Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-01-25
THE STATEHOOD EXPERIMENT.


which we publish to-day suggests a pos
sible solution for the Utah problem.
There are many objections to the Hcrald's
method Of settling our difficulties and
there are many things in its favor. There
is n very grave problem to be solved in
Utah, but how TO solve it none have
known. Polygamy is a crime under the
law and should be, but polygamy is the
corner stone of the social structure
in Utah. 1t is this fact which
raises the crime of polygamy into
the dignity OF a social problem. How
shall it be done away with, and how shall
the idea which govern the family in all
other parts OF the Union be made the
idea OF the family in Utah? The great
majority Of the people of Utah have no
acquaintance with the ideas which under
lie the whole theory of the American
Government, and what is making the sit
uation in Utah more complicated is the
fact that the people OF Utah are making
no acquaintance with those ideas, while
education in state polity has been based
upon the theory Of the polygamous sys-
tenn OF the family, and that the family
is an instrument in the hands of
God and not the unit of the State.
Another generation is growing up in Utah
under the influence of the polygamous
theory OF the family. The generation
now growing, like the generation which
has reached maturity, consists of per-
sons born of polygamous marriages. To
deal successfully with this part of the
problem is the great thing. The parents
of such persons have bestowed upon
them all the care and attention that
their circumstances in life have per-
mitted, and they see that in the sup
preston OF polygamy there is a possible
conviction of a father. Is there any diff
ficulty in understanding why such chill
dren do not lend themselves readily to
the enforcement OF the Edmunds law?
This is not all. These children are
taught from earliest infancy that
marriage is sacrament. The law says
to them that marriage is civil contract
over which the law, and the law alone,
has jurisdiction. Behold the cause of
great obstacle in the enforcement OF the
law. What is to be expected from those
who are born OF polygamous marriages
SO far as the enforcement OF the anti-po-
lygamy law is concerned? 1t is vain and
useless to expect children so born to
array themselves on the side OF the anti
polygamy law SO long as their parents are
living. 1t does not augur cowardice and
a want OF independence on the part of
such children that they do not array them
selves in opposition to their parents; and
that flial reverence and respect
which Nature herself has planted in the
bosom of man will ever be stronger than
the law of any land. This is only part
OF tho difficulty in this particular respect.
A great many of these children believe in
the polygamous system of marriage, and
think that when the State seeks to claim
its own that the State is entrenching upon
their religious rights. The doctrine to
which they give credence have been, and
are being, most industriously preached
throughout the Territory. Along with
this doctrine there is also preached
another doctrine, doctrine that equally
complicates the Utah problem. This
other doctrine is that this life is only
probation, and that as it is made use
OF in this world so will be the
reward or punishment to be be-
slowed in the hereafter. Any one
who will stop to think for moment will
fully recognize all the difficulties we have
indicated. How shall this mighty prob
lem be solved? The Omaha Herald sug-
gests that Statehood be conferred upon
Utah. Whether Statehood is ever con-
ferred upon Utah or not, certain it is that
polygamy will always be crime upon
the statute book, and no attempt to make
it legal will ever be successful There is
just as much danger OF slavery being
made lawful as OF polygamy being legal
lied. II Statehood were conferred upon
Utah, no doubt Utah would experience
much the same times as Kansas ex-
perienced after its organization as
a Territory. 1t is not necessary
to depict those times, but they were
times OF murder, arson and riot. But the
struggle in Kansas was different from
what it would be in Utah, because that
struggle enlisted the entire country on
the one side or the other. Utah would
would find no sympathy save from the
adherents OF the dominant church here.
II Statehood were conferred upon Utah,
it is safe to presume that there would be
minority representation provided for in
the Constitution, and such provision
would certainly precipitate the conflict
for the extirpation OF polygamy. Such
being the case, it would not be at all
unreasonable, but on the contrary most
probable, that there would be large
influx OF people from all quarters be-
cause they would readily perceive
that conflict would be inevitable,
and they would likewise see that
the provision for minority representation
would make it possible for them to infiu-
ence the course OF legislation with their