Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-21
A Nuisance That Must Go, Hut
DOesn't.
New York Tribune

In his last annual message, President
Arthur, writing Of the Mormons, said 10
Congress: II congratulate you that the
Commissioners under whose supervision
these laws flor the suppression Of polyg-
amyl have been put in operation are en-
couraged to believe that the evil at which
they are aimed may be suppressed, with.
out resOrting to such radical measures as
in some quarters have been thought in
dispensable for success" Yesterday the
National League for the Suppression Of
Polygamy issued an address which
proves that in the opinion of that body the
work of the Commission will have to be
substantially supplanted before polygamy
can be driven from this country, The
League is in favor ofresorting to radical
but peaceful measure 1t wants Congress
to submit to the Legislatures Of the States
an amendment TO the Constitution pro-
hibiting polygamy;
Mormonism must 60. Republicans,
Democrats, Greenbackers, Labor Reform
ers, Old-Line Wings and the Prohibi.
tionists, whatever may be their disagree
ments on other issues, are on this point
practically unanimous, at least in theory.
They all declare that Utahs peculiar in
stitution must 60. But it doesn't go. II
stays. And its not only stays, but II pros
pers. Jesse w. Fox, Of Salt Lake City,
! Surveyor General OF Utah, was in Chi,
cago few days since and talked with q
reporter Of the Chicago Times in regard
TO the outlook for the Mormon church.
He was asked If the church was extend
ing rapidly. Every rapidly" was his re-
| ply. hAt our last semi-annual conference
we had large attendance and enthusi-
astic feeling. We have established
strong settlements in Idaho, Arizona, New
Mexico and Colorado, but we are
not in majority in any Territory excep
Utah. We have large missionary forc'
in Europe, and in the Southern States
A body Of missionaries on their way Il
Europe passed through Chicago las
week. Possibly this sort Of talk isnot 4
be taken at its face value. II may b,
simply the outcome Of that blind pridl
that dgoath before destruction" But !
Is 10 be feared that there is large meas
ure Of truth in II, since other reports ii
regard TO the state Of the church, gathere,
from variety Of sources, are TO the sam
tenor Certain II Is that emigrants, con
yerts 10 the Mormon faith and bound fol
Utah, are constantly arriving In thi
country; that Mormon emissaries at hom
and abroad seem 10 have their hands full
that the Mormons Of Utah ar
practically unit and very dc
termined unit, in resisting the Edmund
law. At this semi-annual conference Il
which Mr.. Fox alluded, the unshakel
purpose Of the Mormons 10 uphold polyg
amy was emphatically asserted by all tn
leaders who were heard from, while tn
government was given TO understand tina
the laws that had been passed with q view
to eradicating the giant evil had beer
measureably overruled for the good o
the church, since they were regarded as &
many attempts TO persecute, and as suot
had resulted IN solidifying the Mormons
in the determination TO resist them.
The address Of the National League will
do good. The scheme which is proposed
in L strikes at the root ofthe evil, an(
hence will occasion wide discussion. AND
the more Mormonism Is discussed tn
worse for 1t and the sooner Us DOWNFALL