The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-05

Utah-mountain, valley, forest and river-and
gave to the spectators and listeners in an hour
more live information than could be gathered
from books in months reading,
III his lecture he began by tracing out the slow
development of the idea of absolute religious
liberty which never was known in any country
until our National Constitution was founded
Remembering the imperfections of humanity
what more natural than that this liberty should
be abused! Mormonism is the most conspicuous
ana melancholy example OF such abuse The
chief difficulty in dealing with the Mormon ques-
ton arises from the very proper unwillingness of
our people to have the national government do
anything that it is not absolutely compelled to DO
Americans are possessed of a sublime faith in
the ultimate supremacy of the right This faith
has been often justified by the event Increas-
ing population and the resulting establishment
of churches and schools, and the growth Of pure
family life have conquered the lawessness and
disorder so often prevailing in new communities,
and have made Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska
Colorado, California and even the settled parts
Of Montana and Oregon quiet orderly and
law abiding communities Massachusetts, New
York and Pennsylvania. For this reason people
asked why Will not the same results soon follow
in Utah, without any interference of the general
government! Why not let the Mormon question
alone and allow time to overthrow polygamy in
Utah2
Mr. Marshall went on to say that the final
overthrow of poygamy as a religious system
must be accomplished by missionary and educa-
tiOnal agencies, but we can and ought to destroy
it by law. Absurd and ridiculous as the Book
Of Mormon is, it net only does not sanction bat
repeatedly and positively condemns polygamy
He then quoted from the Book of Mormon as
follows: Behold, David and Solomon truly
had many wives and concubines which thing was
abomlnable before me said the Lord wherefore
my brethren hear me and hearken unto the word
OF the Lord, for there shall not any man among
you have save 1t be one wife, and concubiue he
shall have none.n That is original Mormonisln.
But a new revelation establishing polygamy was
received by Joseph Smith in l843, but it was not
formally announced until 1852. Then was the
time for the government to have struck down
this thing, which has grown to be large and
foul blot upon our Nation. Then ounce of
prevention would have been worth every ton Of
cure We can contrive
Here Mr.. Marshall showed a map of Utah,
with the farming lands colored in green. These
spots were neither large numerous. Great
Salt Lake covers nearly as large extent Of the
earths surface as all the farming lands Of Utah
as only twenty eight acres in each thousand
acres of the land in this Territory are tillable.
These farming lands and the water for their
irrigation, without which they would be value
less, are wholly aud absolutely owned and con
trolled by MormoLs so that there is no room for
a non Mormon farmer in Utah. If it would rain
as much there hero and everything else
remain the same the farming lands of Utah
would become from 500 to 700 acres in each
thousand, and then the thrush of non
Mormon immigrants to occupy that
land would soon outvote the Mormon and
destroy pOlygamy by local legislative action. No
such climatic change is possible, and, without
national legislation, polygamy will exist in Utah
indefinitely. An erroneous idea prevails about
Salt Lake City Those who have not seen it
imagine it a beautiful and wonderful city, archi-
tecturally and otherwise 1t is not. 1t does
not approach in population, elegance of buildings
expenditure for schools, or anything else that
furnishes q test of high civilization, the city Of
Denver, which was not settled until eleven years
after Salt Lake City. The constitutional guar
oyo4n &c Volt Nv 4la
decision of the United States Supreme Court no
more sanctions polygamy than it authorizes the
suffice or allows the institution Of human sacri-
fees, either of which would cause less of demon
s ana ,o, ana suffering in Utah
enforce the Edmunds law, with such
amendments as experience proves it to need
We must also show the Mormons that change
of parties in the national administration does
not mean any change in the stern determination
of tho Nation to destroy polygamy, and to de-
clare with unmistakable emphasis that Utah
shall never be admitted as a State until she is
thoroughly pureed of polygamy. 1t is not an
easy task, but the Nation that destroyed slavery
can if it will set itself patiently and resolutely
to the task, destroy this other relic of barbarism,
which has not in belief more than $50 coo people,
or less than one three hundredth of our popula-
ton, and is not practced by more than three
thousand men. Yet they have defed this gov
ernment for twenty years.
This afternoon Rev. Dr. John Alabaster will
lecture on Martin Luther" and in the evening
Mr.. Marshall will conclude his engagement with
his third illustrated lecture. Colorado" Word
has been received from Rev. Myron W. Reed,
OF Denver, that he cannot come. the programme
for tho remainder of the lecture course will
therefore be as follows: August G. 2 P. NJ, Rev.
Frank Russell, of Ohio; subject THE W orld
Reading" 8P. NJ, Rev L. F. VanCleve. of Ohio,
The Chautauquan Idea" August 7, 2 P NJ
Rev S. L.. Bowman, of DePauw University,
The Inspiration of Scripture" P. NJ, Hon
n. K. Griegs, Of Nebraska, 1.-The Harmony of
Music and National Character August s,
services i'll memory of General Grant.