The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-04-09

conquered province. For less than
she endures to-day England CEN
fury since lest thirteen colonies.
This new In famy Is directed osten.
sibIy against plural marriage, but
its real object is to despoil and utter
IL subjugate the Territory. 1t is
advanced, however, innOcently by
its Congressional promoters, in the
direct interest of a clique, some
Of whom would welcome chaos ii
only they might have plucking at
the ruins. This is strong language,
but it is justified by the facts. Not
even the most ardent supporter of
this bill has explained in what way
its passage and the consequent pon-
ishment of 10000 innocent people
will prevent plural marriage or
eradicate the polygamy already ex-
listing. But even if poly gamy would
cease upon the contamination Of the
Cassidy Cullom measure, Congress
may pause without impropriety to
nsider this question: Switch is
the greater crime-the practice of
patriarchal marriage by possibly
10000 people, or the enslaving and
sOoliation of a whole Territory, nine
tenths of the inhabitants OF which
are not even charged with offenses
against the laWs?" To punish
polygamy can Congress af-
ford to violate the COnstitu-
ton? Ii sincere desire to enforce
the laws against po'ygamy animated
the men who are now crying for
more legislation they would cease
to whine since they know that there
are already in existence more than
enough statutes to cover the case.
The trouble is that they are not
honest in their demand. They are
to intent upon using former laws
and seeking new ones to disfranchise
their political opponents, to be able
to pay much attention to the sup
posed purpose of the laws. The Ed
mund5 bill became statute two
years ago, and uader it about 10000
people, without trial or official in
vestigation, were deprived of the
ballot. The Utah commissioners
admit that this number included.
according to their opinion, the en-
tire body of past and present prac
TIGERS Of plural marriage. What
more could in reason be asked?
And yet before the ink of
the executive signature to that
law was dry the clique were declsr-
ing that it was a failure, that it di 4
not 60 far enough, aud were de
manding further legislation. And
unless come moral revolution should
interrupt their schemes they Will
grow old and die with this un-
seemly, dishonest request upon
their lips. But if Their demand
should be acceded to, and such a
tyrannous measure should be passed
as would place 10000 industrious,
thrifty, moral and temperate psoDle.
with their homes and savings, at
the mercy of band Of unscrupul-
GUS adventurers, as sure as men
shall live to write, future history
will class our case with those OF the
early Christians-the Huguenots
snd the Pilgrims. / have no doubt
til the creatures who seek the
seizIre of the Terri. ory would be
willing to pay us in the coin
Of next century's sympathy. But
there are few men in Congress, [
think, who would care to have their
names linked in history with the
infsmy Of our spoliation."
"What plan would you suggest
for the solution Of this question ?"
"In the first place, comprehen-
sion OF cur circumstances and lif.,
aud then, hon 81, fair treatment.
As it Is we are almost invariably
misrepresented ny ths distorted ac-
counts given OF our acts and words,
to suit the wicked or sensational
desire of the people who circulate
reports. This is particularly the
case at Salt Lake, where the agency
of the Associated Press is held by
one Of the clique, of which I have
spoken. But 1T is noticea BILE here
in Washington. When I made my
argument against the Cassidy bill
before the House committee
on Territories, the Associated
Press reported me as saying
that recognized the right of
Congress to punish polygamy if
SHcJ sO UcS1IcOs uhuc NJ SUCu SGatS.
ment, nor anything akin to it, be :
cause [ think that such power be-
long to the people locally, and was
never given to the national legizIa.
ture. And when the false state
ment appeared, L called the report
er's attention TO the error and asked
8 correction. No heed was paid TO
my request. This may seem only
slight matter, but it serves to illus
tra,e the facility with which
falsehood is circulated concern
ing US, aud the difficulty
or impossibility of our cor
recting the errors. Not only would
I ask a fair understanding Of our
cause by the press and public gen,
orally, but especially by Congress.
A full investigation of Utah affairs
by statesmen is all we ask; and we
should not appeal in vain for this
right. We are citizens, not eerfs.
We ara loyal, not tIs,orous. II any
people in this land are worthy of
consideration, we are entitled to
honest dealing, both for what we