The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-17

made plural marriages and polygamous families
| expensive. With industrial and commercial |
progress and closer relations with the outside
world the peculiar fanaticism of the old Mormon
faith began TO give way, and the revelations of
BRIGHAM YOUNG to lose their hold upon the
faithful. There is every indication that the
death of polygamy will soon be accepted as an
| irrevocable fact.
Last month the Salt Lake county committee
OF the old Mormon party. known as the
| Peoples party" disbanded, aud now the ter
ritorial committee OF the same organization has
gone out OF existence. AT the same time there
| has been great activity displayed in organizing
Democratic clubs. The Central Democratic
club. of Salt Lake county, lately put forth its
platform, which is in fun accord with the
declared principles OF the national Democracy,
and other organizations have been formed and
are still forming on the same basis in different
parts OF the territory. The anti-Mormon party
has heretofore been known as the Liberal
party" There are signs that it also is going to
pieces. Some of its members who accept in
good faith the abandonment of polygarny by the
adherents of the Mormon church, and who be-
lieve that the policy of prescription is no longer
necessary or desirable, are said to be joining
with Mormons in the Democratic organizations.
Others are likely to reorganize as Republicans.
and il is further represented that the Mormons
show a disposition to divide and to array them
selves with the regular political parties accord
ing to their sympathy for the principles and
policies which they represent, apart from the
interests of their sect or church.
This is wholesome and promising tendency.
but it will take some time for it TO work out its
legitimate results. 1t will be natural for some
time TO come for Mormons to regard with hos
tility the party which created the Utah com
mission and euacted r-nScrintiva Iooiciatiop af
fecting the power and prosperity OF their
church and the political rights of its adherents
Even with the abandonment OF polygamy they
may be apprehensive of interference with what
Is LEFT OF their religious faith and practices and
tney VIII naturally prefer the party that is sup
posed to favor the largest measure of personal
liberty ana the broadest principles of local self
government. But when the division upon the
regular lines OF political parties has been once
effected, there will be the usual competition for
votes and for political support, and this will
tend more and more to efIace the old Mormon
and anti-Mormon division, and 10 do away with
antagonism based upon sectarian grounds.
Doubtless the new political movement has in
view an application from Utah for admission
into the Union as a state. The desire of the
people for statehood and full representation in
the national government probably FASTENED the
downfall OF polygamy, which was recognized as
an inseparable barrier TO that advancement. 1t
does not follow that its abandonment has not
been made in good faith and il is certain that
It's restoration after statehood had
been acquired would be impossible. The
forces against IT would by that time have
acquired irresistible strength, and the current
could not be turned back. Moreover, the desire
for statehood may have an important effect
upon the division of parties in the territory.
Many OF the people would be ready to array
themselves with the party from which they
were most likely to obtain that boon or to sup
port the party which would give the most une-
quivocal promises on that subject. Parties
might also be ready to make the promise in the
hope Of strengthening themselves in The new
state. There is chance for competition and
rivalry on both sides and for a shifting of the
political elements under variety OF motives
until the final equilibrium has been attained.
AT all events the movement that has begun is
significant and will be watched with interest.
Sooner or later it is pretty sure to result in the
complete extinction OF polygamy beyond all
hope OF resurrection, in the effacement of the
political division religious lines, and in the
admission of Utah into the union as a state
with institutions and conditions fairly in har- |
mony with those of the rest OF the country. 1t |
may take some years to complete this process,
but it seems 20 have begun