Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-14
The Right and the Wrong of 1t.

Inc ICVItC UJCO HS nTOHU VI IL.
From the Salt Lake Tribune, Sd.
The st. Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer
Press makes rejoinder to an article of
the Ti'i6une'S in which we tried to explain
that the ideas of the Press, on affairs in
Utah, were altogether mischievous and
unjust, and founded on misrepresentation
of the facts. The Press still maintains
It's position, as we expected it would.
1t closes its article by accusing the tn
bune of placing in quotation marks as
the formal views of the Press, words
which were never admitted to their
columns" This is altogether mistak'.
The only words quoted from the Press
were the following: "The interests of
morality and good government demand
that they shall only sand and wait" That
was not the exact sentence from the Press,
but it was the exact idea conveyed in al
most the identical words of the Press. The
Press insisted that all had been done that
was at present possible; that all that could
be done was to stand and wait. It is not
very material, but the Tribune does not do
what the Press charges, and it is just
as well to understand that fact
as we go along. The Tribune is
not here to misrepresent any
man, any journal or any cause. and when
any outside journal accepts and endorses
statements regarding this territory or the
motives which govern this journal, which
are not true, and which are made merely
through ignorance of the facts or to serve
some selfish purpose; that journal will
have some attention paid it by the
Tribune. In the article referred to the
Press insists that the Edmunds law is as
severe as any that the Democrats in con-
gress would permit to have passed, and
that it is not yet fairly tried. The
answer to that is, that if the advo-
cacy of just measure is useless be-
cause of the opposition that it will
awaken, then it is time for the gov
eminent of the United States to go into
liquidation, and realize what it can from a
bankrupt estate. To the last clause the
answer is, that the measure had as fair a
test last November as it ever can have, and
it did not make scratch on the shield Of
Mormon priestly power. But the Press
goes on to say:
1t deyolves upon those who ciamor for
legislative commission to produce some
reasonable evidence that their plan would
be effectual in the suppression of polyga-
my. They have adduced none, and in the
absence of such, every consideration goes
to show that it would be worse than USE
less 1t would deprives all classes
the Mormons and the Gentiles,
the polygamists and the anti-po-
lygamists, the innocent and the guilty
of the right of self government, and re-
mand 10000 people to the rule of an ir
responsible oligarchy. And what could it
do to repress polygamy? The hindrance
heretofore has not been in the lack of law,
but in the impossibility of its enforce
ment What means would the commission
have within its reach to prove the fact of
plural marriage that has not also been
available under the national statutes and
| that are not also more fully utilized by tn e
Edmunds law? PolYgamy would flourish
under supposed oppression, would rear its
hldeous head in secret places, and would
gain stronger foethold than it has ever
yet secured. To premise that few men
selected from the Utah Gentiles could do
what the nations law and the
nations representatives cannot is sheer
folly. The truth is that the people of this
country abhor polygamy with hatred and
disgust as intense as that of any man
who has seen it and its baneful results IN
the home of its own choosing. But with
them the issue is against polygamy only
with those who clamor for Legislative
commission, it is quite as much against
Norm onism as system, and against the
participation of the sect as sect in poll
tics. From this aspect of the question
the state is separated by gulf that nc
correct idea of its powers and duties will
ever permit it to pass.
The Press will not understand that the
power of the Mormon church rests in the
| hands of less than 100 persons; that really
thirteen of them control the thoughts oil
the people. It will not understand that
! this church is with these leaders
merely convenient political and
| commercial machine, to he run until the
| government stretches out its hand and as
serts itself, and then that there would be q
quick and unconditional surrender. This
| is what legislative commission could do
| if composed of earnest men, intent upon
| seeing the laws executed alike all over the
! Union. And when the Press talks about
depriving all people here of political
/ rights, "and commanding 10000 to the
rule of irresponsible obligarchy," it rea-
! sons like a baby. Atpresent there are
$4,000 voters in the territory. Of these
I 5000 are Gentiles, who have no voice. Of
the rest full half are women, who even
the Utah commissioners think should
I be disfranchised We find then
chat instead of 10000 there are less
than $4,000 who would be so cruelty de
prived Of their rights. IN inc first place,
voting is not al original right, but one
given, under is own regulations, 10y the
government. OF these 1900, 1900 vote
precisely as they are hidden. They exer-
| else neither judgment nor discretion. The
territory is now ruled by not only an ire
sponsible oligarchy, but by an oligarchy
which claims divine rights to rule. And g
! legislative commission would not be ire
spopsi5i. IT would be directly resPonsi-
lie 10 congress. and when We hear what