erless to crush out their detestable
practices. So secure have the leaders
become in their belief that a wider am
bition seized upon their hearts and has
indirectly led them on to their own de-
struction. Settlements were pushed out
into the new territories springing up
until they We're Slapped through and
through with the dead rot of poly gamy.
! A writer in the North American Re-
view year ago pointed out the fact
that the Mormons held the balance of
power in Idaho and were fast perfect
ing their grip upon other territories. So
certain had they become of succeeding
in their endeayors to suborn free peo-
pie to the weight of the Mormon des-
potism that one of their bishops pub
licly boosted that the TIME was coming
when the republic would be ruled by
Mormons
Like the slave states at the beginning
of the rebellion all they want is to be
let alone. Like those states, only give
them time and they hope to build up a
power that win defy successfully the
arms of the United States.
Unfortunately this let alone policy has
commanded the sympathies of large
class in the range of years stretching
away from the higera to the sands Of
Utah to the present and even yet has
advocates as shown by writer in
the January number of Scribner's who
argues strongly against any coerciye
measures both on the ground of uncon-
stitutionality and on the polite one that
time and that contact with the Gentle
population would gradually extinguish
polygamy without the use of repreSsive
measures.
Unfortunately thirty years of dearly
bought experience points to different
course. The showing of these years is
directly contrary to this assumption.
Mormonism was never stronger than it
is to-day yet the strong hand has been
withheld and the tide of immigration
has swept irresistibly over the western
plains caryir Z states out of the former
heterogeneous mass until it reached the
boundaries of Utah There the wave
stopped and was thrown back upon it
self by an invisible force. Wherever it
might seek to penetrate it was met by
the same wall of rock. At first it
YVES Jagged ledge that flung its vic
Tins back bleeding and torn, but the
crafty leaders were quick to note the
moment when the jaggedness must give
place to polished immobility against
which the tide of law aid order has
since surged in vain.
In the meantime every nerve has been
strained, every device employed. to get
the territory erected into a stale. With
this line crossed nothing short of civil
war could wipe out this disgrace to
American civilization. Happily, enough
clearheaded statesmen have always
been found to prevent this manac-
ling of the hands of Justice and the ter
ritory is still amenable to the laws of the
land
The present Campbell-Cannon con-
test has done much to open the eyes Of
the people, by calling their attention TO
the evil effects of allowing this polyga-
nous stain to longer remain untouched.
| Without doubt stern measures will be
taken at the present session of Congress
to exterpate, or at least badly weaken
the power of Mormonism. Already sew
cral bills have been presented. One in
Produced by Mr.. Payson of Illinois, pro-
vides that no polygamist shall hold of
flee or position of honor in any Terri
tory and also provides for the removal
of any official who shall become ineligi-
BILE by means of forming polygamous
relations. Other bills bearing on the
same subject may be expected, But it
is not the number of bills introduced
but the amount Of legislation cutting
down deep into the vitals of this mon
strous wrong, which shall be incorpor-
ated into the statute books, that will de-
eide how long bigamy shall be legalized
in our section of the Union while re-
naming an infamous crime in other
portions.