Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-07-19
A War on Polygany.

The curse and crime of polygamy
has been left too long in existence.
There are about 10000 inhabitants
in Utah. OF course, large major
ity of these are Mormons-probably
not to exceed one-eighth or one-tenth
of the population are disbelievers in
Normonism. But the number of
practical polygamists is small; it
does not exceed $4,000 or $4,000 in
all The number of Mormons who
practice polygamy is about equal to
those residents of Utah who are OPP
posed to Mormonism. The great
bulk of the population Of the Terri
y tory, constituting at least three
fourths of the whole, are Mormons
who from Discrimination or for lack
of means do not practice polygamy.
Under the "Edmunds law" So
called, of Congress, an election is to
be held in Utah, August 6, for mem
bers of the Territorial Legislature
and for county and judicial officers.
A registration is being made of the
voters, under the Commissioners APP
pointed in accordance with the I'D
munds law From this registration
all polygamists are to be excluded,
and they can neither vote nor hold
office. The polygamists are the men
of wealth and property, who own
the railroads, stores, manufactures,
ranches and mines in Utah; they
have heretofore controlled legisla-
ton and the entire administration of
affairs in the Territory; they are the
leaders of opinion, controlling the
Mormon church, managing Territor-
ial politics, and shaping the course
of pubic affairs The exclusion of
all this class from office and from
the polls is an experiment of radi-
cal character, and its results will be
anticipated with anxious interest.
Polygamy was rightly styled, in
the Republican National platform of
1856, twin relic of barbarism"
with slavery. 1t is a system which
is superlatively detestabe. 1t is
brutal as a practice; breeds brutal
instincts, and is brutal vice. 1t
destroys the family, which is the
fairest and best feature of civiliza,,
ton. 1t produces physical and men
tai decay, and reduces womanhood
to a condition of mere concubinage
and slavery.
1t is disgrace ard an open and
apparent shame that efficacious
measures have not been taken years
and years ago to extirpate polygam-
Gus practices where they exist in
Utah and the adjacent Territories.
Polygamy is as bad as slavery. 1t
is as great a stain on the good name
of this country. 1t is an abhorrent
and infamous system which might
be expected to exist in Caffraria or
Malay, but which should be given
no tolerance under any civilized gov
eminent, among Christian people.
1t would seem that there ought to
be wisdom enough in American
craftsmanship, yigor enough in
American laws and decency enough
in American humanity to find rem
edy for this awful evil and crime.
There is no reason why the polite
ians should be afraid of it, for the
Mormons in the Territories have no
votes in National affairs, and the
polygamous Mormons have now
been deprived Of the right to vote
even in local affairs. They cannot
hurt those who visit justice upon
them. They would be helpless
against well-organized, well-airect-
ed and vigorous assault. by the
agents and officers of the law.
The people Of the country have
no war to make on Mormonism, as
such, any more than they have on
other forms Of superstition, however
gross and erroneous. Polygamy is
not a theological belief. 1t is sim
ply an unolean, beastly and offensive
form Of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the
law can and ought to eradicate.
Polygamy may be attacked without
attacking Mormonism. 1t is not
even an essential feature of Nor
monism, but is a vile eXcrescence
upon Mormonism. 1t can be and
ought to be abolished.-U Chicago
J01HR0l