Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-03


sition. The latter claimed that the Mormons
are dlstranchised because they vote the
Democratic ticket.
WASHINGTON, April 2.-In the House
to-day the bill providing for the admission
of Idaho as a State was considered. Mr..
Dorsey, of Nebraska. in charge of the bill,
opened the debate with speech in its favor.
The only opposition to the admission of
Idaho, he said, came from the Mormons.
They protested against the provision of the
Constitution which disfranchises bigamists
and polygamists, and persons who are mem
bers of any association which encourages
bigamy.
Mr.. Mansur, of Missouri, promised his
remarks with disclaimer of any sympathy
with the institution of polygamy. but he
criticised the provision of the Constitution
disfranchlsing the Mormons. The real
reason for disfranchising the Mormons was
that the Mormons in Idaho voted the Demo-
cratic ticket. 1t was not question of prin-
ciple but of expediency.
AN EARNEST ADVOCATE.
Mr.. Dubois, of Idaho, earnestly advo-
Gated the admission of the Territory he rep
resented into the brotherhood of States.
Criticising the minority report he said that
it proposed that bigamists and polygamists
should vote in Idaho. What right had the
members of the minority to impose upon
Idaho conditions which had never before
been imposed upon any State coming into
the Union?
There was, he said, in Idaho a genus
home, known as the Jack Mormon, who,
while denouncing polygamy and bigamy,
obeyed all the behests of the Mormon
priests. Were the gentleman from Illinois,
(Mr. Springer) to live in Idaho, he would
probably be known as Jack Mormon" ,"
He closed his discussion of the Mormon
question by saying that the issue was fairly
Joined here. IT the gentlemen were in
earnest in their desire to crush this corrupt
institution, which had been a disgrace and
stain upon the National honor for half a
century, the opportunity was offered.
BITTER DENUNcIATIoN.
On the one hand was commercial and
political organization, held together by
crime; on the other as brave and loyal peo-
Pile as ever founded State. Would Con-
gress sustain this reasonable institution, or
would it hold up the hands of the brave
pioneers who had gone to Idaho, who on this
proposition had abandoned all party ties,
and united in saying, "We earnestly desire
Statehood, but we desire it only for loyal
American citizens" Give Idaho Statehood
under her constitution and the Mormon
question will soon be an issue of the past.
Mr.. Smith, of Arizona, earnestly de-
nounced the action of the Committee on Ter
ritories in failing to report bill for the ad-
mission of the Territory he represented.
His people had been unfairly treated. Ari-
zona had every qualification for Statehood
which Montana, Dakota or Washington
possessed. But the bill for her admission
was to be smothered in committee simply
because she had seen fit to send Democrat
to this Congress. 1t was unfair treatment,
and he voiced the Republican as we'll as
Democratic sentiment of his Territory in
protesting against it. He was reminded Of
the invocation of the child who was going
West. In concluding her prayer she said:
"Goodby, God; I am going to Arizona in
the morning." Laughter. The Commit
tee on Territories said to him: "Goodby,
Smith: you are going to Arizona to stay,
simply because you are a Democrat."
[ Laughter If he had thousand votes he
would cast every one of them for the admis-
sion Of Idaho and Wyoming; but he ap-
pealed for fairplay for the people he repre-
sented.
A YOUTHFUL MISTAKE.
The Territory of New Mexico (with a pop
ulation greater than Idaho and Wyoming
was also kept in the background.
Was it because poor Joseph (the delegate)
had started wrong in his youth and had be-
come a Democrat?
Mir. Chapman. Of Michigan, while favor
ing the admission of all the Territories,
the proposed Constitution of
Idaho as an invasion of sacred individual
and religious rights. Polygamy was a
crime which should not be tolerated, but
the Constitution closes to the accused
the courts, the only sure asylums
against passion and corruption. He
was no apologist for Mormonism.
But there was demagogy of virtue just
Is there was hypocrisy OF religion. To
stand here to condemn Mormonism seemed
to him to be mean piece of business. There
was no risk and no bravery. 1t was cheap
and it was easy. He condemned polygamy
.oot and branch. II. q Mormon was con-
ycted of that crime he should be punished.
But Mormons were American citizens, and
should be accorded the same rights as other
citizens.
Mr.. Perkins. of Kansas, spoke in favor of
he bill, and pending further debate the
natter went over until tomorrow.
M