Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-03
NEW HAVEN, CONN, MONDAY MORNING,
SINGLE COPIES THREE CENTS.
Monday, December 3, 1883.
THOSE TROUBLEsOmE HORIZONS

THOSE TROUBLESOME HORIZONS
 What shall be done with the Mornons is
 question which will have to be seriously con-
 sidered soon. The anti Mormon law fsthered
 by Senator Edmunds, and which appeared to
 be measure calculated to do much good, has
 proved a failure, according to the almost
 unanimous opinion of careful observers,
 though the Senator himself claims to "hsve
 reason to believe that the legislation already
 adopted is operating favorably to the end dc.
 sired," and he thinks that if 1t Is supple
 meutsd- by further lsgisIatisn, wfssly aarnin-
 istered, ''we shall gradually sxtirpate the
 crime"
 Several plans of dealing with the evil have
 been recently proposed. Governor Murray,
 of Utah, who has done as much to call atten-
 ton to the real effects of Mormonisn as any
 body, and who is now on 8 visit to the East
 sums up the result of his three years' ob.
 servation in the conclusion chat the only
 way to sxtirpats Mormonism is for Congress
 to abolish the present system of government
 there, put the entire administration of affairs
 in the hands of council or commission 3D.
 pointed by the President, and then enforce it's decrees with the full power of the Federal authority. General Rosecrans, who has
 been elected to Congress from the San Fran cisco district, is deeply interested in the matter, and says he shall offer to the House of Representatives g proposition to add to the Constitution Sixteenth amendment, as follows: 'Polygamy, being incompatible with our civilization, is forever prohibited in the United States and all places under it's jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this by appropriate legislation"
 Henry Ward Beeoher, who has bsen travel ing in the West, has given his idea of the best way to deal with the Mormons. He points out that the Mormon people believe in Mormonism and says: 'Tf our people be- l lieved as much in Christianity as they do in l Mormonism we should see the world revolu- | tionized. They believe in hell and in heaven, and that is the keynote of polygamy. It is | not in the nature of woman to desire to have | B multitude of companion-wivss, but if the | safety of her soul demands it for the sake of | the salvation of her soul she may agree to ,urtail her marital rights on this earth, and | t is that which supports that institution. Not half of them are pelygamous, but Ill believe in it." After making | his clear and forcible statenent of the case 1e proceeds to consider the remedy, as fol- ows: Now the question comes up, what Is he remedy? I think that there are two One s to let them alone and the other is to put hem to the sword. The Edmunds bill has 'een an advantage to the Mormons. It has iriven all the doubtful ones into the fold and ed to the belief that they are persecutsd people. Superstition run to fanaticism in- ensifed by persecution is power not to be isspisss. I don't know out shat tiruna-head 'ourt martial might succeed, but this know 8 foreign to our institutions don't think hat any legislation short of that is going to 10 anything. and think that one reason for he torpidity of our government is that it lon't know what to do. Do you hate the dormonsp I don't; hate Mormonism. What is the other remedy? Let them alone; et them lie open to all the influence of pub c sentiment. You are sending missionaries , 9 heathen lands. Do you believe that the Fospel has not as much power in Utah as in . ndia Take away your persecution from ( hem; treat them with kindness and patience. here are only tso courses. One is the word of the government and the other is l he sword of the gospel. Of the two would ather trust the sword of the Lord than the word of Gideon
 All this is interesting if not entirely con. < incing. The question still remains difficult. : he Mormons have not cared much about the w against polygamy. They would not care lore for 6 constitutional amendment against ! If Governor Murray's plan were adopt there would probably be serious trouble in I tah. The Mormons could of course be t filed or driven out, and many think they ught to be. Mir. Beecher thinks that kind !, ess patience and missionaries would be good |, 'r them. Mr. Bseohsr is 6 very hopeful I lan, but he may be nearer right than either overnor Murray or General Rosecrans.