Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-01-08
MR.. FDMUND's UTAH BILL.

Mr. EDNuyD's Utah bill proyiding for
the disf-archisement Of the women OF
Utah and the appointment of trustees to
manage the revenues Of the Mormon
church, is the most comprehensive and
perhaps the most vigorous measure yet
proposed. but it makes no distinction be-
tween polygsnists aud monogamists. 1t
strikes st the whole church.
One thing has been decided in the
minds Of the American people-that polyg-
amy must 60. 1t IS SO averse to the insti-
tu.ions Of this country that the MOrmons
will never be allowed 10 rest while this
practice exists. This il what the Govern,
meut needs to strike down.
But there are only 10000 or $4,000
polygamists among 100000. Casting
aside polygamy, they have q
perfect right under the law to believe IN
JOE Swrrus doctrines if they want to-
Congress should discriminate between those
rho break the law and those who DO not
Under the present law every polygamis,
il disfsanchised and is subject TO impris
oumeut. By carrying out this law to the
letter, polygamy could not fail TO soon be
come very unpopular, except with con
Gruled saints. Also, in all probability
there would in due time be two factions
formed in the church; those under the ban
Of the law and those that do not violate the
Law bat respect and sympathize with the
Government. But Mr.. EOMrNDs' new law
would unite the whole Mormon people in
solid phalanx against the Government
and perhaps destroy all hopes OF blotting
on, polygamy without driving out the
entire people.
No more important question is staring
the American people in the face to-day
than the Utah problem. These MOrmOns
are among the best citizens Of the country
M far as ito material development is con,
cesned. 1t is doubtful whether any other
people could have developed Utah as they
have done. Also, they are born with the
same God-giyen rights as any other
American citizens. But they must give up
their polygamous teuets at all hazards.
But before the Government sends out
trustees to seize and dispose Of, according
to their own discretion, the offerings the
poor aud rich alike have given to be ap-
piled to special purposes, let the law
against poIygamy be carried out without
tear and without mercy. After this fails
it will then be time to think Of striking at
the entire church and driving out the en-
tire people in order to rid the country of
this noxious practice.
SENATOR TELLER, OF Colorado, has op-
posed Mr.. EDNUND'S bill According to
dispatches from Washington he said that if
We had sent the right men to look after
Utah, polygamy would have been dead
long since. We had sent men who irri.
tatsd and prosecuted the people OF tab.
It was by our prosecutions that we kept
polygamy alive. The Mormors had their
auhs but he had seen Salt Lake City
when not a grog shop, a gambling den, or
d house Of prostitution could be found
within its limits. The bill under consid-
Grafton, Mr.. TgLrER looked on as full Of
blood II was 100 severe. We should
treat the great evil existing in Utah rather
with q velye,y hand. Men who did not be
lieye in polygany, he said, had, by the Sc
verify Of our Government, been driven into
a condition OF opposition to the policy OF
the people of the United States.