Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-17

relic of barbarian" They are exceed
ingly numerous, and some of them have
the merit of wit. We shall refer to but 9
few. for their number is legion.
DIR. Talmage, the Brooklyn acrobatit
preacher, proposes to boot and spur Gen
eral Sheridan and send him out at the head
of cavalry to exterminate Mormonism ROOT
and branch.
The New York Post believes that the
pressure of public sentiment as civilization
advances nearer and nearer to Salt Lake
will have more effect in eradicating polyg
amy than national laws can hope to have
1t is slow but sure process.
The Chicago Times holds that the only
feasible plan is to send to Utah mission.
aries of free thought, to convert the Nor.
mons to any thing that is found possible.
1t is to be noted that the Deseret Neus, the
Mormon organ, approves this plan. Its ut.
terance is evidently born of its conviction
that the scheme is silly one, doing nc
credit to the acumen of the Times. The
NeacS says Force will fail. 1t has failed
in the past it is certain to fail in the fu.
ture. The most intense religious convic-
tion and the zeal that is born of it move
the Mormon people to action. You can
not destroy convictions by legislation you
cannot dispel them by Commissions you
cannot bind them in prisons you cannot
kill them with the rifle or the sword. II
they are wrong you may scatter them by
reason, or drive them away by Scripture
and good sense. Try it."
The Commissioners declare that the only
remedy is to deprive polygsmists of the
right to vote and hold office. That is all
there is in their report, which admits that
as yet the Commission scheme has not
shown positive results.
Professor Won Hoist in his lecture before
the Johns Hopkins University declared
that as the Mormon community is inclosed
more densely by population hating
polygamy and its fruits, the demand for
armed interference by the Government will
grow more imperative.
The Governor of Utah is convinced that
armed forces will be needed to enforce civil
process, and that blood shed to blot out
polygamy will not be spilled in vain.
Rev. DR.. Newman, in his recent consid-
Grafton of the matter, comes to the conclu-
sion that Utah must be placed under the
direct control of Congress, as is the Dis
trict of Columbia. He believes that the
next bloody battle will be fought in the
Mormon territory. He would crush polyg-
amy before it becomes too strong.
The New York Times declares that if
nothing else but the sword will give
polygamy a mortal blow, then the sword
must do it's work.
Dora Daramore, lady writer of some
note, after prolonged visit to Utah, comes
to the conclusion, seriously, that the best
way to cut off the locks of the modern
Sampson is to send to Utah a host
of intelligent, upright and courageous
young men to marry the Mormon girls.
In all soberness, she advocates the scheme
and says that these girls are handsome,
strong, trained to housewifely duties, and
will make excellent wives; and, besides,
the majority of them prefer TO marry Gen.
tiles and be monogamists.
The New York Tribune holds that
neither government by commission nor any
other form of government will prove
effective for the destruction of polygamy so
long as the Mormon Church is permitted
to hold a monopoly of the land. 1t de-
clares that people who systematically re-
sist and defy the laws are public enemies.
As public enemies, they ought to have no
shelter from the laws, and no defense in
the possession of franchises, properties or
powers which they use in resisting law.
In reality, an insurrection has existed in
Utah since the Mormon Church first
planted itself there. 1t is a mere farce to
permit the Mormons to profess their readi-
ness to submit to law. 1t would, therefore,
strike the blow by depriving the Mormon
Church of property rights in the Terri
tory, and enforce the laws of the country
with rigor, which it is entirely possible
to do.
We might go to very much greater ex-
tent in quoting opinions. Sufficient have
been given to show how varied is the
thought of the country. But all are agreed
that the evil of polygamy must no longer
find shelter under the apathy of the Gov
eminent. 1t appears to us that no armed
conflict is imminent. Neither the sword
nor the missionary are necessary. 1t is a
question to be dealt with by the laws of the
land. The power resides in Congress to
enact laws equal to the occasion, and the
Government of the United States cannot
afford to confess its inability to enforce
them. The Commissioners believe the Ed
munds Act, if adhered to, will decrease
polygamous marriages and finally work
their extinction, and that the power of the
Church, so far as it is arrayed aganstlthe
law, will be broken, because it must retain
a hold upon enough monogamist Mormons
to control the Territorial Government. But
supplemental legislation is needed. This
is delayed only because of the selfish aims
and ambitions of politicians in Congress.
If the question can be wholly disentangled
from political influences, it will be very
easy to enact laws regulating marriage cere.
r,nc.r,in. ]