Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-11-01
IHEGAzETTE FORT WORTH TEXAS THURSDAY Noypuppp,
M0RM0NISNl.
The Lingering But Vigorous Twin Rel.
ic of Barbnrism.
Report of The Utah Commission 10 see.
rotary Teller.
PoIygamy Disgrace 10 Civilization
II Must Go.


submitted their second annual report
to the secretary of the interior. After
making II statement of the former
legislation OF congress In relation TO
bigamy or polygamy, they say the
duties of the commission pertain only
To matters of registration election and
eligibility TO office, while the punish
ment of the crime OF polygamy is left
as under the formcr law to the courts
of justice under the polygamy act.
The commission had good sue
ccsscs ut the general election of
August, 1883, in excluding polyg-
amists from the polls, and MS
far as advised very few if any illegal
votes have been east in Utah since
the commissioner took charge of the
registration and elections in August,
lSS2. The enforcement of the present
law against | 200 polygamists who have
been excluded from the polls shows
the act has been fully and successfully
executed. tits thought the discrimi-
nation between those who practice
| polygamy and those who do not Is not
| likely to have much effect upon elder
ly men who already have plenty of
wives and several families, but must
have great weight with young men in
| the territory, many OF whom are ann
bilious and aspiring, and would not
like voluntarily to embrace political
ostracism. The very existence of the
law DISTINGUISHING polygamists must
tend TO destroy their influence when
ever it is understood it is to be per-
manent discrimination. The fact that
| it will be necessary for the preserva-
ton of the political influence of the
! peoples party, as the Mormons style
| themselves, to have large body of
| their members who are not polyga-
mists, must tend in time to weaken the
| practice of polygamy, for every mar
! ried Mormon who takes but one plural
| wife loses three votes for his party
| his own and those OF his two wives
woman suffrage being established by
! law in Utah.
Concerning the plurality of wives,
| the report says that Il doctrine and
practices so odious Throughout Chris
! tendon should be upheld SO many
wears against the laws of congress and
the sentiments of the civilized world,
! is one the marvels of this century, and
can be scarcely appreciated even by
those familiar with the worlds history
in relation To the difficulties of gov
ernmental control or suppression OF
religious iauaticism. No government
can permit revolution of its laws
under the guise of religious
freedom, and while congress may not
legislate as to mere matters of opinion,
vet it may denounce and punish as
crimes those actions which are in VIC
lation of social duties or subversive oil
good order. The right of congress to
suppress this great evil is undoubted.
II is equally plain that the dignity and
good name of this great government
among the nations of the earth de-
ninnd such congressional action rs
shall etlectually eliminate the ma
tional disgrace. The commission
renew the recommendations con-
tained in their report OF last
November. notably the one regarding
marriage law by congress, declaring
all future marriages in the territory
null and void, unless contracted in the
manner to be provided by the act. II
the next legislature shall fail 10 adopt
measures in conformity to the provis-
ions of the act of 1852 for the suppress
sion of polygamy, the committee Will
be prepared 10 recommend and con-
nress will certainly not delay
the adoption of the most
stringent measures compatible with
the limitations of the constitution that
may he considered necessary for the
suppression of this great evil. The re-
port refers 10 various municipal cleo
lions, and says the most important
election was held on August 6th, 1855.
The total number of votes cast III TINS
election was u 800, against - W. last
November, The principal falling OIL
was on the part of the Gentiles or
Liberal party. In November the total
vote OF the Peoples or Mormon party
was - 059, Liberal 4,Ssl; IN
August 1883, the vote OF
the Peoples party was 2o,1Oo,
Liberal, ,453, from which it appears
that large numbers of Liberals re-
Trained from voting, n fact much TO be
regretted, for the reason that 1t is be.
lieved that by proper effort and good
management one or more non-Mor-
mons might be elected 10 The legisl'-
tive assembly, who would have the
opportunity of putting the majority
on record. In conclusion, the com
missioners say that recently ten suits
were Instituted in the Third district
court of Utah, by Mormons, against
members of this commission, cluinl
ing that they nad Deen uhJust'i
deprived OF the right TO register ana
vote These are understood to he test
eases. designed to contest the constltu,,
tionnIity Of the Edmunds act, ~ wei
MS the legal construction which we pu
,ipon It's provisions. These suits arr
9 stilI undecided, and are likely to beap
pealed to The supreme court Of the nj
$ ted states. 1t has been asserted ina
nolyramic marriages have increase
, since the passage of the Ednlnnds act
! on the contrary, we hold the opinioi
c that they have comparatively ue
Q creased since the passage oil sa,d wy
After dilligent inquiry, we peiisse
the latter conclusion is correct, Du.
!. the Utah legislature VIII nay
j the opportunity Of satisfying 'h'
i country on this particular suojec, .,
:, passing such public marriage ace con ~
that which we have suggested 70 90,
gress. BY this and such other iegi .,.;i
ton as We have indicated they W., WI
% rive the government assurance ol ,n''
Q LOYALTY and patriotism, and sVe ~,
y contest that cannot but Iesu'. u, .nea
" : y. consider III DTOUt