The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-08

luton requiring all marriages to be
openly solemnized.
Nh. MoSTGoMERY-They will pass any
bill, they will make any statement, they
will make any promise, they will do
anything while this bill is pending in
Congress to secure admission as a
State. This is the old story of Samson
and Delilah. Congress and the people
OF this country are represented by
Samson, and Delllah represents these
Mormon lawyers and the Mormon lob
bylsts and the Mormon people. The
Mormon people are keeping still, and
behaving moderately well for q few
months Just now, for purpose, while
this bill is pending, but the locks to De
shorn Oft III thls plav. if Utah is ad-
United as Sta e, aie the honor 81 o #
country and Iht virtue of our r ,cky
Mountain sisters
SENATOR PAYNR-You saw one-fourth
OF the p ople ar, Gentiles ami they are
intelligent and respectable, and verv
many OF them wealthy, an" your mis-
sionary societies are expanding several
hundred thousand dollars year in edu-
cation there, introducing teachers
among them. That is done by all the
denominations. Now, you have not
confidence in those agencies, and those
influences being sufficient to control
the Territory of Utah?
Mr.. MoNTGoMERY-I am glad you
have asked that question. 1t brings up
a point was coming to later. The re-
ligious denominations are perfectly
ready to deal with the religious features
OF the case. That is what we want to
do, what we are anxious to do. We do
n 81 Il do = Hok
direction; we simply ask Congress to
break the civil power of the Mormon
Church that holds this Territory in O
grasp that is stronger than any grasp
the Gar puts upon his subjects.
SENATOR PAYNR-The civil power ex-
tends to everything-to constables,
school teachers, and so on?
MR. MoNTGoMERY-The power of the
Mormon Church extends to everything
a man does in this world, from the time
he takes his first breath until it laws him
under the sod-civil, polite i, financial,
religious and everything else.
SENATOR BUTLER-Just on that point
you say you want Congress to break
the civil power of the Mormons?
ME-. MONTGOMERY want Congress
to take the power away from the Nor
mons.
SENATOR BUTLER-Whata authority has
Congress TO take the civil power from
the MormOns any more than il has, say,
from the Democrats of New Mexico?
Mr.. MoNTG oMERY-Is say take the civil
power away from that Territory, as
Territory, from Gentiles, MormoDs and
all alike, and then appoint legislative
commission under the control of Con-
gress.
SENATOR BUTLER-Assum che that that
crusade is gong 10 be made against the
civil power Of any section Of this c0un-
try, what is going to be the end of II?
If enc set of peGpte have the right tC
come 10 Congress, and ask Congress to
take away the civil power from set Ct
people simply because they exercise it,
what is 30 be the limit Uuon it?
Mr.. MoNTGoMERY-BUL Utah Territory
is ward of Congress, aid Congress
has control.
SENATOR BUTLER-30 is New Mexico.
and so is Washington Territory.
Mr.. MONTGOMERY - Certainly, and
when the people of New Mexico or any
other Territory have shown by long
history that they are utterly repugnant
to our institutions, snd not to be trusted
with legislation, it is time, it seems to
me, for Congress to step in and be repre-.
sented there.
SENATOR BUTLER-You say "repug-
nant to our institutions" I would sup
pose that the denunciation of the crime
of bigamy and plurality of wives and
by Congress, would termin-
ate that part of it.
Mr.. NTGoMERY-Polygamy is only
one of the features of Mormonism.
SENATOR BUTLER-They say that is
their religion, just as Baptists and Con-
gregationalists say they have certain
tenants of belief, and Catholics and
have certain tenants of
belief. Whilst 1 sympathize very
largely with what you say in regard to
the evils which may have been promul-
gated by their church, I cannot see my
way very clearly to make crusade
against the civil power of any particu-
lar locality, simply because they are eK-
ercising it not according to our ideas.
Mr.. MoNTGoMERY-The point is this:
Take away the legislative power of
Utah Territory as it now stands, and
appoint legislative commission which
will represent Congress. and carry out
its views. Let us not go on longer with
this disgrace and dishonor to our ma
ton.
:. SENATOR GRAY-In other words, de-
prive them of self-government?
: Mr.. MoNT GoMERY-Notb by any cans.
Let this legislative commission be ap-
pointed of Utah citizens. 1t can re-
present, if you please. all parties there.
. SENATOR PAYNE-But if two-thirds of
the people have no voice in it, is not
that depriving them of self-govern-
ment?
Mr.. MoNTGoMERY-At present, the
Gentle population have no voice except
they have five members OF the Legisla-
ture. They have no controlling inf1u-
ence. and they have no power in the
of the Territory.
SENATOR PAYNE-A minority has not
not even in the United
States Senate.
Could any man stand on more IN
lair, dishonorable ground than Mont
somery2 The testimony speaks for it
self so strongly that it would only be
waste of time to do more than say he
advanced nothing but the old. hack
Keyed arguments against the Mormon
Church, supported by the same old,
empty statements that have done duty
or the Gentle element for many years
,ast.
TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION
moves with q deliberation that ia tn