St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-08
DISCUSSING POLYGAmY.
Grave Senators wrestfe With the
Mormon Question.

WAsHISGToN. Jan. TN the senate a
petition from the West Point students who
are to graduate in June. 1886. praying that
provision may be made for their appoint
ment 20 the army, was referred 10 the mill
tary committee Bills extending to the
cities of Portland. Or. Omaha. Neb., and
Port Townsend, W.T.. the provisions of the
law relating to the immediate transporta-
ton Of dutiabIe goods were passed. Mr..
Voorhees, introduced resolution which in
strIIcts the committee on expenditures to
inquire into the truth Of the allegations that
the pension bureau has been used as a poll
tical machine by the Republican party, ac-
cepting an amendment by Mr.. Logan to the
effect that the present administration of the
bureau be inquired into. The resolution
went over for day.
THE UTAH BILL
then came up. and Senator Morgan adj
dressed the senate upon it. he supported
his amendment providing for the disposal
of the property of the Mormon church &C
cording to the rules and principles Of the
common law. He said:
i feel that we ought 10 strike the Mormon
church organization out OF existence. IL Is
a shrewd temporal organization that con-
stantly gains power. Its emigrant arrange
ments, Its tithing capacity. its money power,
and generally its organizing vigor have been
the wonder OF our time. Instead Of appoint
ing trustees for the management of these
temporal matters, congress should cut up the
organization, root and branch. We are not
dealing with an establishment of religion"
1t might pass as religion in China or in the
valley OF the Congo. 1t is an establishment,
not of religion, but of vice. The sentiment
of the whole people of the United States is
against it. IL is an establishment opposed to
the spirit of our national constitution.
TELLER MIsUNDERsTooD.
Mr.. Cullom thought Mr.. Teller was
wrong in thinking the MOrmoDs prosecuted.
Mr.. Teller said he had been misunderstood.
He had said that the action of unwise
agents of the government had irritated the
MOrmons. Mr.. Call opposed the bill.
Mr.. Teller-I am as anxious as any man to
see polygamy extirpated. but / don't want to
see it done under the form and under the
color of war. Polygamy is a crime, but not a
greater crime than murder. not Il greater
crime than rape. / am willing to "put the
knife in," but / want 10 do it in a manner
authorized by our constitution and laws.
The old law is strong enough 70 complete the
end in view. For fifteen years this has not
been enforced Joseph Smith was an arrant
knave, and his system an odlous oligarchy
and despotism that must be wiped out. 1
mean by the ''velvety touch" that punish
ment should be administered not for VEN
geance but for reformation. The Mormons
have improved. Year before last there were
400 plural marriages; last year there were
practically none. / would take away legisla-
tive authority and vest that authority in con-
gress. The great mass of Mormons are
stepped in fanatcisn, but ] cannot forget
that 20O,000,000 people believe in Mohamme-
danism. Every man who reads Mormon his
tory must feel little sympathy, must recog-
nize that they are men determined to exercise
uncontrolled their religious belief. / can
bear testimony TO their virtues without in
dorsing their vices.
Mr.. Morgan's amendment was lost Mr..
Brown offered an amendment that certain
portions of the act should apply equally TO
GENTILES AND MORMoNS.
Mr.. Edmuhds-Oh, don't put any such pro-
vision as that into a statute OF the United
Statesl Laughter. The laws OF the United
States apply 10 every body in the United
States.
Mr.. VOORHEES, had a telegram read from
Salt Lake City stating that the Utah COM
mission now had but one clerk, and never
to exceed three, possibly four. Mr.. Van
Wyck didn't like the expression three,
possibly four" Allowing for the mistakes
of the telegraph, he guessed they had about
the number of clerks he had stated, namely.
six. Great laughter. Without conclud-
ing the consideration of the bill, the senate
adjourned.