Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-23
The Democrats and the POlyga-
nv Bill.

art U4aAllE tEaltlC G4OIle ~ A4oAAAoNe~A~
political capital from the fact that when
the anti polygsmy bill was up for dis
cussion in Congress recently, there was
some opposition 10 the measure by the
Democratic members. The Springfield
republican, for instance, while admitting
that there are faults in the bill, and
that even its Republican advocates are
not satisfied with it. declares that the
Democrats, by their opposition, showed
that they meant to support pOlygamy
and the Mormon church against the
moral sense of the community, while
the Philadelphia Bulletin, in character
istic style, charges that the Democratic
party ''cling to pOlygamy as they did to
slavery" etc.
It is hardly probable that the great
bulk Of the Republican party itself are
50 devoid Of everything ike ordinary in
telligence as to be deceived by such
himsy and absurd clap trap as this. In
der the Republican rule, with which the
country has been afflicted for the past
twenty years, pOlygamy in Utah has
lived and fOurished, and it is only now,
after persistent hammering at the sub
ject, and after protest upon protest has
been raised against pOlygamy by the
Democrats, as well as by I'll other right
thinking people Of the country,
has q Republican Congress felt
itself constrained to legislste against
"the twin relic" Even under such
circumstances, however, the afore-
mentioned Congress would not bring it.
self down to 8 plain, simple legislation
against the practice, on the ground Of
immortality alone, but it could not allow
even such an opportunity as this to pass
without seeking to gain political power,
and hypOcritically cloak lis designs IN
der q fimsy pretense Of virtue The
Democrats saw through these designs.
and it was due to that fact that Demo.
cratic opposition was developed.
This opposition was based upon two
grounds. In the first place, the Republi-
cans wished the bill hurried through
under the gag law, and without such
consideration as the Democrats felt
should be given to so important and
interesting q subject, and it was to
secure proper debate on the measure, go
hat it might be thoroughly discussed
and thoroughly understood, that they
fought against its too hurried passage
When, however, they had carried their
point, and the bill had been properly
discussed, then they voted for and car,
RED it by so large q majority as to leaven no
dOubt-if indeed any had ever been felt
as to the general sentiment Of the Demo
cratic party against the vile custom which
several Republican members of Congress
from Utah have been in the habit not
only Of advocating, but of actually prac-
ticing.
The main point of Democratic opposi-
ton, however, especially at the first, was
the hypocrisy manifested by the Repub-
licans over the bill. After twenty years
liberation Of polygamy, during the great
er portion of which time they have had
absolute control Of every department of
the government, the Republicans be-
came so intensely jealous against it as
to excite suspicion This caused Senator
Brown and other leading Democrats to in
vestigste their newborn yea, and as a re-
suit it was shown that the suspicion was
well founded, and that it was not so much
opposition to polygamy which sctuated
the Republicans as it was that, in their
present desperate condition, they were
DESTROYS Of perpetuating their political
power. Hence it was that when the bill
was presented it was found to contain a
provision that Congressional commits
sion Of five, to consist of four Republicans
and one Democrat, was to be empowered
to proceed TO Utah. and declare who or
who should not be entitled to vote. In
other words, the Territory Of Utah was
to be turned over bodily to a Radical re-
turning board, not so much to destroy
polygamy as to secure that Territory to
the Republican party. This, very prop
erly, called forth opposition, and after
Senator Brown had exposed this piece Of
Radical hypocrisy, and secured certain
amendments to the bill in the Senate,
which amendments the chsgrined Re-
publican Senators did not dare oppose,
it went TO the House, where the Demo
cratic members of that body likewise de-
manded that it should be thoroughly ven
tilated and discussed before it became q
law.
This Is the whole secret of the Demo
cratic opposition to the snti-polygamy
bill. at which theRepublicsn press is so
vigorously carping. 1t is to be hoped the
Democracy will ever be equally as alert
on all questions which come before Con-
gress, so as to guard the country against
rash and inconsiderate legislation. The
entire history of this anti polygamy bill
clearly shows sfresh that the tendency Of
the party Of high moral ideas is to hide
its political schemes under the garb Of
virtue, and that even in matters of great
public interest, in which there is well
nigh unanimity of sentiment, it is nee
essarY that it be closely watched.
Colonel Blacks Condition.
The nnmherless friends in this Con.