Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-15
REPORT OF THE UTAH COMMISSION
The Law DISTINGUISHING Polygamists Fully
Enforced.

The Utah commission, by its chairman,
A. Is. Carleton has filed with the secretary
of the interior its annual report, of which
the following is a synopsis:
During the year the law regarding the
acknowledgements OF polygamists and those
living in unlawful cOhabitation has been
! fully and successfully enforced All such
persons, with very few, If any, exceptions,
have been excluded from voting and hold
ing offices. A large number have been
fined and imprisor I'd in the penitentiary
for polygamy or unlawful cohabitation,
chiefly for the latter offense. Ii IL
reported and believed by many resident
non Mormons that during the year large
number OF polygamous marriages have
taken place III the temples OF Logan City
and st. George We have not the means
OF verifying such reports, yet we have no
doubt that Il considerable number of such
marriages have been celebrated, with the
knowledge appreciation and active CO
operation of leading men of the Mormon
church. Whether, upon the whole, polyg-
amous marriages are upon the decrease in
Utah, Is II matter of which different opin-
ions are expressed but undoubtedly many
have been restrained by the fear of dis
fanchiSement and the penitentiary. AMI
we think II Is safe to say that in the more
enlightened portions OF the territory, as,
for example, Salt Lake City and its vicin-
ity, very few polygamouS marriages have
occurred within the last year.
Referring To the joint resolution now
pending in both houses of congress, pro.
posing an amendment TO the constitution
Of the United States prohibiting and
punlshkg polygomy in all the states and
territories, extending the Judicial power
of the Federal government TO the prose
cution of such ofienses the report says
Nv lille we are of opinion that this should
not supersede other measures, We are
satisfied that il would be an efficient fac
tor in calculating the desired result. In
addition 10 the reasons presented by the
judiciary committee we suggest that tho
incOrporators of this provision in the con
stitutiOn would serve as an advertisement
TO the people of all civilized nations. that
IN the United States polygamy had been
put under ban in the most authoritative
and emphatic manner
The report calls attention TO the magui-
tude of the evil 10y saving that there are
more than 100000 Mormons in the world
"A large majority of whom live in Utah,
and that while only portion of them
practice polygamy they all believe in il
rs Il divine relation: have been taught il
in their schools and churches for a third of
"A century; are led 10y men of great skill
and ability, and are fanatical to a marked
degree; that the only Immediately effect
i've remedy would be the use of the
military; but that the sense OF modern
civilization will not permit the employ
ment of bayonets against women and
children. Yet, the American people re-
gard polygamy aS IA crime and IL cannot
be ignored by the government. Here we
may say that while we recognize the obi
cation of the government To protect the
personal and property rights of the Nor
mon people, and TO deal with them as
equals before the law, Yet IT is equally the
duty of the government to punish crime
within its jurisdiction, and religious lib
erty cannot be pleaded as bar TO punish
ment for criminal acts in violation OF the
laws of the land and of social order. If
present laws and the proposed constitu-
tional amendments are not sufficient TO
suppress the evil more stringent enact
ments must be adopted and the result
will be that, at no distant day this relic
of Asiatic barbarism. this blot on the fair
fame of America, viii be swept from the
land -