The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-14
MORMONISNI.


geant Balantine.
Special Denver Coli Dispatch to Globe Democrat.
Sergeant Ballantne, the eminent English
barrister, arrived here to-day, en- route to
London after visit of observation at Salt
Lake and among the Mormons He intends
to lecture on the subject at home. Mr. Bal
lantine is firmly of the belief that the Ed
munds anti-Mormon bill is unconstitutional
and imperative. sin the relations between
the imperial government and the interior
State" he said to your correspondent, ''it is
not intended that domestic affairs shall be-
come the subject for legislative reform or
direction. Such law as the one recently
passed could not be applied in State, and
that fact being admitted by your best consti-
tutional authorities, what sufficient reason is
there for its application in a Territory?
There is none. What is exemption
for n major faction shall also be ex-
emption for a minor part. The Territory
should be as free from unconstitutional re-
strant as the State, and you will find that
the Edmunds law cannot be enforced in
Utah when it comes to the test. Ii polygamy
is wrong or an evil, it can only be eradcated
by the professional legislation of your con-
stitutional fathers. You are not armed with
this instrument, and in consequence you
can only treat the subject with social dis
cussion and social influence. 1t is beyond
your power under the fundamental princi-
Piles of your universal liberties and indie
pendence, and under the recognized freedom
of domestic customs throughout the world,
to suppress polygamy by class legislation,
which the Edmunds bill most assuredly is
The Mormons have good and strong argu-
ment in support of their religious practices
and organization, to which full hearing
should be given by those who seek to correct
them. They are really accomplishing what
| the people in England aim to do in fighting
what we call the social evil. The diseases of
dissipation and licentious practices are I'M
known among them. They are clean, pure
and healthy community. 1t is a mistake to
suppose that the faith fosters lust On the
contrary it is founded on q principle of re-
lgion which combats lust. A plurality of
wives is the primary element of the Mormon
religion, and the reason in the custom or
faith, or whatever you want to call it, is
found in the Scriptural advice which aims to
protect the wife against the approaches of
her husband after the period of conception
| have heard this separation of man and wife,
after the period stated urged as decency,
and as being otherwise beneficial, from the
pulpit of the High Church of England
The plurality of wives morally saves
the husband and physically protects
strictly to the provisions of their religion as
drawn from the Bible, and severely punish
the one who dare disregard it. 1t is the
maintaining belief and practice of Mormon
ism, and they universally protect it as such.
Then, as the means of peopIing a new
country, polygamy is deserving of commend
alton and encouragement. The increase in
population is rapid, and l find there is no
deterioration in race or decadence in health
or strength of the augmented generation"
did you find any phases of evil in Nor
monism?"
None that were not counterbalanced by
good l did not investigate to any depth
the question of imperium in imperio,
or local government with the i'm
perial rule, and would not feel
secure in expressing an opinion
on it. 1t may be dangerous to some extent,
but l could not see that evil has resulted in
Utah. The fact is, recurring to the subject
of polygamous repression, l don't believe it
was purely the origination of national legis-
lators, who must have known that their de-
termination on the Edmunds bill had an I'M
constitutional result. The opposition to the
Mormons, you will find, is religious one
that has taken the form of the historical per-
secution. AS in the precedented cases, the
persecution will result finally in an expan-
sion of sympathy and an enlargement of the
Mormon church. If polygamy must be
wiped out to satisfy the religious denomina-
tons that war against it, means other than
unconstitutional legislation will have to be
devised ~