Fergus County argus., 1886-10-21

The Utah Commission, 10y it's chair
man. A. b. Charleston, has filed with
the secretary of the Interior it annual
report, OF which the following is a sy-
popsis: During the year the laws
r,.r, riding the disfranchisement Of po-
Iycamists and those living in unlawful
rehabilitation have been fully and s,ic-
ressfully enforced. All such persons
with but few, if any exceptions-have
been excluded from holding offices. y
large number have been fined and inn
prisoned in the penitentiary for polyg-
amy and unlawful cohabitatlon,
chiefly for the latter Oifense.
1t is reported and believed by many
residents and nOn-Mormons that dur
ing the year a large number of mar
riages have taken place IN the temples
at Logan and st. George. We have
not the means OF verifying such re-
ports vet. We have no doubt that ~
considerable number OF such marri.
aoes have ceen celebrated with the
knowledge, approval and co-operi,-
| tion oi the leading men OF the Mormon
Church. Upon the whole that poiyg-
| amous marriages are on the decrease
| in Utah is u matter on which different
opinions are expressed, but updo,ibt-
edly many have been restrained 10y
| fear OF disfranchisement and the pen
itentiary, and We think it safe to say
that in the more enlightened portions
of the territory, as for instance salt
Lake and its vicinity, very few polyg
amous marriages have occurred within
the past year.
Referring to the Joint resolution now
pending in both houses Of congress
proposing an amendment to the con-
stitution OF the United states prOhib-
iting and Furnishing polygamy in all
the states and territories, and extend
ing the judicial power of the Federal
government to the prosecution of such
oifenseS. the report says: "While we
are of the opinion that this should
not s,lpercede the present measure, We
. are satisfied that it would be an eiii-
cient factor in eifecting the desired re-
suit. In addition to the reasons pre-
serted by the Judiciary committee. we
suggest the Incorporation of this pro-
vision in the cOnst tuition would serve
as an advertisement to the people OF
all the civilized nations that in the
United States polyglniy has been put
under Il ban in n most authoritative
: and emphatic manner.
The report calls attention to the
J magnitude of the evil by saying that
there are more than 2OO,Ooo Nor
mons in the world, a large ma iority of
e whom live in Utah, and that while
only a portion of them practice po-
} lvgany they all beleveinit asa divine
. revelations. and have been taught IT
? ia schools and churches for IL third al
IA century; are led by men OF great
IA skill and ability and are fanatical ~
= the last degree. That the only imme
a date and effective remedy would he
= to Use the military, but the sense o
: modern civilization will not pc. ni'
e he employment OF bayonets against
J. women and children. Yet the .Amori
II can people regard polyganiy as =
l. crime, and ii cannot be ipnoredhy tl'
y goyernmet. Here We may say that
- while We recognize the obligation %
the government IN protect the per-on'
i, and property and the right, of tin
- , Mormon, people, and to deal VIII
them aseguals before the law, yet Il
e j. hr inll duty OF the government t'
y punish crimes within its jurisdiction
= and religious liberty canno. bepleadc,
p as bar to the punishment for Grim
inal acts ia violation OF the law oi Tia
land aud of social order Ii the pres
ent laws and proposed constitutions,
, amendment are not sufficient 10 sup
l.. press the evil, more tring-nt entrt
I'd ments must he adopted, and the IA
a. sui will be that at no distant day TIN
~ relic of ASiatic harbari>m. tlh- bio
d on tine fair fanc al America, will h
,! swept from the Land"