Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-12-07
~Polygamy Must Go

Polygamy Must Go
1t was inevitable that the recent de-
velopments in Utah, the failure of the
Edmunds Law, the rapid growth Of Nor
monlsm. the colonization Of surround
ing territories, and the sending of a
powerful lobby to Washington to cor
rupt legislation, should arouse public
sentiment to necessity of redoubled en-
ergy in stamping out the criminal prac-
tlces OF Mormanism. Throughout tbe
country there is manifested a renewed
interest in this subject. In many of
the larger cities public meetings are be-
ing held to give expression to public
opinion anAto organize effective means
OF combating the crime of polygamy.
These meetings show how deep-seated
is the feeling that the time has arrived
for radical measures. The people want
to know whether or not it is possible
under legal and constitutional forms
to suppress polygamy, and they went
this question determined at the earliest
possible moment. So far all efforts
have failed. Now the question of in
terest is whether any peaceful effort
will be of any avail, whether the Nor
mon power has not already become so
established in Utah and surrounding
territories and SO fortified by numbers
and by the possession of all the mater
ial resources as well as the controlling
forces of the society Of that vast re-
gion, that it can bid defiance to any
system of penal laws that can be de-
vlseA. This is the deliberate Judgment
Of many who have given most careful
study to the perpleXing problem. and
especially of those Who have had per
sonal observation of the nature and
operations of the Mormon hierarchy.
And there are many considerations
which give p%lausibility to this view.
But before the people will consent to
disregard the ordinary form Of law,
and to invoke the arbitrary power of
the military, it will be necessary that
the last hope Of a peaceful solution
must be given up. There must be a
general conviction that legal resources
have been exhausted. Accordingly
neatly all expressions Of opinion, that
have been made public, favor a more
stringent system Of repressive law, the
correction of recognized defects in ex-
listing law, and more ample power for
it's enforcement. One of the forms in
which this protest against crime in the
territories voices itself, is the organi-
Zation of q secret order called 'the ma
tional league for the suppression of
polygamy." At Cleveland, Ohio, alone,
$4,000 was raised for the purposes of
the order. The wisdom of shrouding
u work ofthis kind in secrecy may well
b%edoubted, but the rapidity with which
the order is said to be growing proves
widespread popular sympathy with its
iiliIS. III .NENliiIOll lCtNlCls, OWL X :
liant in everything touching their in
terest, are well aware of the danger
that, threatens them. and with charac-
t~eristic promptitude are making dispo-
sitions toavert it. Nomeans, however
corrupt and dishonorable, VIII be left
untried by the Mormon emissaries in
Washington to defeat more effective
legislation against them. If anything
is accomplished, it will be by employ
ing against them influences equally eff.
fectiye, if more honorable. The agita-
ton that has been begun, has not been
begun too soon, and can4ot be carried
on with greater earneStness than the
emergency demands. There are many
matters of greal Importance to come
before congress, but none which de-
serve precedence to this question OF
polygamy.-sS. G. Journal.
This part Of the west is becoming
thicklv strewn with the sons of distln-