Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-02

! there have been very few polygamou;
marriages during the present year, but it is
not regarded as prudent to look upon thi;
! fact as indicating anything more than {
! suspension OF the practice resulting from
/ the vigorous enforcement of the law, anC
not as an actual surrender occasioned by 8
| general and decided change of sentiment
regarding the doctrine itself. Indeed, it is
| believed that if all operations by the Com
missioners and Courts should at once cease
or even if a hating, hesitating policy
should take the place of the vigorous one
now in force, it is altogether probable thai
| plural marriages would again become very
| general in Utah. The firm attitude of the
| Government and faithful execution Of the
| law, sustained by public sentiment have
| eXerted in the past year q repressiye inflC
ence upon the Mormon people never before
| experienced by them since their establish
ment in Utah. The course of certain
polygamists who have declared Their
intention Of obeying the law in the future
| thereby incurring the wrath of the Church
| is cited as evidence of internal dissension
| which, although feeble is an encouraging
feature Of the situation.
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK.
Every step forward by the Govern
ment," says the Commission, will give
more strength and courage to the men who
desire to respect and obey the laws a
single step backward in legislation or ad-
misisuatiOn will help the church to crush
out this growing spirit Of opposition and
perhaps lose to the movement against
polygamy ali that has been gained by the
passage of the Edmunds Act" The report
pays high tribute to the zeal and success
of the present officers of the Federal Court.
Within two years eighty-three indictments
have been found for polygamy and unlaw-
full cohabitation. There have been twenty
three convi, tons and torty-three cases are
now awaiting trial. The great increase of
business before the Federal Court at Salt
Lake City, resulting from the prosecution
OF polygamy cases, has made it necessary
that the appointment of an additional
Judge should be Authorized by Congress.
1t is regretted that the Prosecuting Attor-
torney and his assistant have found it
necessary to tender their designations, ow-
ing to the inadequate remuneration for
their services.
CHARGES ANSWERED.
The Commission replies at some length
to the allegations that have been made by
defenders of polvgamy that the prosecu-
tons under the Edmunds Act are directed
solely against those who maintain polvga-
nous relations, and that alleged sexual de-
reflections by other persons are not investi-
gated. The burden of their rejoinder is that
the law was not directed against individual
laScivious practices but against the assault
by the Mormon Church upon the mono
gamic system. Little hope is entertained,
in view of the past action of the Legislative
Assembly, that it will, this winter, provide
for filling the offices declared vacant by the
Edmunds Act. Not the least obstacle in the
enforcement of the law is found in the fact
that the legislative power is arrayed in all
its force and strength against the desires OF
the people and Government, and no
helpful legislation can be expected, al
though the Legislature is supported by the
National Treasury.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Commissioners renew all the recon-
mendations contained in Senate bill No.
1888, which failed Of passage in the House
of Representatives during the last session,
and submit the following additional recon-
mendations:
That the term of imprisonment for I'M
lawful cohabitation be extended to at least
two years for the first and three years for
the second offeuse.
That all persons be excluded by law from
making location or settlement upon any
part of the land of the United States who
shall refuse, on demand, to take oath before
the proper officer of the Land Office that he,
if man, does not cohabit with more than
one woman III the marriage relation, and
will support the laws of the United States,
or, if woman, that she does not cohabit
with q man having more than one living
or undivorced wife.
That the laws with reference to immigra-
ton of Chinese and the importation of con-
tract laborers, paupers and criminals, be 50
amended as to prevent the immigration OF
persons claiming that their religion teaches
and justifies the crime of polygamy, as this
would cut off the chief source Of supply TO
the Mormon Church.
A CONSERVATIVE POLICY.
The Commissioners say that they felt it
to be their duty to resist the general de-
mand of non Mormons in the Territory
that they should recommend legislation
that would place the exercise of all civil
power in the hands of legislative COM
mission, appointed by the President, until
the Edmunds Act had been fairly tested
The hope had been INDUCED that the Nor
mon people would finally see their line of
duty in yielding acquiescence to the law,
bat the result has been a disappointment
so far as the leaders of the Church and the
principal part of their following are con-
cerned. The declaration often repeated
during the past year by the chief officers of
the Church that it is their settled deter
mination to refuse obedience to the law
their persistent Use of their great power
and influence to defeat all efforts from
within, as well as from without, the
Church, to put an end to polygamy, and
their persecution of those persons who de-
sire TO obey the laws, have convinced the
Commission that some more decisive plan
to reduce the powers of the pOlygamous
element and to eorrespondingly increase
that of the Federal authorities in the civil
government of Utah, should be presented
to Congress at this time for its action.
PROPOSED REMEDIES.
In addition to a Legislative Commission,
the plan above referred to, two others have
been suggested-the appointment plan,
making appointable all the offices now
filed by elections, and the Idaho plan, dis
franchising all contributors to the support
of polygamous church. There are objec-
lions TO all of these plans and to any that
could be devised. 1t may be said for the
Legislative Commission plan that it is sim
pie and direct; of the appointment plan,
that all the offices, including those of the
Legislative Assembly, remain undisturbed
| that they are all to be filled from the body
OF the people, as now, by agencies under
the control Of the Federal Government, and
that the influence Of the same would be
potential; OF the Idaho plan, although a
more extreme and more severe rernedyt than
any OF the others that it reaches to the
very root of the system. IneoncluSion,
says the Commission, whatever may be
| thought of these suggestions, Congress
would certainly render a service of meal
culable benefit to Utah, and indeed to the
whole country, if it would devise some
measure whereby these misguided people
could be brought out from under the
thralldom which has so warped their
minds and their conscience that q crime
committed in the name of religion is con-
sidered by them a duty and blessing
aliv- N fbpsa xx-br commit anA thnra