McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-05-21
THE MORMON QUESTION.
as D,ceit Upon by a Member of the Utah Conn
,tixsi0n-- The Edmunds amendment.


Lincoln dispatch: The State Journal pub
fishes long interview had with ex-senator A.
S. Paddock, of Beatrice, touching polygamy
and the Mormon question. The senator is a
member of the Utah commission and may be
taken as authority upon the subject. Asked
for his opinion as to the address to the presi-
dent and the people of the United States by
the Mormons, in which they allege many
wrongs and demand their redress, and in
which the work of the commission is de-
nounced, Mr.. Paddock said in brief: ''My be-
lief is that the main object sought to be
accomplished by the address is revival of re-
ligious enthusiasm among the Mormon people,
so as to make apOStacy or SchiSm in the church
on account of the proceedings against the
practice of polygamy more difficult, II not
altogether impossible. The Edmunds bill has
been enforced with so much vigor and sue
cess, the sentiment of the country is so unani
nous in support of the determined policy and
recent decisions of the supreme court
have been so pronounced in favor OF
the law and its methods for suppress
ing pOlygamy that many good and strong men
had begun to think and say to each other that
it would be better to discontinue the practice.
Several persons under indictment pleaded
guilty. threw themselves on the mercy of the
court, promised not again to offend, and many
were released with Slight punishment. All
such performances were bitterly denounced by
the Mormon press and people. In my opinion
the mass meetings, the address which is main
ly a defense of the polygamic covenant and
the whole demonstration against the enforce
ment OF the Edmunds law, for that is all there
is of it, were gotten up to counteract the in
fuences at work inside aud outside the church
against poygamy. Being thus considered the
movement has been great dea. OF success.
The Mormon people certainly could not expect
to satisfy the president of the country by an
appeal based upon the divine reign and sane
ton of polygamy that the EdmundS law is
bad law, that the congress which passed the
act, the supreme court which affirmed it and
the officers who have executed it have all been
parties to monStrous wrong, but by such ar
gument and denuncation of all who have been
connected with making or executing the law
thev have undoubtedly, temporarily at least,
stiffened the weak knees among the brethren
and increased the difficulties of the sit
uation. 1 believe the action will have
the the s contrary M sse6 from that ht hopea
of them, and will demonstrate the neces-
sty for still more stringent legislation. Re-
garding the denunciation of the commission
and its acts the senator said that no set of Of
fcers charged with the responsibility OF en-
forcing law in Utah affecting the institution
u dilu ucJclIIllncu W 'uuGy
were ever more conservative in ali their act
or less influenced by prejudice than the com
mission. Proofs of this are abundant. The
commission have decided important questions
in accordance with the Mormon view, believ-
ing the same to be right, thereby drawing
upon themselves criticisms from the Gentle
press ind people. They have stood between
the two extremes. and have often been unable
to satisfy either. but have always endcavorcd
to secure the best results from the EdlmIndS
law so far as they had to do with it, and their
efforts have been successful throughout. The
commission has possessed the respect and cor
idence of the liberal Mormons and the best
sentiment among the Gentle clement in Utah.
In the report the commission has recommended
an amendment to the Edmunds law, and it is
because these amendments are unpalatablc,
and if adopted by congress would greatly
strengthen the movement against polygamy,
that the Mormon indictment against the com
mission is so strong. He thinks the amend
ments will be adopted and that President
Cleveland and his administration will firmly
uphold the laws for the suppression of polyg-
t,, Itoh