Daily globe., 1883-08-25


by this means the polygamists elected
every officer in the territory including the
legislature; and that the Gentiles were SO
indignant that they made no effort to Or
ganize campaign, and that less than one
third of them voted.
Through the commission" asserts Mr..
Pierreport with wrathful indignation, ''the
country is compelled to witness the shame
ful supremacy of the Mormons in the ter
ritorial legislature and offices without
single Gentle to raise protest, and only
the territorial government to stand be-
tween them and the country"
Such vigorous charges against the COM
mission cannot be permitted to stand
without protest and investigation. The
commission Is thus brought to the bar of
public opinion, and is confronted face to
face with the country. What was thought
to be the failure of the Edmunds law
must now be attributed to the unfaithful-
ness of the commission acting under it.
The executive and congress cannot rest
supinely under these alleged facts. A
searching and energetic inquiry and in
vestigation must be instituted, and no
person, high or low, guilty of delinquen-
cies or criminal laches must be permitted
to escape.
It is now fully disclosed that the coun-
try has willy and powerful antagonist in
the polygamous hierarchy OF Utah. It
may well be questioned, in the light
of recent developments, whether even the
Edmunds law, if faithfully administered,
is adequate to suppress the evil. Some
thing less mild, more incisive and radical
is needed. This fostering stain upon our
institutions, this Infamous, feculent pc
lygamous curse must be wiped out.
The Mormons are resolute, full of
defiance and menace. Shall the
government weakly halt and temporize?
Has it not power to cope with this frac-
tional faction of its people, and wipe out
at once and forever the infamous aceursed
iniquity of which they are guilty.
A great point with the Mormons is to
gain delay, and postponement, and to
| thus cripple and weaken
the antagonism to their system of in
EQUITIES, that thus they may gain time in
strengthening themselves by proselyting,
and foreign recruits. To this end they
propose to contest the constitutionality of
the Edmunds law, contest that may car
ry its slow length along for several years
No law can be enacted that can not
be contested and excepted to. They will
| OIo f1+5
that the constitution guarantees religious
tolerance, and seek protection under that
| persidage; and thus under these sub
terfuges and delays their great crime
against decency, morality and all social
and domestic virtue will continue to gain
strength and power.
Mr.. Pierrepont suggests remedy
which, if applied, will be at once efficient
and final. It is a constitutional amend
ment against Mormonism and all that il
implies. Such an amendment would have
to be enforced, and could not
be evaded by any artfu
subterfuge or fnesse. Thus Mormonisn
would be constitutionally blotted ou
by an amendment. as slavery was, and
the great iniquity would no longer claim
immunity under the shadow of the consti
tuition for its longer continuance.
Meanwhile, awaiting the long process
of constitutional amendment, if tha
policy should be adopted immediate ant
strenuous measures should be resorted to
Something like the policy earnestly advo
Gated by the Gentiles in Utah, and b!
many who sympathize with them in tn,
states should be adopted. The policy ad
vocated Is, to abolish the present commits
sion, and appoint a Senatorial
Commission, which shall govern the Ter
ritory without the aid or interference O
the Mormon Legislature. Thus something
would be gained, the growing abuse O.
Mormon influence and power could be il
a measure held in check, till more abso
lutte, radical and decisive action could b
reached to extirpate this monstrous Grim
and iniquity, this blot apon and disgrac
of our institutions, this shame of tn
Nineteenth Century.