New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-29
THE INCUBUS OF MoRMoNIsM.
wAT,HFULVTss OF THE sAINTs'-yIEws OF A
MEMBER or THE UTAH COMMISSION
Inr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.l


WAsHNGTON, Oct. 2S.-FrOm one danger at
Iea. the Morinons are action by the Govern
m.nt adverse to their interests will ever take them by
surprise. Their agents and emlSsarcs everywhere
and they always the alert Three or onr days ago
the members " the Utah Commission met IN Washington
10 prepare their annual report In which 1t IA expected
they viii suggest and recommend some amendments to
the anti poygamy Law, with the view Of making 1t moro
effective Yesterday George O. Cannon, the former Nor
mon delegate 70 Congress also arrived here After stop
ping few hours here he went 10 Philadelphia, leaving
word that he would return IN two or three days.
Mr. Cannon n generally regarded the ablc,t and
sbrewdc-t n the Mormon Church, and his present
visit 20 the National Capitol doubtless To observe tho
dongs the Commissioners and, far hc can do So
TO any influence they may seek to exert ana
which he may regard ~ hostile to Mormoni-n or poly
eamy IN Utah He thoroughly believes that polygamy
il destined to survive and to flourish despite all at
tcmpts To destroy IT, and that the doctrines OF the Nor
mon Church are ultimately to prevail thi"ufnouI the
world For nearly forty years ne has been virtually
Mormon missionary, and never more active than during
he w remain In Washington during tho winter, a.
though he does not greatly fear adverse lrR7atioh Whe
tho Democrats have mJonty In Hther Drahch oi 'o
Pcss. a, w., ,,
Ex Secretary Ramsey, chairman Of the Utah Com ON
mission speaking the Mormon problem recently sad
that while the ardent anti Mornous IN uti ran 1balnsI
the Ednunds law aud declare thatlt Is ni ulY u
less piece OF legislation he does not so regard H. nor
do the poygamsts themselves 80 consider H. inc an
noyanCe ~ has caused lhth l7' c & I U VI
than usual In their public expressions during the ltst
year. Another reason he as- ns IS inc activity OF inc
Iorephcs," pol ygamOu- Morlnonr, VINO nave
been unusually earnest IN tncr dcnunrauoh. oI IoE
gamy and energetic In their efforts To convince the DNy
Of the people that orthodox Mormon can Dc poly
gamlrt. fIe says that while numerically weak inc
JOscphcs strong In wealth, htSlUbth'c ana III
nucnce and ara making some hcadway
Governor Ramsey thinks that " the suSs'4tols anu @
mmcndatons made by the Utah Commission IN ITS
report had been framed into the law Il would have been
greatly strengthened sui, In his opinion, nhrh more
might be accomplished, the law now stands. II the
officers charged with the duty OF prosecuting Offenders
against IL were energetic and earnest III thell
Efforts Even In Utah. he says much could thus De done
To check and punish polygamy while III OthcI lSrIoiCs
like Idaho and Arizona whcro IL has not secured 20 nh
II foOthOd, be believes that IL could be virtually SUP
pressed II The full force OF the penal PROVISIONS oi ho
statute were brought into play. ,..,,,.
while Governor Ramsey does not seem uhiaHoIhVHly
disposed toward tho proposition 10 govern tah py
means Legislative Commission, TO Oc appointed py te
President and confirmed by the Senate, ne II inclined 10
doubt whether Congress would bo willing tO ADOPT 80
radical measure except under the pressure or greater
emergency than AT present appears TO eAirt He hsn
doubts the wisdom appeal to military force "hich
| persons favor.