The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-07


have anything to do. and that is polygamy; and
| it does not become as at Washington or here to
be too heated in our Indignation at the vile thing
/ in Utah. There is something worse than that
I everywhere. There is no law in Salt Lake City
| by which unfortunate women may be marched
| in cold midnight to station houses. There are,
so Tar as can hear, none of the petty persecu-
| tons OF the miserable-this hunting, and worry
| Ing and letting 60 again of the poor, You all
know that it does no good There is only one
| sufficient cure for these things-more mother,
more father. more intelligence, more pity more
| love. more of the cross of Christ, and less OF
| the Roman legion. Says Lecky: There has
arisen in society figure which is the most won
| derful. and in some respects the most awful,
| upon which the eye of the moralist can
dwell-that unhappy being whose very name is
shame to speak, who is scorned and insulted as
the vilest of her SEX and doomed by the most
part to disease and abject Indebtedness and an
early death, appears in every age as the perpetual
symbol of degradation and sipfulness of man.
She remains while creeGs and civilizations rise
and fall the eternal priestess of humanity blast
| ed for the sins of the people,"
There is kind of literature on the Mormon
question that do not think is authority 1t is OF
the Edith OGorman escaped num- kind, and
is sold to the readers of the Police
Gazette. There are other books writ
ten by good observers. Many Of us have
seen for ourselves Mormon people. We do not
believe that their cities SodOms. From all
accounts it would seem that there is no occasion
there is occasion for the most patient and intel
hgent consideration of the manner in which this
world scandal of polygamy in Utah may legally
cease to be. / say legally, for l take it that
the principles of common law OF more value
than any good that may be gained by setting
them aside. In a prosecution for polygamy the
difficult thing is the proof. / suppose that
person ought not to be compelled to criminate
himself / suppose that common rumor is not
evidence that will convict a man of felony. L
suppose that man has right to be tried by
jury of the vicinity and by his peers. I suppose
that Mormon ought not to be tried by a jury of
gentiles. When election frauds were charged,
the jury in Indiana consisted of Democrats and
Republicans six and six. which selection seemed
to be right. That has happened twice. believe.
Evidently here is troublesome thing-the proof
OF polygamy, and again, here are great mum Der
of children. They must not be outlawed Here
are a great number of wives-what is hereafter
| to be their name, their designation Are they
to be outawed and thrown out on the publica
A thoughtful paper on this question suggests
| that the enforcement of the right of dover will
80 strike at the property of men as to make
polygamy too expensive. Doubtless there Is
way to reach this question, and it must be
reached before Utah is admitted a State. All
l am able to do in this discourse is to state the
difficulties of the case and the need for patience,
and charity, and justice. In view of their
peculiar history and old persecution and exodus:
in view of the fact that they have added many
millions of dollars to the common wealth of the
nation; in view of their general honesty and
thrift; in view of the fact that this is Republic
| with place for all queer people,
and protection to all queer religions,
think that we may say that the
Mormons may stay, and thrive, and prosper. and
subdue the alkai in the earth, and turn more of
the desert into garden of roses and potatoes.
But they must not kill our school teachers nor
our preachers, and they must obey the laws
Unless the world is all upside down. intelli-
gence can drive ignorance as light drives the
darkness 1t is a free country send in the light.
The Mormons may stay, but polygamy must go.
The method of going is question for lawyers,
who are also Christians They must see to it
that the common law 1.-THE perfection of reason"
and the gospel, the gift of God, are not driven
out in order to drive out polygamy;;
And, having attended to Utah, and
made that clean and right, it will surely then be
in order to attend to the District of Columbia.
And let every man who wishes to convict others
of felony by the evidence of common rumor set
his own house in order, for what is done in Salt
Lake City may justly be done in Washington.
Never break the common law of mercy and JUS
tice in order liz particular case, to mend NOR
ais If could be sure of getting the best and
the wisest man for a king should prefer a des-
potism. But am likely to have over me a lun-
attic, knave, fool. suceessively-the
-four Georges" now, and again the supreme
seoundrel. So l prefer republic; but that
involves great deal of mutual concession
of the nations-of all the, religions.
Only the other day Mohammedan put in an
appearance. We hope out of this mixing to Sc
cure the coming man-better than any who have
| come. So be patient, be mercifui, be just. Hold
fast to the American idea-the idea that Column
bus sailed to find place for, that the pilgrims
landed to plant, and that the children remain to
perfect.
There is a good outcome to the evil of Ameri-
can slavery The grandchild of the African
savage stolen hundred years ago, is an Ameri
can citizen, with ali his disabilities. He has
made great gain. Hard was the MIDDLE passage
bad was the auction block, and bitter was slavery
but out of these conditions come the Subilee
Singers. The outcome of Mormonism may be
as good. The condition of the people in Europe
among whom the Mormon missionaries has sue
cess is not to be desired. 1t is AFFECT igno.
rant, poverty stricken condition-almost any
change is for the better. Stamp out polvgamy,
convince Mormonry that no church ia America
is above the law of the country, but under it.
Let there be free speech, free press and free
school in every Mormon settlement. And the
children will not lament that their fathers and
mothers came over the sea-God's ways OF
making the wrath of man to praise Him are not
exhausted
DreamlaRd Faces.