The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-09-14
NOT A FAILURE.

The New York Times, which j
one of the abIest and fairest journal
in the land, outside of its politics
has, as a rule, been able to dives
itself of the orthodox prejudic
when speaking of Mormon matters
and treat the questions involved
with a degree of intelligence that il
EeIdom exhibited by the average
American newspaper. Not long age
The HERALD called attention tt
the fact that the Times had de-
parted from its manly course, anG
in two or three editorial articles and
paragraphs indicated that it Was
losing its judgment and showing
signs of running with the senseless
mob. Probably a new hand had
hold of the wheel. The latest issue
of the Times that has been received
contains the following editorial par
agraph, which sounds as if the pa
per had returned to its good sense,
and could again speak in clearness
and reason:
The Chairman of the Utah Commits
sion declares that by rigid enforcement
oftbe Edmunds act about l5,0 600 Nor
mon polygsmlsts have been disfran-
chised. This number exceeds previous
estimates by twenty five per cent So
long, how ever, as the number OF Nor
mons not disfrsnchised greatly exceeds
the number of Gentle residents of the
Territory, the Territorial Legislature and
all the local offices will be controlled By
the Mormon church. The law is not a
failure, for under it nearly ell of
the practical polygsmists have been de.
prived of the ballot and debsr.ed from
office holding. The number of the dis
franchieed can be increased only By plac-
ing not only the MoEmon's unawFul
acte under the ban, but also his religious
belief when not accompanied By the IN
lawful set; and no sensible man will ever
advocate the passage Of Law that pro-
Vides punist meRt for those who hold
specified religious creed. 1t may be,
therefore, that the enforcement OF the
Edmunds act shows US sll thai can be
doue by national law in the direction Of
suppressing the evil, and that we must
hope that the Influences of eucroachinp
civilization will gradually exlirguish
pOlygamy.
1t depends altogether upon how
one looks at matters, whether the
Edmunds law is a failure. If the
purpose of the law was to abolish
or suppress Mormonism it is 8 pro-
failure, for if one may
Judge fror' appearances, professions
and actions the Mormons are as firm
in their belief and faith today as
they were before Senator Edmunds
ever thought of his bill. If the law
was designed merely to punish by
Acknowledgement and Disqualified
ton for Office all Mormon p1lygam-
lists, it is so far a success, for it has
done that most effectively, as the
registration lists and the election
returns abundantly prove. 1t makes
no difference how many or how
few have been DISTINGUISHED,
whether the number is 10000 or
$4,000, the law has been made to |
operate against them all. If, as the
Times asserts, mo sensible
man will ever advocate the |
passage of a law that provides |
punishment, for those who hold a |
specified religious creed" what more
;an any sensible man ask than has
been given? Suppose anything else
should be asked, what sensible
Congress would grant more? There
must be limit to even Congress
jional anti-Mormon legislation, and
sensible men who understand the
natter will say the limit has been
cached in the Edmunds law. That |
vet goes as far in the direction of in
letting punishment before trial and |
conviction as any sane person will
De willing to go. The next step, |
hat Of Furnishing a person on &C
count of his belief, is too long to be
attempted.