Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-04-29
PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL
POLYGAMISTS

The Mormon press and oral advocates
virtually give away their case when they
acknowledge the justice OF punisling the
actual practicers OF polygamy and con-
denim the disfranchisement OF those who
believe in but do not practice it. Grant
ing that polygamy is crime, which it is
under the law, is not the organization
which supports it a criminal institution,
and every member accessory to the
crimes which are perpetrated secretly
under its sanction and projections Can
any reasonable argument be urged why
any discrimination should be made be-
tween the members of such an organiza-
ton, whether principals or aiders and
abettors in the crimes committed under
it? If the suppression OF polygamy is
desirable, should the strong arm Of the
law strike only at those who
practice it, and shield and foster
those whose cooperation is Il hindrance
and impediment to the successful execri-
tion OF the law? The proposition is un-
tenabe and absurd upon IFS face. 1t is
the fixed determination of the Govern
ment to abolish this twin relic of barbar-
ism, and it would be the height OF folly
TO permit the retention OF means for the
thwarting Of its purposes. 1t makes no
difference, practically, whether the local
Offices are filled with actual polygamists
or those who sympathize with them, and
who being absolutely under their control,
use their official positions 10 encourage
the continuance OF the crime sought to be
abolished, and to shield the criminals
1t cannot be maintained that the bills
now pending in Congress propose
to disfranchise people on account
of their opinions or belief. 1t is on ac
from such opinions or belief 1t is be-
cause they abuse their political power by
maintaining Il local government and
electing local officers hostile to the Fed
eral Government and its Territorial rep
resentatives. Instead OF assisting in the
execution of the Federal laws for the
punishment OF polygamy and unlawful
cohabitation, the entire force of the local
government, which is absolutely the
Mormon Church, is arrayed against the
enforcement OF the National statutes.
The act of maintaining such govern
ment by those who sympathize with po-
lygamy is the reason for their disfran-
chsement, and not because OF their
opinions or belief. 1t is not the policy OF
the National Government to permit the
further obstruction OF its laws by a
hostile organization, which, possess
ing the power, is constantly ex-
ercising it for the encouragement and
protection of the class of crime which the
President and Congress have evinced
such firm determination to suppress.
The proposed test oath will be applied
alike to all, Mormons and Gentiles, and
it contains nothing which any loyal or
law-abiding person could possibly object
to. The only objection must arise from
connection with an organization which
encourages disobedience to the National
law, and no person endorsing the acts of
such an institution should be permitted
to further its reasonable ends by means
OF the elective franchise. In short, there
is no reason applying to the disfranchise-
ment of polygamists which is not equally
forcible as relating to their political aid
ers and abettors.