Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1886-11-19
Majorities should Rule.
Saints Herald.

an article in the Tribune from the
pen of o. J. HOLSTER, has the follow
ing:
"Whatever powers the Constitu-
ton has conferred upon the govern
ment, it may freely use. If the Con-
stitution has expressedly given to the
government the power to regulate
marriage and divorce, as it has to de-
clare war, to raise and support ar
mics, to provide and maintain navy,
or to establish postoffices, then it may
enact such laws on marriage as it
may deem most proper. But if that
power is not granted to government,
then it is an unqualified assumption
of power--if Congress undertakes to
exercise tit is usurpation that ev
cry citizen who reveres the Constitu-
ton Of his country should resist. For
upon the inviolate preservation of
that instrument depends the perpetu
alton of our free institutions. But as
there is no grant of power given to
the general government over marrl-
age or divorce, either expressly or
that may be implied, government has
no right either in State or Terrific
ry, to break up whatever domestic re-
lations may be established by the To-
cal governments either in States or
Territories. And for that reason we
hold that government has no right to
NEEDLE with the domestic concerns
of the people of Utah."
This is Brighamism in nutshell.
1t is in effect the claim that small
portion of the nation is greater than
the whole, that small portion of the
citizens of our nation can and may
adopt domestic concerns" and edo
mestlc relations" however repugnant
to the sense and interests of the mass
es, and yet the masses have no Legal.
rightful remedy, but must submit to
this small fraction of the nation who
outrage their sense of purity and de-
cency and menace what are accepted
as the dearest, most valued institu-
tions of the land-the homogeneous
home and family. This theory is the
fungus of perverted "squatter sover-
eighty" and would put to shame it's
fondest advocates. If this theory
were true, our national government
were little better than the servant
slave of cranky minorities, from the
Oneida Perfectionists and their kind,
to the Utah polygamists.
The Constitution provides that
Congress shall have power to dis
pose of, and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the terri
tory or other property belonging to
the United States" Utah is the ''ter
ritory" of the nation, and Congress
holds the right to ''make all needful
rules and regulations respecting" it.
Utah has upon her statute books no
aw providing for marriage nor in any
sense regulating it; but has denied d.
he wife the right OF dover.
If Congress has not the right to +;
make all rules and regulations res ,
'ecting the territory" embraced in =,
Utah, then that right is lost; for the !
Constitution further provides that .
The powers not delegated to the :,
United States the Nationl by the :
nor prohibited by it to y
he States, are reserved to the States ;,
espeotively, or to the people, - of the :,
Sationl. Utah is not State; and
he only legal rights the people of
hat territory may enjoy are those Ct
delegated to them by the Nation. 1t 81
folly for a territory to claim for it. W
elf the rights and powers belonging CO
, states. fc
Besides this, the genius of our ma
onal government is such that, if |
ven State adopts what is repuo- ac
ant TO the common interests of the X
alton at large, then the Nation has dc