The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-01
DIR. MILLER AND The moEaoNs
and not 20 individuals.

By quitting polygamy IN ibe Constit1
ton il will be much easier 10 put il ou
of Utah." the Omaha Herald makes ID
remark the text fore an editorial
says:
This is true. 1t is in the direction q
the true solution oil One " the uIfiicul
questions Of our times. Congress be
gins TO see and act The line of trni
statemanship. Carpet - bagging Taidi
aud rancor upon the people VINO Owl
nine-tenths Of Utah By honest right
will, not extinguish poly gamy, nor can
mere external force do = The practice
of polygamy may be, and must be re
pressed by the vigorous execution oil
the laws enacted for that purpose. bur
this will not extirpate the po,ygsmous
system itself. In order 10 do this. put
ting pOlvgamy IN the Constitution, in
order 10 put il out again by amendments
such as are now proposed by Congress,
will be one step in a nice direction. THE
HERALO's ultimate remedy is the true
remedy. a firm. judicious and concili-
atory policy, with he blessings OF state
hood and freedom from Federal rule, IS
a standing invitation TO the Mormon
people, with tbeinstitution of polk gamy
put out Of the way Of all possible future
existence in all the States and rerri-
tories OF the union by a solemn man
date of the fundamental law. This is
what VII uproot ;solygamy in no great
length of time, and there is too much
reason TO fear that nothing else can or
will.
In these times, when it is almost
dangerous to speak Of Utah and the
hormons in spirit of fairness and in
telligence, ii does one good to read after
man like DR.. Miller. of the Omaha
Herald, who is good enough and brave
enough TO say what he thinks and be-
lie7es, having no fear OF the journalistic
ours who are swapping at his heels, and
not being alarmed by the senseless
popular clamor. We may not fully
agree with DR.. Miller in his opinion re-
garding the Utah problem, but we know
ne is honest, sincere and manly in his
views and their assertion; he is also a
true friend of Utah and would go
as far as any man 20 relieve the
afflicted Mormons from the distress
from which they are suffering.
Whether or not a constitutional
bring an earlIer solution of the Mormon
question cannot be foretold; such an
amendment would certainly accomplish
nothing in Utah unless it were followed
by the admission OF the Territory into
the Union as a State. Congress now
has all power over the Territory; il can
legislate and enforce. and really do
more than. if the Territory were
State. Ifit cannot suppress polygamy
nov Il would not be able to stamp out the
system even if it were backed by a con
stitutiOnal amendment. However. the
admission OF Utah. with or without an
anti polygamy clause in the Constitu
ton, will be step in the right direc-
ton, in that twill, in a manner. turn
the question over. for settlement to the /
only tribunal that can adjust it. The
people themselves viii finally have TO
decide as TO the continuance or abandon
ment Of the system OF. polygamv;
it Is something that will not anG
cannot be continued or suppressed by 4
legislative enactment and Judicial en-
forcement. If the system cannot be .
overcome ana destroted by the in I
fuence Of Christianity; if 1t has more
force and vitality than the monasamic
sentiment oEhe age; il, contact with /
the social practices, theories and ideas !
OF the century will not induce the
Mormons to abandon Their peculiar
marriage system, then laws viii not
avail. Two years of the most vigorous
enforcement of law ever witnessed in
any country has accomplished. whstP
It has brought from all the menin the
Penitentisry for the offense-their
terms OF imprisonment ranging from
SIX months 10 three and a half
years - the declaration that they
viii not accept amnesty on
conditions which contemplate an
abandonment OF the PolygamOus
system. that perpetual imprisonment
OF even death will be preferable 10 a
rsnuncistion OF their belief or I casting
of of taeir families. The Law has
achieved so much in the way OF
destroying the system, that in Utah to
day there are scores Of men and women |
who are better Mornons. than they were
three years ago. Ii every polygamistiu
the Territory were new in Jail the plural
wife system would not be destroyed
end we are inclined 70 believe il would
find advocates and supporters among
those who are now opposed 70 the prac
tee.
The simple truth is. Il Is social -a'h
than 8 criminal OF political problem.
and Is must be solved by society in
s'esd Of By Laws or force. The wise