The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-04
THE MORMON DBLIVERANCE.

throughout Utah, Idaho and Arizona on Sat
urday, were like so many swarins Of flies
buzzing about carrion, and disturbed at their
feast. As the rising cloud of blue bottles be-
trays the presence Of putridity, so the action
of these polygamists reveals to the public eye
the cancerous sore which has been stealthi1y,
but steadily, spreading over the body-politic
of this Nation. The declaration of grievance
and protest issued will serve to call public at
tention to this growing evil. The plea for
religious tolerance is specious one, as they
themselves well understand They are not
deceived by it, nor do they deceive anybody
The Mormon religion" receives as respectful
consideration by the law as does any other,
and no man is interfered with in ministering
to his conscientious scruples. But the gov
eminent, for the maintenance of which the
people are taxed, owes them in return protec-
ton against all manner of danger, social, po-
litical and moral. sReligion" cannot be used
as a cloak for vices that threaten the welfare
of the people. This government is peculiar
in that it tolerates all religions, butrecognzes
none as its equal, but reserves
the right to step in and correct any abuses
that may tend to demoralize or injure the
people. The religious" sect that might be-
lieve in human sacrifice would find no tolerance
in the practice of that barbarous rite yet
the sincerity, or even the religious conviction,
of such could not be questioned In the case
of polygamy as pra cticed under sanction of
the Mormon religion, /" there is well grounded
doubt of the sincerity Of those who profess to
believe in it. The probability is that the GUS
tom, for the most part, is what it appears to
be-the qualification of lustful natures
though there may be honorable exceptions in
men, husbands and fathers, who are persuad-
ed that it is indeed religious duty. This is no
sufficient apology for the practice of polyg-
amy any more than religious belief would
make tolerable the practice of sutteeism. The
government pronounces against polygamy
not because of prejudice, or that it is not the
right kind of religion" the government
cares nothing about religion; but, in attempt
ing to eradicate polygamy, it does so just as
government, State and municipal, moves
for the extirpation Of the social evil, of concu-
binage, adultery and fornication. All Of these
have been found opposed to the interests Of
society, tending as they do to the denoralza-
ton of the people and the destruction of the
home, upon which last civilized society is
founded. The mantle Of religion will not
cover this iniquity nor save it from eventual
destruction. It is unholy, and vile, and dan
gerous in all its elements, and cannot be suf-
fered without endangering the social fabric of
the Nation. The cry of oppression raised by
polygarnists will deceive nobody, any more
than would the same plea made by man liv-
ing in adultery.
The complaint made that Utah has been
Disseminated against and kept from entering
upon the broader privileges of statehood pos
sesses the element Of truth. But for the
prevalence apd practice of polygamy by a
considerable portion Of the people of that
Territory, and the belief in it by still larger
per cent. of the population, Utah would in all
probability have been in the enjoyment of its
"rights" long ere this. The government
has acted wisely in this, though it is
l. Y. IL
not been devised whereby this plague
might be stamped out. Once confer State
privileges upon the people of Utah, and the
federal government and all outside authority
would be powerless to destroy polygamy; as
State Utah would formulate its own laws of
marriage, in accordance with the peculiar
views entertained by its people. Utah should
be kept out of the Union forever, if need be,
or until this evil is killed; and every effort
should be made to throttle it to its death. Al
ready it has been the cause of very great
trouble, and, growing steadily as it is, that
trouble must increase with the increase of
Mormonism. 1t is lecherous travesty on re-
ligion, running sore masquerading behind
the blush of health and decency. 1t must be
thoroughly cauterized by public condemna-
ton and cut out of the body-politic, and
buried in infamy. The men of intelligence
who profess to believe in it should be com
PEELED to give it up, and the women who are
victims of this infamous evil should be deliv-
cred, as should the innocent children growing
up under its baleful shadow.
MARK the prediction: The saloon keepers