The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-23

siderable Improvement made IN the prompt
determination of applications, and a conse-
quent relief to expectant inventors.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
In the Territory of Utah the law Ut the
United States passed for the suppression of
polygamy has been energetically and faith
fully executed during the past year, with
measurably good results. A number Of con-
~victions have been secured for unlawful CO.
habitation, and in some cases pleas of guilty
have been entered and a slight punishment
imposed, upon q promise by the accused that
they would not again offend against the law,
nor advise, counsel, aid, or abet, in any way,
its violation by others.
The Utah commissioner express the opin-
ion, based upon such information as they are
able to obtain, that but few polygamous
marriages have taken place in the Territory
during the last year. They further report
that while there cannot be found Upon the
registration lists of voters the name Of a man
actually guilty Of polygamy and while none
of the class are holding office, yet at the last
election in the Territory all
county tou 0t %ere m slse'sa whe except thoug IN nnt
actually living in the practice of ~polygamy,
subscribe to the doctrine of polygamous mar
riages as a divine revelation and a law unto
all, higher and more binding upon the con-
science than any human law, local or national.
Thus is a strange spectacle presented of a
community protected by a Republican form
Of government, to which they owe allegiance,
sustaining by their sufrrages a principle anda
belief which sets ut naught that obligation Of
absolute obedience to the. law Of the land
which lies at the foundation Of Republican
institutions.
The strength, the perpetuity, and the des-
! tiny of the nation rest upon our homes, es-
tablished by the law of God, guarded by
parental care, regulated by parental authori-
ty, and sanctified by parental love. These
of our land, who rule the nation as they
mold the characters and guide the actions Of
their sons, live according to Gods holy ordi-
nances, and each, secure and happy in the
exclusive love Of the father of her children,
sheds the warm light Of true womanhood,
u~nperverted and %unpolluted, upon all with
her pure and wholesome family circle. These
are not the cherries, crushed, and unwoman-
ly mothers of polygamy.
The fathers of our families are the best citi-
zens of the republic. Wife and children are
the sources of patriotism, and conjugal and
parental affection beget devotion to the coun-
try. The man who, undefiled with plural
marriage, is surrounded in his single home
with his wife and children, has a stake in the
country which inspires him with respect for
its laws and courage for its defence. These
arc not the fathers of polygamous families.
There is nc feature of this practice, or the
system which sanctions it, which is not op-
posed to all that is of value in our institutions.
There should be no relaxation in the firm but
Just execution of the law now in operation,
and I should be glad to approve such further
discreet legislation as will rid the country of
this blot upon it's fair lame. Since the people
unfolding polygamy in our Territories are re-
enforced by immigration from other lands, ]
recommend that q law be passed to prevent
the importation of Mormons into the country.
AGRICULTURE.
The agricultural interest of tho country
demands Just recognition and liberal encour-
agement. It ~sustains with certainty and IN
failing strength our nations prosperity by
the product Of its steady toll, and bears it's
full share of the burden Of taxation without
complaint. Our agriculturists have but
slight personal representation in the councils
of the nation, and are generally. con-
tent with the humber duties Of citi-
zenship and willing to trust to the bounty, OF
nature for q reward of their labor. But the
magnitude and value of this industry is ap-
preciated, when the statement is made that
of our total annual exports more than three
fourths are the products of agriculture, and
of OUR total population nearly one-haf are
exclusively engaged in that occupation.
The department of agriculture was created
for the purpose of acquiring and ditfuslng
among the people useful information respect
ing the subjects it has in charge, and aiding
in the cause of intelligent and progressive
farming, by the collection of statistics, by
testing the value and usefulness of new seeds
and plants, and distributing such as are
found desirable among agriculturists. This
and other powers and duties with which this
department is invested are of the utmost I'M
portance, and if wisely exercised must be of
1roo Io,oE@ IN {na oo,,r{,s1- Tho oino rf N11r
beneficent government is the Improvement OF
the people in every station, and the amellora- ,
ton of their condition. Surely our agricul-
turists should not be neglected. The instru-
mentality established in aid of the farmers Of
the land should not only be well equipped for
the accomplishment of its purpose, but those
for whose benefit it has been adopted should
be encouraged to avail themselves fully OF its
advantages.
The prohibition of the Importation into
several countries of certain of our animals
and their products, based upon the suspicion
that health is endangered in their use and !
consumption, suggests the Importance OF
such precautions for the protection Of our
stock of all kinds against disease, as will dis
arm suspicion of danger and cause the remov-
al of such all injurious prohibition.
If the laws now in operation are Insufficient
to accomplish this protection, I recommend
their amendment to meet the necessities OF the
situation, and I commend to the considera-
ton of Congress the suggestions contained IN
the report Of the commissioner OF agriculture
calculated to increase the value and efficacy
of this department.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The report of the civil service commission,
which will be submitted, contains an account
of the manner in which the civil service law
has been executed during the last year, and
much valuable information on this important
subject.
I am inclined to think that there
is no sentiment more general in the
minds of the people Of our country
than a conviction Of the correctness
of the principle upon which the law enforcing
civil service reform is based. In its present
condition the law regulates only a part OF the
subordinate public positions throughout the
country. It applies the test of fitness to ap-
plicants for these places by means OF q COM
petitive examination, and gives large dlscre-
of the examination and many other matters
connected with its execution. the rules
and regulations adopted by the commission
have much to do with the practical usefulness
of the statute and with the results OF its ap-
plicatiOn.
The people may well trust the commission
to execute the law with perfect fairness and
with as little irritation as possible. But of
course no relaxation of the principle which
underlies it and no Weakening of the safe
guards which surround it can be expected.
Experience in its administration will proba-
bly suggest amendment Of the methods OF eX-
%ecution. but I venture to hope that we
shall never again be RENTED to
the system which distributes. puq-
lie positions purely as rewards for
partisan service. Doubts may well be enter
tanned whether our government could sur
..:.zo 4l,o ct.ai,, of q nontinuanna of this SHS-