The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01
TIE END IN SIGHT. .
MormOnism DOOmed-The Edmunds Law
Doing Its Work Effectively in Utah.
Snecial tn New York Herald

MOrmOn1Sm DOO1neu-lh6 EumunuB Law
Doing It's Work Effectively in Utah.
Special to New York Herald.
Elk Secretary Ramsey has presented the re-
port of the Utah Commission to the Secretary Of
the Interior. 1t contains a review of the work
of the year, a description of the workings of the
Edmunds law, and makes some recommends
tons as to further legislation by Congress to
make it more effective.
ut proves to be the most effective legislation
ever directed at the Mormon evil" said Dir.
Ramsey to the correspondent of the Herald to-
day, land the fact that John Taylor, Cannon
and Joseph W.. Smith, the three presidents or
the church. are f~ugitives, is the best evidence Of
this. Nor are they the only men who are trying
to escape from it's clutches. About fifty of the
bishops and apostles have gone away, thirty or
twenty-five or thirty more are play
ing the martyr behind the bars of the
prisons. While l cannot say that this
law will destroy Mormonlsm, it has already
crippled 1t, and if supplemented with additional
legislation to cover the point it does not reach it
will go far to wipe out the curse. But it will
be a long time before the evil is extinct. We
have allowed it to grow unmolested for nearly
half a century, and the church has become such
a powerful and thorough organization that it
cannot be pulled up by the roots. We can only
patiently work to lop off the branches, girdle the
trunk and kill the tree by slow degrees.
Nobody can study Mormonlsm," continued
Mr.. Ramsey. without being inspired with a pro-
" tHO E0uluo udl mas Edtu0u
and the energy and industry which has built up
the great structure that has polygsmy for its
cornerstone. Nor can one avoid seeing tine
danger that threatens this Nation from it's con-
tinuance. Like the nerves and sinews of the
human body, the faith of the people is inter-
woven into every incident of their daily lives,
and the cure of the curse lies in educating the
next generation to respect the laws and acknowl-
edge obedience to the government. The day is
passed when we can wipe out such things by
force. It can only now be killed by the appli-
ances of law and moral suasion."
us the Endowment House still runninge
II cannot say. | suppose polygamous mar
riages are still being contracted, but the secrecy
preserved is something remarkable. | do not
believe there is another community in the world
where such a mystery could be sustained as it is
in Utah; but immigration is falling off, and the
number of apostates is increasing
''Then the church is in a state of decay?",
'No, that cannot be said. The action of the
government, which the church calls persecution,
brings those who come under the law closer to-
gether. and in a way strengthens the ties that
but it has the effect of Encouraging those who
have not entered polygamous relations, and if it
continues the Mormons will soon become weary
of resistance, and yield to the inevitable. just
now they are up in arms, and united in their
common defense. Very soon they will see that
this is useless. and beg for quarter"
There is no danger Of an uprising2"
Not the slightest. There may be an occa-
sional attempt to resist arrest, but it will not
amount to much"