The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-15
TIE Part That ths Government Has Played
in MarmcniEm.
Kate FIELDS dMOrmOn HOrrOr"-DIoraIs of
MOrmOns-A Curious Quasi Defense
or MOrm0nism, Etc.
Written for the Sentinel.
copyrighted, 1888 J

The history of the Mormon people is q
romance in real life, more interesting than
the often far-fetched conceit of the novelist
Nand in some instances has been mora tragic
than the distorted conceptions of the the
atrical siege. Foreign nations, as lockers
on, must be amused and puzzled at oul
treatment of question that has within
the last few years become of so much legis
lative consideration, and in which the
Federal Government has appeared not only
as the oOnservator of the morals of that
Territory, but as the expoundeI
OF what its religions creed ought to
be, and. finally, as the trustee or commit.
tee OF all OF the available property of the
Mormon Church. The Government ha:
initiated the typical guardian in this in.
stance, and the proceeds of the trust have
been virtually confscated, so that the
Mormon people are to-day paying into the
hands OF the Government trustees S276 per
month for the privilege of worshiping in
their own tabernacle and occupying their
own parsonage and other church buildings
built by their own money and by their
own work. II the Government can do this
with the Mormon Church, il will not take
any greater stretch Of authority 10 confis-
cate In The same way the property of the
Catholic Church, the joss House OF the
Ch1Demap, or the magnificent edihces of
the Methodists.
7 Utah was organized as a Territory more
than thlrty-seven years ago, and for more
than quarter OF a century the Federal
Govern ment tolerated polygamy in her
midst until IL became fixed fact-an in
stitution; received and swore in as dele
gates TO represent the Territory avowed
polygamists, and then, with a sudden
spasm Of virtue, commenced an attack
upon the system-a war of determination
which for vir1lency and bitterness, for
Misrepresentation and oppression, exceeded
the horrors OF coercion and eviction in
Ireland, about which our sympathies have
been so greatly excited. 1t not only for
Dade plural marrisges and disfranchised
all polygamists, but punished men for
living with plural wives to whom they had
Deen married for scoI es of years. and who
with their infant children, were dependent
upon them for support. The txpOuuders
OF the law went beyond the letter, and
made the casual recognition OF the former
wife appear as the continuance of toe mar
rage relation, and punished the parties
accordingly; one Judge declaring from the
bench during nv sojouru in the Territory
that the object of tine Edmunds law was
not for the iDc1lcation of morality, but for
the suppression Of religion"
The Government. under the Edmunds-
fTucker set, then disfranchised not only
all poly gamous Mormons of the male per-
suaston, but all women of whatever creed
or condition, whether believing in the
Mormon or Christian religion, or non-be-
itevers, although these women had been
peaceably and orderly casting their ballots
Tor twelve years; had not been charged
with or convicted of crime; and no init.
nation had ever been made that auy one
OF these women had, or desired to nave
more than one husband. No absolute
oespoiism could have more fully iufringed
upon the rights Of American citizens than
old the Government upon these Mormon
women.
But they bore il slI uncompIsininelv.
took up their own burden of work. ban5ed
themselves together for protection. sang
ana Plsyed together, believing that out of
Trials Seuld come blessings, even as bless.
: 1ngs bad come in the early DAYS of their
tribulst ions, until their places OF worsbin
were seized, and portion of the burden OF
rent cane upon them.
BY vigorous execution of the Edmunds
law, polygamy was suppressed. Bat not
more than two per cent of the whole num-
tical polygsmists. But this small nnmbsr
sunced to throw the Territory into
sucn disrepute that the whole
Cnrlstlan world threw up its hands
IN molly horror, until, as ruIe.
10 christian man or woman believed that
ne or she were wholly absoIved from ain
unui ne mad publicly denounced Those
no.. Mormons." TWAS also noticeable
Iact that those members of Congress most
urgent ior the enactment of stringent laws
against the Mormous we're those whose
reproach. "'''o
but the Edmunds Law was far.reacb.
ing In its application, and extended
20 20 al OF the Territories It included
the district Of Columbia-a Territory |
exclusively under the control of the
mn n'e1 states Congress, where no law |
nao previously been enacted to pun. |
ISM the most fragrant offenses charged |
against these rebellious Mormons. Toe |
GIsulct attorney was not slow to discover |
Inc appncatlon OF the law, and already
score Of cases under it have been up before
our police court judge. But perhaps the |
Most amusing thing in connection with /
Oh columbia is the remarks OF ]. KandoInb /
iucker, OF Virginia, prominent member
OF the House during its passage. "Whv."
ne exclaimed recently in talking about /
ne CIaWford CASA test case appealed tn
sne District Supreme Court" / never
0resmed OF that law being applicable to /
me District OF ColumbiAl II had would
40. nave voted for il. That law was in
tended for the Mormonsi'
~ SemS RdtS + Iel0 WIFI 0ef mormon
aorror to thrill excited audiences: aud
angie Nevam with a pamphlet which she
Wss paid for publishing aud distributing
en ong the members of thu United States
- = ogress, with stories as wild and unreli-
81 as that of Aladdin's lamp in the
= rsoian Nights" The people did not
~ ysstigate, but accepted on sight the
oest ysssrles and most narrowing tales
ut the Mormons.
The facts that these people are and have
IN frugal, industrious, moral:
ILat they had no almshouses,
saloons, or brothels in Their
midst until instituted by the so-cslled
5entiles and sustained by the Federal
courts; that they had their Cooperative
Itores, mills, and manufactures that gave
'mploy ment TO the unemployed; that thew
had their public school system, into which
heir children were gathered, open TO ali
ike; that their children were well born.
yell bred, and well educated, and the wo.
mem aswen informed and cultured as the
masses ofAmerican women; that the men
10 no swear, drink intoxicants, or smoke
vere all swallowed up in the ony CIV
sPolygmous Mormonslb
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