Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-12-28
neRxssasx II lsAns.

The hold the Hormons have secured
upon the Territory Of Id tho has recently
been given considerable publicity. In
November no lsss than seven Nor mons
wore elected 70 the Leeislsture, and six
others who are described az Mormon
Democrats. The Governor refers to
the Mormon Church and It's practice Of
polygamy in the vigorous language fol-
lowing:
"Once mofe it becomes my solemn
duty 70 warn the Legislative p.wci
against the federation Of y practics ~
frAuxht with wOe ~ all that We, as
Americans, hold dear; for / feel sure
that tho complete rsallz stion Of the
schsne Of tho Mormon priesthood
ineAns tho entire subvcrsi N Of all those
rights and privileges enjoyed under oar
free institutions. Tuero can be no
true life, no genuine liberty, No Zeal
happiness under system which cOn-
polls Implicit Obcdieuos Ii temporal af-
fairs - the mandates Of bixOted priests.
There can % NO general enlightenment
VI the people IL a - stom wui0h, Instead
Ut tho bsnoioent free schools instituted
BY our fathers, w1uld substitute there.
tor schools wherein PRIESTS teach she
youthful mind To love and obey the
doctrines vi polygainy, of blood atone
ment aud Ut others equally Us objectiun-
able. The people Uf 1uslo have recently
gwen exprssslou ~ tneir Wishes upon
this subject, and rejoice that their
sentiments accord with my own. Ny
faith In the honor and integrity Of the
poOple OF Idaho has never WaverSd, and
the verdict returned in the recent cleo
tiOn shows that my confidence in she
people Was not misplaced. Their will
nas been Registered, aud they demand
the complete extirpatlOn Of p0lykamy
Within 0ar borders. You arc here 10
give effect 70 their mandate, and it 10
with infinite satisfaction that now sug-
Rost sue adoption Of some such meas
nres ~ the following: That the Law of
evidence be 10 framed that no person
snail be excluded from testifying, in any
proceeding in prosecution for poiygamy,
on account of existing marriage rela-
tiUns with the defendant; that cJhabit-
alton with more tnAn ono wife cOnsti-
tutes continuous Offense, and that 70
preach in favor Of the doctrine of pOlyg-
amy. or publiciy or privately to edvlse,
counsel Or encourage others to commit
polyRAmy, or kno owingly 70 aid or assist
otners 70 enter into polyRamous rela-
tions, be made crime, punishable IA
severely a. the crime OF pOiysamy it.
self, Rnd, in addition, l recommend
that Congress bs inemoriallzed to
amend the present anti-polyRamy laws
to the end tina. the now we'll recognized
defects may be remedied 30 ~ to render
possible the conviction Of the guilty by
giving United States and Territorial
COurts coordinate jurisdiction. also
dsslre to direct your attention to An act
Ut the last SESSION Of Congress, known
~ the Ednunds bill. BY that act all
polygamists are disfrancaised and dis
qualified tor Office, but tho machinery
Tor enforcing the provisions OF the law
apply TO Utah only. Ii Ii no exAVgera-
tiOn 10 say that iu two or more oOun-
ties in this Territory p0lygainists vote
and hold office precisely 40 though no
such law Was upOa the statute books.
Chis IL u state 0f Affairs whica requires
remedy at your hands"