The National tribune., 1883-08-09
The Mormon Problem.
payment.

/ National Encampment by the committee on
Commander-in-C Chief Van Dervoorts address,
and subsequently unanimously adopted, was
the following:
Resotred, That we heartily indorse and concur in
| the views forcibly and eloquently expressed in
the address upon the barbaric crime of poygamy.
and we most earnestly invite Congress to devise
such measures as will speedily and effeetually
remove that blot upon the morals and purity of
| the Nation.
In this sentiment we feel sure every mem
Der of the Grand Army will concur, but
unless some such means as our late Com
mander-in- Chief suggested are taken to
bring the views of the Order directly to the
attention of Congress, the appeal contained
in this resolution is not likely to be needed.
| The truth is, that it is a great question
which Comrade Van Dervoort has raised,
and while Congress mas undoubtedly shown
the most shameful cowardice in the way it
has dealt with it in the past, it must be adj
mitted that even the best informed of our
| Statesmen, and those who are most anxious
to accomplish the overthrow of Mormonsm,
are not by any means agreed as to what is
the best method of bringing that about
1t is one thing to legislate, and quite another
| to execute the law. The last Congress, as
our readers are doubtless aware, passed, after
much deliberation, bill known as the
Edmunds bill, the intent of which was to
disiranchise all Mormons who were guilty
of polygamous practices, and thus strip
them of political power; but if we may
judge from the reports which have reached
us from Utah and by the very general con-
| tempt which the Mormons themselves ex-
press for the measure, it is not likely to
| effect its purpose. The difficulties in the way
of making it operative viii suggest them
selves to almost any intelligent reader In the
first place it is well nigh impossible within
| Mormon territory to secure a jury that viii
render verdict in accordance with the evil
dence. While it is practicable to exclude
from the jury actual polygamists, it is not
practicable TO exclude Mornons generally
on other grounds than that they either
practice or believe in the sanctity of
the institution, and it is well known
that where the interests of the Mormon
church are concerned, it is not regarded
as a crime for one of its members TO abjure
his faith, for the time being, in order to Sc
cure q place on q jury where it will be within
his power to save the accused from convic-
ton. 1t is clear, therefore, that if polygany
is to be suppressed by the peaceful processes
Of the law, some more effective measures
must be devised to meet the plain neeessi-
ties OF the case. It has been suggested that
the trials should be removed to some Terri
tory or State where the absence Of the Nor
mon element in the community will make
1t possible tn eilpanel wholly Gentle jury ;
and if no constitutional impediment should
be found, that plan might perhaps prove
worth trying. 1t is evident however, from
the nature of the Mormon church and the
open declarations of its president and lead
ers that in any event they would not sub
nit to the authority of the courts without
q show Of forcible resistance. 1t is true that
in case Of resort to arms they would be
sure to be worsted, but they are shrewd
enough to perceive that the Government
would be reluctant to enforce its authority
by means Of the army, and they doubtless
count upon that reluctance to secure i'm
munity from punishment.
The fact cannot be gainsaid, nor do they
pretend to deny it, that they regard the
Government of the: United States as their
natural enemy, and no more than did the
rebels during the late war, do they yield it
allegiance. They hate its flag, refuse to
respect its laws, and defy its author
ity, and, to all intents and purposes, they
are as much in revolt as were the Southern
States in 1861. 1t is idle to try to disguise
these facts It is true that the Mormons
are pecuniaFily thrifty, and in the develop
ment of what was naturally an arid and
sterile territory they have displayed a pro-
digious amount Of energy; but they are not
less cuIpable on that account. If they are
prosperous, it is not by reason of their po-
lygamous practices, but in spite of them.
The thing fer the Grand Army to con-
slider, therefore, is, not whether an appeal
should be taken 10 Congress to exterminate
this evil, but whether practicable remedy
can be found for it, Tt was Comrade Van
Dervoorts opinion, that a band of earnest,
true men, who had faced the evil all their
lives. should be Designated to codify the
laws heretofore passed through the dictates
of the leaders of this unholy church; that
it should be enacted that 10 Mormon should
vote or hold any olfice whatever; that all
Mormons holding Government offices should
be removed; that officers Of every grade
ahould be appointed by the Governor and
confirmed by the Council; and that the i'm
migration of Mormon recruits should be
stopped at once and foreIs r, and, inasuluch