Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-15

CLEVELAND, o., November IA secret
organization called the National League
for the Suppression of Polygamy, at a
meeting tonight, considered letters from
Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago Snd other
| cities, promising cooperation and asking
information of the methods of forming
branches. The following address to the
public was issued:
THE ADDRESS.
The time has come when action is
necessary. The honor and fair name of
the nation are in danger. Licentiousness
and total disregard of the law of the land
are bringing us into disgrace among the
people of the earth. Europe, as in the
days of slavery, is calling upon us in the
name of decency to cleanse ourselves
OF Il species of moral corruption which in
foulness has not been surpassed during the
present century. Ever since 10 Smith,
than whom no greater fraud ever lived,
established the Mormon Church. the
fundamental doctrines of which are polyg
| amy and prohigacy, there has rested upon
the nation stain which has been a dis
! grace to us and the civilized world. The
Mormon Church has fourished like rank
vegetation, until to-day it has tens OF
thousands of supporters. Converts in
to this country from the pauper
districts of Europe, while mis-
sionaries are constantly employed in
| the South misleading the poor and ig
norant. Children are brought here from
abroad to be educated in the infamous
practices of the saints and elders, and the
Church. which was founded in deceit and
superstition, is daily gaining enormous
power and influence. The world cries out
against such progress, and in the name of
humanity, home and common decency
4 Ill al, I
of lechery and law-breaking. The
fresides of America are the bull
warks of the nations liberty and the
interceding agent of its redemption and
everlasting preservation. Let them be
guarded with jealous care; let them re-
main uncontaminated by the horrible in
fluence now being spread by sensual hypo-
| critics and soulless charlatahs. As yet
Congress has taken but little interest in
the matter, for some reason best known
to the members thereof, and in conse-
quence it remains for the people at large
to throttle the evil in the best manner
possible, and rid the country of the curse
which their representatives in Congress
have failed to recognize. An immense
loby of Mormon elders signifed
their intention to be at Washington this
winter for the purpose of defeating the
| bills introduced for the regulation of po-
| 1yganN. a great zeal OF money VIII De
spent, and if there is not popular upris-
ng against the obnoxious teachings of the
Mormons, Congress will again, no doubt,
refuse to recognize the evil, and nothing
will be done TO eradicate it. In view. of this
the National League for the Suppression
of Polygamy of Cleveland urgently re-
quest that petitions be circulated in every
city. town and school district in the United
States asking Congress to submit to
the Legislatures of the various States an
amendment to the constitution prohibiting
polygamy. This will be an important step,
and if accomplished will prevent the insti-
tuition from being recognized in any of the
present States or in the Territories that
may become States. 1t is hoped that the
public will interest themselves in the mat
ter, and see Congress deluged with peti-
tions during the coming session. If there
is general demand from all parts OF the
country for the abolition of polygamy
Congress will be compelled to heed the
demand, and the only way to make such 6
, demand is by means of extensively signed
netitiOnS.