Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-09-23
The ~MORMON, PERPLExITY.


DemOcT0t Of September 18th:
"The report Of the Utah Commits
sion for the past year resembles all
Preceding ones in the important re-
spect that It urges the necessity Of
more stringent legislation 10 solve the
Mormon problem. Congress has been
passing laws for that purpose from
time TO time for many years, and still
the perplexity remains. Mormonism
seems TO be practically just as strong
as it ever was. The successive blows
inflicted upon il have done it some
harm, doubtless. but in each instance
st has recovered and gone on growing.
There are more MorTnons in Utah
now than ever, aad they keep coming
from different quarters, principally
beyond the Atlantic, the same as il
nothing had been done by the
Government 10 suppress the mon
strOus iniquity which has 50 long
made Utah a national reproach. The
Mormon Church maintains its abso-
iute power over is members, both
spiritually and temporarily. the edicis
Of the priesthood are implicitly
Obeyed, and there are no signs Of that
revolt against ecclesiastical tyranny
which has so often been predicted.
After all the penalties that have been
provided for those who indulge in a
plurality Of wives, the commission
declares that polygamy continues to
be practiced; and the opinion is added.
curiously enough, that the only real
hope Of abating the evil lies in the
possible remuneration OF the dociIins
as part OF the Mormon creed.
at Is astonishing, TO say the Least.
that no way can be found to deal effec-
lively with this great wrong. The
power Of the government is practically
unlimited in the case, and public sen
timent is decidedly inimical to Nor
mon interests Of every kind. This
implies thatthe task should be an easy
one, but some how it is not. Some Of
the legislation upon the subject has
been very drastic, and the courts have
enforced 1t with reasonable rigor, and
vet the much-desired contamination
does not come TO pass. There is some
thing lacking somewhere, il is easy 10
understand but ii Is not SO easy to say
what or where the trouble is. Most
likely, however, the chief mistake has
been in no. directly and thoroughly
taking away the occupation Of the
priesthood. The leaders OF the Church
are its chief strength. They rule
as so many autocrats, acknowledge
ing no sense Ct duty except
their own inclinations, and reeoS-
mixing no law except those which they
personally make or dictate. The Nor
mon problem will nsver be solved, it
Il safe 10 say, 50 long as they are per
mitted % exercise such sway over
their followers. They are men OF ex-
tuaordinary ability in ther way. thor
oughly acquainted with the weak
nssses Of human nature, and quick 10
seiEs every advantage that may he
presented. II these adroit and IN
sorupulous individuals could be de-
prived Of their power for mischief
the whole mater would soon adjust
itself in a sound and wholesome man
ner. They are the principal Stumbling
blocks. and no legislation can prove
satisfactory that leaves them IN POS
session Of snch authority as they now
have. How 10 disiodge them is a
difficult question, but il Is neverthe-
less the vital question. and Congress
can not afford TO evade or posipose il. -
These remarks were prompted by
the dispatches which have been
sent from this city giving CARRIED
extracts from the rcPor. Of the Utah
Commission for 1899. The urging
Of mote legislation TO solve the
Mormon problem, is the annual
effort Of that body in the interest OF
the "Iaibersl'' faction I'm this Terri
tory. Its object is TO deprive that
Tart Of the Mormon" people who
have not broker the law, Of every
political right aud privilege. This
is what they mean by Solving the
Mormon prsblem.''
The Glo5s Dem3crat, in common
with the greater part Of the Ameri.
can press, evidently reganis
pOlygamy as 1" Mormonism >,
and Mormonism = as poiyg-
amy. The Utah Commission know
better than that. They understand
that all the legislation necessary.
and great deal more, to handle the
polygamy question has bren en-
acted. And further, that the doc
trine Of plural marriage, even when
II was openly advocated and prac-
ticed, was but one out OF a very large
number Of tenets that made up the
creed Of "MormOnism.' Also tia:
plural marriage apart, the re-
ligion Of the Llttsr-liy ) iuts Is As
much above the reach o! Law rs the
religion Of any boiy OF wOrshippers
in the land.
Does the G5o5e Democrat seriously |
claim that Congress has Of right any
authority or power to interfere with |
such a religion? II not, why should |
Accessions TO the "Niormon'' Church |
trouble the editors Of that paper or |
anybody else: Or DO they mean to
say that the practically unlimited /
power OF the government" extends
to the regulation Of religious BELIEF /
They may answer that all they /
mean by that power is the authority |
10 suppress practices that are de-
clared TO be criminal. IL that is the 1
case, We unhesitsiingly affirm that
laws to that effec: are in force in ]
Utah more potently and efIectually /
than in any other part Of the United
States Moreover, there have been
less convictions for polygamy for
two or three years past than there
have been for bigamy in other parts
OF Ibis great and moral country.
The records OF courts will demon
strate the truth Of this statement.
II 1t be urged that the report Of
the Utah Commission alleges 10 the
contrary, we answer, we do not be-
lieve it. The concocter Of false dis
patches in this city may have stated
thst the Commissioners have 50 de-
clared, but that is another thing.
We are OF the opinion that the report
when published will disProve his
assertion. But whether they have
stated or not that eighty or forty or
twenty pOlyganlOus marriages have