The Indianapolis journal., 1890-05-20
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

Green River Misunderstanding Against Polygam-
ists-Meat Inspection Law Unconstitutional
WASHINGTON, May 19-In the suit be-
tween the States of Kentucky and Indiana
over Green river island. situated on the
northern side of the Ohio river, very near
Indiana. the Supreme Court of the United
Field. holds that the island belongs to Ken
tucky.
SORE DEFEAT TO MORMON HOPES.
The court rendered an opinion of vital
interest to the Mormon Church in the suit
of the Church of Latter-day Saints against
the United States, which comes on appeal
from the decision of the Supreme Court of
Utah In favor of the United States. This
court affirms that Judgment The case
grows out of the passage Of the Edmunds
gress. This law, among other things, dis
solved the Mormon Church corporation,
annulled it's charter, directed the appoint
ment of receiver to wind up its affairs
and escheated to the United States all tho
of $4,000, which was not on the date
of the passage of the act, held for
purposes of worship or burial When the
United States, under the terms of this act,
began proceedings TO confiscate about $780,
600 worth of property belonging to the
church, the Mormons immediately entered
suit to have the Ednuuds law declared un-
constitutional. IL was argued before tho
Supreme Court in their behalf that Con-
gress, by the dissolution of the church cor
that the act of the Legislative assembly or
Utah in incorporating the church consti-
tuted contract, which could not be I'M,
paired by Congress under its authority to
repeal territorial enactments. lt was also
held that the doctrine of escheat was alien
to the spirit Of free institutions. and that it
had never been applied In this country 70
church or charitable corporation. On the
part Of the United States IL was contended
that Congress had authority to repeal all
territorial enactments; that the act incor-
porating the church was invalid as
an attempt to establish q religion
contrary to the provisions of the Cohstitu-
tion. aud that, moreover the charter should
as. when the church corporation was dis
solved, there was no one to whom to turn
over the property. it escheated to the
United States.
gushing Feature of Mormonism Is well
known 10 be polygamy and an absolute &C.
clesiastical control of its church members
Notwithstanding all the efforts made to
suppress this barbarous practice OF polyg-
ANY, the sect perseveres, in defiance OF law,
in propagatipg and promoting this nefari.
Gus doctrine. The existence of such prop
aganda Is blot on our civilization. The
organization of a community for the spread
of poly gamy Is q return to barbarisrl. Tho
question. therefore, is whether the promo
ton of such an unlawful system, so repug-
nant TO our laws, Is TO be allowed 10
continue. and whether the enormous funds
which have been accumulated shall DO
welded for the propagation OF the obnox-
ious practice--for the promotion of an or
ganized rebellion against the law or the
United States. The history of the govern.
ment's dealings with the Mormons Is one OF
patience on the part of the American gov
ernment, and of resistance TO law and pitt
less atrocities on the part of the Mormons.
the Morinon's religious belief Is q sophis-
tical plea. No doubt the thugs of India
imagined that their belief In assassination
was q religious belief. but that did not
make it So. Society has perfect right 70
sentiment Of mankind. Since the church