The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-23
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMESr


stitution by the adoption of an artic
prohibiting polygamy, will strike II
country '-al Of a-heap." The sugge
ton has many times been made durir
the past twenty years, but until now
has not assumed definite shape. III
argument has ever been that il was nc
worth while to dignity the practice {
polygamy by few thousands of peopl
in one of the Territories by attaching {
it the importance which would be give
by constitutional amendment on tn
subject. The failure of the rigid Law
enacted against the practice four year
ago TO accomplish its purpose, notwith
standing its most vigorous enforcement
the failure Of the severe and vindictiv'
application of that statute TO extor
from the polygamists even q pro
mise to surrender their belize
in the rightfulness of the princi-
and the humility with which men en-
dure the penalties imposed for a viola
ton of the law, have combined to con-
vince statesmen that there is more III
the Mormon's belief in polygamy than
a mere lustful sentiment. Meh do not
voluntarily suffer imprisonment and
pay heavy fines for the qualification OF
a lustful passion that could be soothed
and satisfied without mourning suffering
or expense. Again, not few OF the in
tell:geut, thinking people are impressed
with the idea that it must be a religious
belief, conscientious conviction in the
divinity of the institution which in
spires these Mormons to do and endure
and suffer; it is this feeling that per-
haps there is religious sincerity inn
pellink the Mormons to practice their
plural wife system in defiance of public
sentiment and in spite of the torture it
brings upon them, that row and then
brings to the front a lawyer, a preacher,
an editor or legislator to protest in
behalf Of the Mormons and ask that
the fundamental law of the republic,
which prohibits the interference with a
religious belief. be not set at defiance
and outraged in the prosecution of the
Saints The man who says that the
late Jere Black, the Hon George
Ticknor Curtis and others who have
stood with them In the defense of the
Mormon profession of religion, were
sctusted only by the base motive of
personal gain, does violence to his own
good sense and judgment. or else has
little knowledge of human nature and
of the motives of mankind. 1t takes
more than fee for an honorable man
like Curtis to place himself on record
as the author of q plea like that
delivered before the Supreme Court a
few weeks ago. There are men who
believe that the Mormon's polygamy
is inspired by religion, and that
as a consequences the prosecution
OF the polygamist is a direct
violation OF the Constitution. We be-
lieye that sentiment in the House Judi
ciary committee is responsible for the
suggestion of an amendment 20 the |
Constitution, which win give the gov
eminent the undisputed right to enact
and enforce laws for the punishment of |
the offense. The offering Of the amend
ment is semi-resognition of the claim
OF the Saints that plural marriage is |
religious institution. and its adoption
By the States will be an acknowledge
ment that the Aormons have been
right
Naturally, the first question that
arises is, what win be the effect If the
adoption of the proposed amendment
One can only guess at the answer, and
our guess is that the effect will be bene-
fetal rather than injurious to
the afflicted people of Utah. It
certainly cannot make matters
worse than they are, and
may make them better. The amend
ment snd laws enacted under il win
simply place polygany on plane with
other offenses. when the individual will
De made responsible for the viols Sion Of
he prohibition the same rs he is for
he disregard OF any other penal enact (
nent =
There is a suggestion, however, in the Z
proposition which viii not be ever I
Ooked. It's. that the amendment viii I
urnish the government with q conve- G
Iient way for unloading Utah. and re- c
ucing the Mormon problem from .
ational question to one of an individ- a
a. character. With the Constitution S
bsolutely prohibiting polygamy in the e
United States, there can no longer be O
u excuse for keeping Utah out Of the D
Tnion and in 4 measure at least rele- d