Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-14
eureka Dailp 5entutfl.
THURSDAY. JANUARY IA, 1856.
THE MORmONs.

I%nasmuch as the people Of Eastern Ne.
vada are specially interested in q thor
ough solution OF the Mormon problem,
we reproduce the following from Har-
per's Weekly Of the 9th instant, which,
to our mind, is a plain statement of the
greater portion of the existing situation
aud many of the difficulties which must
be overcome in q legal and legitimate
way before the desired end is realized:
The Mormon bill OF Senator Edmunds
proposes to deal with an exceedingly per-
picking subject in a very trenchant way.
1t proceeds upon the principle that the
public welfare is the highest law. But
in considering safeguards Of the public
welfare, the expediency of any proposed
course, as determined by the actual facts
Of the situation. becomes Of paramount
Importance. Bigamy. and Of course
polygamy, Is a gross violation Of law, and
the ordinary, sporadic bigamist is readily
punished upon conviction. But a vast
community, thoroughly organized upon a
religious basis, and protesting to regard
~polygamy as a divine institution, cannot
be dealt with like a single offender. The
~otlense, indeed. becomes no more tolera-
Bile because it is committed in alleged
obedience to a religious conviction, but
the method OF its etfectual suppression.
under such circumstances, is q very great
question. The law of the land must as
sert itself against the individual offender.
But if the law Furnishes, or seems to pun.
sob ,nau g., lie ,al,cra ba1,af tho
mischief will be inevitably very great.
Many Mormon leaders have been con-
victed of practical ~polygamy and have
been sent to prison. But the great relig.
ious organization which supports them,
and maintains their oifense to be obedi.
ence to God, remains absolutely I'M.
touched; and it is against this that the
law OF Senator Edmunds is directed.
The bill imposes upon the Mormon
Church organization a certain number OF
trustees ON behalf Of the United States.
and requires q strict enforcement OF the
law forbidding any religious corporation
or association in a Territory to hold more
than $j0.0 900 worth of real estate, and
provides that all beyond this sum shall
be forfeited to the United States. The
bill also dissolves the Emigrating Fund
Company. Such a proposed law suggests
serious questions. Ought the property
of a religious corporation to be contiscat.
ed because some OF its members violate
laws, for which violation they may be,
and actually are punished? Or. in plain
words, ought the United States-that is
to say. is it alphabetically to break
up the Mormon Church? Undoubtedly
polysamy is a tenet Of the Mormon faith.
and polygamy, as an offense against the
laws, may be justly punished. 1t is un-
deniable. also, that any organization in
the country which aims to the subver-
sion of the Government by resisting its
authority may be dealt with as a public
enemy. This is not to be questioned.
But it is equally unquestionable that re.
ligious liberty is guaranteed to every cit.
izsn, and that penal law deals only with
acts and not with opinions. A man may
hold the EXTREMIST communistic doc.
trines, but he is amendable to the law
only when he begins to steal. 1t is not a
society which teaches certain views, but
the person who reduces them to practice,
that the law can reach.
The Mormon question is a very diff
cult one, because whatever looks like
persecution for religious opinions sake
would instantly react in favor OF those
who are held to be victims. The whole
force of the Government should be
brought to bear upon the enforcement of
the laws against bigamy and polygamy.
as it should be against any extensive and
organized and defiant violation Of the
laws protecting life and property. II.
then. beyond this there should be found
any association. whether calling itself re.
ligious or political or industrial or scien-
ti6c. organized to- resist the laws, it
should be summarily dispersed. In this
all good citizens will agree. But any at
tempt to punish opinions would be a very
serious blunder. This. of course. is as
evident to Senator Edmnnds as to any
one else, and when his bill comes up for
consideration he will undoubtedly show
that it is not fairly susceptible OF that in.
depreciation.
Leprosy is declared by the Lansing