Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-04-19
WHAT is NEEDED IN UTAH.

Ii anything were wanting TO convince
our national law-makers that additional
legislation must be had before the po-
lygamy evil in Utah can be effectively
dealt with, the admissions OF the Mormon
press ought to supply all the proof that
is necessary. 1t has been asserted by
Eastern journals that the number OF new
bills introduced in Congress for the cx-
tnction OF polygamy is much larger than
there is any occasion for, and one OF our
exchanges-thc Chicago Herd'd-is OF
opinion that "the present law should
be adhered to until it has been
found to be wholly inefficient, and
thus far no such charge can be brought
against it,"
The Edmunds law is all we'll enough,
80 far as it goes, but ii anyone imagines
for u moment that its provisions supply
the means OF dealing II death blow at
polygamy in Utah, he is woefully mis-
taken. Additional and still more strin-
gent legislation, directed at the underly-
ing evils OF which plural marriage is the
surface indication, is absolutely neces-
sary before any hope can be in
dulged of successfully reaching and
extirpating polygamy. The Mormon
papers frankly admit that the enforce
ment of the Edmunds law has done prac-
tically nothing toward abolishing polyg-
amy, and this admission should be argu-
ment enough, even to the most conserva-
tive, that additional legislation must be
had before any headway at all can be
made. Here-is what Mormon paper,
published in this city, said about the
matter no longer ago than yesterday
morning:
For eighteen months the Edmunds law
has been vigorously enforced, even to n de-
gree of cruelty; and now let its most san
guine friends count their gains! What has
vigorous enforcement of the law accom-
plishedp 1t has driven n few prominent
Mormon ecclesiastical officials into exile,
sent few others to prison, terrified, insulted
and distressed few women and children,
and paralyzed the business interests of the
Territory; but what has it done towards
nbolishing polygamy2 Practically nothing.
Those parties who have suffered imprison-
ment have not been convinced that their
marriage system is wrong. The commun-
ity of which they are members look upon
them as martyrs to principle, and they
themselves look upon it in the same light.
OF course, there is 10 truth in the
charge that the law has been enforced
"even to n degree OF cruelty" or that
women and children have been Gin
suited" That is all rot. But it is true
that the law has been vigorously en-
forced, and in the language OF this Nor
mon authority: "What has it done to-
wards abolishing polygamy? Practically
nothing" Isn't this argument sufficient
upon which to base appeals for legisla-
tion that will do something toward down
ing the Mormon monster? Doesn't it
fully appear from this that the
present law has been found "to bo
wholly inefficient" for the purpose of
extirpating polygamy? And if that be
true-the Mormon press ought to be good
authority on this point-what objection,
founded in reason, can any one urge
against the enactment of laws containing
provisions that will furnish the means
necessary to wipe out the Church-and-
State and polygamy evils in Utah?
The Woodburn bill, now in the hands
of the House Judiciary Committee, would
provide the very means needed to forever
settle the Utah troubles, and all the law
abiding people living in the Territories
over which these evils cast their baleful
shadow, are earnestly hoping and pray
ing that Congress will give it the early
and favorable consideration which its
merits entitle it to.