Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-05-09
dbe la,,faster 1ntelli9enfer.
LANCASTER, MAY 0, 1885.
Justice for the Mormons.

: The Mormons, excited by the recent con-
yictions of some of their leading men for
polygamy, have formulated a /" declaration
of grievances" and uttered "a protest to
the president and people of the United
States" AS large community, constitu-
ting the bulk of the people of one territory,
with all the requirements to be established
into a commonwealth, and presenting a
record of peace, thrift and order that be-
speaks at least some of the elements of good
citizenship, they are entitled to respectful
and earnest consideration.
So much Of their address as makes an |
apology for or defense of polygamy as Il |
religious institution does not strengthen it.
This feature of it will find no popular favor.
: The claim that plural marriage is princi-
pie of their religion does not help their
case. The laws of the United States do
not presume TO interfere with any citizens
religious principles, but they do take cog
nizance of his social practices; the COM
mon sense of Christian civilization and
the law of every state in the Union con-
denim andspunish polygamy. The peo-
pie of this country will not have it if any
state permitted it there would be agitation
in every other until constitutional amend
went We're adopted forbidding it anywhere.
The Mormons may as well take notice of
this condition of public sentiment
We remember that it has been argued by
eminent authorities, Judge Black among
them, that Congress has no con-
stitutional right to legislate on such
1nmatters for the territories any more than
the states; that the territorial legisla-
have the supreme pow make
guiaiing their aoq 1eoncerns,
~ federal government is COM
= PEELED to treat this offense of polygamy as
it treats others in the states and territories
that is leave it $ to be dealt with by the
powers that are ordained of God, or by
God himself, who will in due time become
the minister of his own Justice 1t must
be admitted that strict construction of the
constitution favors this view. II is difficult
to find in the express grants of that in
strument the powers which Congress has
exercised in the regulation of Utah. Nor
is it certain that the weapons of the true
gospel and the aggressions of higher
civilization will not make more headway
against polygamy than federal laws, legal
processes or bayonets. But for all this,
the supreme court has decided in favor OF
the right of Congress to legislate for the
territories and as Judge Matthews puts
it, no legislation can be supposed more
wholesome and necessary in forming free
self-governing commonwealth, fit to take
rank as one of the coordinate states of the
Union, than that which seeks to establish
1t on basis of the idea of the family, as
consisting in and springing from the
union for life of one man and one woman
in the holy estate of matrimony" That is
the voice of the law, as construed by om
highest jurisdiction, and the Mormons are
foolish to kick against the pricks.
This much conceded, however, to the
opponents of the Mormons, they have nc
right to more than their pound of flesh
It is not gainsaid that the Mormons arr
"sober, honest, peaceable, upright and
charitable - that they are 6 singularly fret
from the crimes forbidden in the deca
logue and not at all addicted to the vulgar
vices which so often defile the character
Of frontier communities; their territorial
government has been conducted with sur
prisiIg purity, wisdom and justice )" there
Is among the Mormons in Utah " no cheat
ing at elections, no official defalcatons, nc
special taxes and not dollar of public
debt !" drunkenness and larceny are moth
ing like as rife as in Philadelphia, prosttu
tion is far more uncommon than in Boston
and polygamy is not nearly so frequent in
Salt Lake City as adultery is in New York
and scarcely more flagrant. The exem.
plary industry and thrift of the Mormon
community are pattern for people every.
where.
Granted therefore the right of the fed.
eral government to prohibit and punish
polygamy the Mormons have an equal right
to demand that the justice measured out to
them 6e- -metod 10 ~ail-other citizens, and
that like social offenses in the other terri
tories and among the Gentiles of their own
be prosecuted with the same vigor. They
have right to demand that clean men be
sent there to administer the laws and hon.
est juries be selected to try their cases
and that none of their fellowship shall be
the victims of the &c post .fdcto laws con-
demned by the constitution.
Nay, more the Mormons have right to
demand that those who outcry against
hem In the East shall be consistent and
with as fiery tongue and seek the laws
ement with as much vigor here
the same crimes that they say
Utah a plague spot and Mormonism
in relic" of barbarism.
till hardly be contended that ii is
hoxious to have two wives in Utah
10 have wife and mistress in Con-
ut; or that polygamy in Salt Lake
more destructive of good morals than
tuition in Washington. One wrong
not excuse or palliate the other; but
the voice of divine wisdom, as well
divine justice, that pronounced th6m