New-York tribune., 1884-01-12
THE MORMON QUESTION.
DISCUSSING SENATOR CULLoMs BILL.
up. cU1LoM IN SUPPORT OF HIS MEAsURE---sENA-
TOR BROWN FAvORs PROMPT ACTION.

vp. cu1LoM IN SUPPORT OF HIS MEAsURE---sENA-
TOR BROWN FAvoRs PROMPT ACTION.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRI3USE.l
WAsurSGToN, Jan. 1.-THE discussion OF the
Mormon question was begun in the Senate to-day,
Senator Cullom speaking in support of his bill to
rcoreanize the legislative power OF the
Territory of Utah. After briefly sketchmg
the history of the Mormon Church, Mr.. Cullom
declared that the organization had always be en- SO
potoriously corrupt and immoral In Its practices,
teachings and tendencies to justify the Govern
ment in assuming absolute control OF the territory
of Utah and in giving to the Mormon Church or Its
followers absolutely no voice in the administration
of public affairs. The Mormons had been at war
with good society and with good morals wherever
thev had secured foothuld. They were building
Gun n overnment hostile to the Government of the
Tinted States and essentially at war with repubn-
can institutions and principles. BY well organized
system of imm grafton they were annually bringing
10 this country thousands of paupers from the ola
world subject to the Mormon delusion, VINO were
taught to hate this Government. Wherever MOT
mon societies existed the laws of the United states
were dead letter. And this people, animated by
such a spirit and governed bv such teachings, mad
increased in numbers material resources and IN
Huence at a rate that promised to threaten Serl-
ouslv the peace of the country. They had obtained
nossesson of all the valuable lands
in Utah and secured control of
all the water-courses in the Territory and IN
large mart of Arizona and Idaho. They already
completelv controlled Utah. he said, and II allowed
IN carry ont their designs would ere lOug control
five or six of the Western States and Territories.
THE REMEDY THAT is NEEDED
Under the present organization OF Utan' senator
Cullom said the Government had utterly failed 10
use its own courts TO punish poSgamy or to compel
AZ No IIa oil M
the Intellectual efforts he had made fifteen years
apo. while a member of the House and chairman OF
tbe Committee on Territories to secure legislation
that would enable the courts to enforce the laws IN
Utah. He believed the Edmunds act inadequate to
remedy the existing condition of affairs, and was
informed that instead of discourag1ng polygamy as
was intended, the practice had actually
increased, since it went into effect. lhe duty
of graphing with the question could not
with safety be put aside. Delay was
dangerous and disgrace. In the Senator's Opin
ion there was only remedy left, and that was to
strip the Mormon Church of all political power. 1t
was worse than folly for the Government to tinker
with this question from year to year and at the
same time leave the whole legal power OF the Ter
ritory in the hands of who defantly violated
the National law. The entire machinery OF the |
local government of Utah was IN the hands
of Mormons who were dictated to by the Church |
This local government an ecclesiastical despo-
tism such as should not he allowed TO exist IN this
country. The only adequate and peaceable solution
of the problem, Senator Cullom believed, was the |
placing of the whole government of the Territory
in the hands of men loyal to the Constitution, the
laws and the institutions of this cOuntry-men sub
ieet to removal by the President, and whose
laws should be subject of approval by Congress.
His bill, he said simply proposed TO substitute !
for the Territorial Legislature, now wholly con-
trOlled by the Mormon Church, q legislative cOun-
ell chosen by the President. With such u change
he believed that the country would soon see the
end of the ecclesiastical despotisn which has pre-
vailed for thirty years in Utah, and the beginning
of obedience TO the laws Ofthe Government. Heidi
not advocate this permanent arrangement de-
clarng himself in favor of local self
but as an expedient that seemed to be
necessary to remedy the present depOTabe state OF
affairs. He wanted to strip the MOrmons OF all
political power not because of their religion, but
because they held higher allegiance to the Church
than TO the Republic.
proposition made in his bill by citing authori-
ties that Congres had had full authority Authority
to its discretion To show that Congress had the
right to take away from the people of Utah the
Government IT had given them, he referred 10 the
of the District of Columbia, where the light OF
suffrage was revoked and government by com
missiOners established, and to the provisional gov
CrnmentS set up In the Southern states during the
period of reconstruction.
SENATOR BROWN IN Favor OF PROMPT ACTION.
Senator Brown of Georgia, in a long speech
which he read from manuscript notes,
went over much the same ground covered
by Senator Cullom. He, too, considered it neces-
sary TO take prompt action on the question and end
the condition of things which had for so long been )
the standing disgrace of the country
Senator Garland IN the cOurse of a few remarks
on the subject said that IN his opinion it !
necessary TO allow the two mOrs wives of Nor
nnn tn nffer Ndnnce i'm nrder 10 Acnre conviction