St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-01
STATEHOOn FOR Utah.

There are plenty of indications tina
the Republicans do not intend to admit
any more territories to statehood, nOwt
that they have gained all there is to be
had for their party in statemaklng, 1t
being certain that the remaining terri
tories will be Democratic states If adj
mitted. Utah has been singled out for
attack, and strenuous efforts are being
made to fOrestall public opinion by re-
viving old prejudices and creating new
ones, so as to defeat the application for
admission that will be made OH the
opening of congress. The old stories of
Mormon fanaticism are being revamped,
and the willingness of the MOrmOnS to
provide any constitutional guarantee
against polygamy that congress may
ask is said to be but a deep, cunning
trick by which they hope to get state
hood, and that then. under the sovereign
control by state of its domestic insti-
tutions, the practice of polygamY
will be legalized. This argument,
if it is worthy of that name, APP
peals solely to prejudice and bigotry.
1t insults reason. 1t assumes either
that Democrats approve of polygamy
and are willing TO cOnniye at its re-es-
adjustment in Utah, or it assumes that
they are too thick-witted TO provide in
the enabling Eand admission acts ample
guarantees against its recognition by
the safe. Either hypothesis is absurd.
1t assumes, too, that the Mormon of to-
day is the same fiercely fanatical person
who forty years ago endured persecu-
ton and exile, and it ignores the
abundant proof coming from all quar-
tiers that polygamy has been abandoned,
partly under stress of the EDMUNDS
law, but more because of the develop
ment OF better public opinion and the
conviction that social and political con-
dltions demand its abandonment.
Among the many who have noted this
change aud have borne their testimony
to it in the press is Congressman W. l..
WILSON, of West Virginia, who spent
some days at Salt Lake City on his re-
turn from his Western tour, and, in an
interview which CHAUNCEY / BLACK
gives to the New York World, says:
l addressed great audiences at Ogden and
Salt Lake City, and enjoyed privilege not
OIlen Iallll8 10 the lot OI q pubic speaker,
namely, that Of talking to many intelligent
adult people who had never heard a pOliti.
cal speech on rational issues and who had
not particularly informed themselves as to
the fundamental differences OF the two great
historic national parties. l happened to
strike Utah at what seemed to be a most in
teresting time in the history of that territory.
The contests there have hitherto been be-
tween the Liberal party. mpOsed.indiscrim-
inaJely of Democrats and Republicans hos
tile to the Mormon church and the PpODle's
party, composed chiefly of defenders of that
church. Recently. however. the leading Dem
Ocrats of that territory and the leaders of the
Peoples party have come to the conclusion,
as they expressed it to me, that, polygamy
being ''as dead as slavery" ii was both use
less and wrong to keep up the old fight and
that the time had come for the cit
liens of Utah TO divide as other
American citizens upon national lines.
! found Democratic societies organ
iZing and a great demand for speaking and
for literature. Among those actively cOun-
selling and industriOusly promoting this
movement found such men as Judge HEN
DERsON at OGDEN and Judge JUDD at Salt
Lake, two Of Mr. CLEvELAND's appoiutees as
members of the territorial supreme court;
and Mr.. MCNUTT, late Gentle candidate for
mayor Of Ogden; and of the MOrmOns, Mr..
CAIN, the very intelligent delegate in con-
gress, and the RICHARDS brothers, leading
lawyers of those two cities respectively.
[ tab is growing and prosperous territory
that has already OuJstupDed in population
and wealth most OF the new states recently
admitted into the Union, and am sure that
American citizens everywhere ought to re-
jOice in the Abandonment of pOlygamy
and in the prosperous future that seems to
await that growing section, and 10 encourage
the formation of national parties there when
assured by trustworthy and discreet men OF
both sides on the spot that the Old fight is
ended and that its past controversies and
bitterness may be buried.