Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-13
senator Brown and Polygamy.

Senator Browns argument in opposi-
ton to the Cullom bill has strong and
weak points. Senator CullOm's bill is
directed against polygamy in Utah. 1t
IS admitted that the Edmunds law, which
created a commission and prohibits pO-
lygamists from yeting and holding Office,
is failure. The CullOm bill takes from
the people of Utah the power of electing
a LEGISLATURE, and authorizes the Presi-
dent % appoint a Governor and council Of
nine members to rule the Territory. It IS
found that the LEGISLATURE Of Utah,
although containing ne polygamists, is
controlled By the Mormcns in the Interest
of polygamv. The CuIlOm bill is framed
on the theory that the MormOns will
always control the Legislature, and will,
therefore, perpetuate polygamy in the
Territory; that to destroy the power and
influence Of the polygamists in the affairs
OF the Territory the Legislature must be
abolished.
Senator Brown takes the ground that
the Edmunds law is unconstitutional be-
cause it enfOrces a test oath, and that the
Cullom bill is unconstitutional because it
deprives the people of Utah OF their rights
as citizens.
The strong points which Senator Brown
makes in his argument are those against
the Edmuuds law and the CullOm bill.
Speaking particularly of the Cullom bill,
he says, truly, that it is unfair to punish
112, 900 persons in Utah for the sins OF
1900.
One Of the weak points is that he as
sumes, in order to strengthen his position
in opposition to the proposed legislation,
that a crusade is intended against the
MormOns as a religious sect, and argues
that if the power of the government can
be used to destroy one religious sect it
may be used to destroy another.
This is probably the first time that the
statement has emauated from an intelli-
gent and authoritative source that the
effort was to destroy MormOnism. 1t has
always been understood that legisla.
ton was directed against the crime oil
pOlygamy. A portion of the NJ OrmOns
| in defiance Of the law, practice polYgamy,
and the government thus far has been
wholly unable to reach the criminals and
punish them.
But Senator Brown has a plan for de.
strOying pOlygamy root and branch. 1t ia
to use a portion of the missionary money
sent abroad to convert the heather, tC
/ Christianize the Mormons. He wants the
church TO undertake the work which the
government has failed to accomplish. L
Senator Brown could give any assurance
fhuf his (fhrfcffo oiZinnr r0lan ~
/ success it is probable that Congress would
gladly turn the polygamy business over t.
the church, anu you'd, in addition, make
handsome annual appropriations to SEND
missionaries to turn pOlygamlslS IRON
their wicked ways. 1t is doubtful, hO~.
ever, if Senator Blown could convince
any considerable number of his Senatorial
brethren Of the feasibility of his plan.
When the Union and Central Pacific
railroads were built it was said that i'm
migration would destroy polygaIny. Il
hasn't done it. POlygamy has stronger
hold in Utah than it ever had. The argu.
ment of Senator Brown that morals out
side Of Utah are bad has little bearing or
the subject IN hand. Crime and immor
amy eAlSt every "HeTe' out nowhere IN
civilized country except in Utah is the
law against crime and immortality openly
and VIGOROUSLY violated and defed by al
entire community. Senator Brown may
have satisfactorily demonstrated thai
the Edmunds and Cullom plans for solv
ing the Mormen problem are not permits
sible under the Constitution, but hii- plan
does not promise a successful solution Of
the problem.