The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-20
BILL TO ADMIT UTAH.
Delegate Rawiins Gets Away with
Morse of AIaSSachuSetts.

Delegate RaWifns Gets Away with
Morse of AIaSSachuSetts.
The house today discussed the question
OF pinning another star or the American
flag. The consideration Of the bill for
the admission Of Utah into the sisterhood
Of states was begun. The principal
point at issue was whether the enabling
act should contain a provision imposing
pains and penalty for pOlygamOus mar
r1ages, the contention on the one hand
being that the state should come in on
an equal footing with other states, I'M
handicapped by such provisions; on the
other that as pOlygamy had been stamp
ed out by federal statute and, as the ad-
mission of the territory would repeal
that statute, congress should make it
practically part of the enabling act. Mr..
Morse of Massachusetts in opposing the
Dill, took occasion to make a vicious as
sault on Utah and mOrmOnism, recall
ing all the outrages of plural marriage.
the crimes of Danites. the Mountain
Meadow massacre, blood atOnement and
the revelations of the endowment house
Mr.. Rawlins, the Utah delegate. i'm the
course of a brilliant speech championing
the bill, replied to Mr.. Morse and worsted
the representative from the Bay state
very badly. He opposed the amendment
proposed relative to polygamy as too
complex, but expressed a perfect willing
ness to accept simple amendment sug-
geSted by Mr.. Powers of Vermont pro-
hibiting polygamous marriages forever.
Mr. Harter of Ohio opposed the bill
on the ground that 1t gave a sparsely
settled western territory too much in
fiuence in the senate. The general i'm
preston seemed to be that his real OBJ
jet was to prevent the election Of two
more free currency democrats to the
senate. The debate will conclude tomor-
row. AS most of the republicans have
withdrawn their opposition to the bill it
is expected that il Will pass by an over
whelming majority.
Mr.. Morse of Massachusetts. who fol-
lowed Mr.. Kilgore in opposition, was
extremely severe in his structures on
mOrmOnism.
Mr.. Rawlins. the delegate from Utah.
In very temperate spirit, seemingly I'M
rutiled by the assault of Mr.. Morse, de-
scribed the intelligence, morality and
sobriety Of the people he represented
They had all the requirements neces-
sary to fit them for statehood Mr.. Raw
Inns then reviewed the six applications
made by the mormon church for ad-
mission to the union. At this point Mr.
Rawlins warmed up under the recollec-
ton Of the imputations of Mr.. Morse.
The gentleman from Massachusetts, -
said he, "attributing sinister motives to
me, INDUCES in cheap demagOguery. It
is easy TO stand and condemn when the
current is with you. L was born in
Utah. l have witnessed all stages of its
development and progress and L did not
wait 10 condemn pOlygamy. The gentle
man from Massachusetts (Mr. MOrse)
did not seem to be aware that there
had been progress in the world He
wanted TO say that the sentiment held
I'm New England had been indirectly re-
sponsible for the conditions in Utah -
Turning to Mr.. Morse, he said he ought
to come TO Utah and he would learn
something Of the people there that would
even be pleasing to a tender-foot
Il have seen them on the wharves OF
New York and Boston," replied Mr..
Morse.
"Oh, no. sneered Mr.. RawIins, some
body has imposed on your credulity.
When gentleman got up on this floor, -
he continued hercely, 'and made asser-
tons that the people Of Utah were poly
gamists, thieves, aSsassiDs and vaga-
bonds and is unable TO produce one
scintilla OF evidence, man who lives
5000 miles away and who will not ac-
cept testimony of reputable people who
live there and in neighboring states,
when, / say man has the effrontery 10
do this he ought 10 hang his head in
shame" Great applause)
How about Brigham's wife No is
and her revelations Of the proceedings
in the endowment house?'' asked Mr.
Morse
Brigham Young is dead; did you
know that?" inquired Mr.. Rawlins in
reply. The house laughed again heartily
at this parting shot at Mr.. Morse and
Mr.. Rawlins resumed the course Of his
I aro1funenf