Graham guardian., 1898-12-09

ment is ordered in this nation, pro-
vided only that polygamous or
plural marriages are forever pro-
hibited, but he adds, "Thus the de
mand goes so far as to prohibit fu-
polygamous marriages, but no fur,
ture ther" While the NeWs admits
that everything reasonable should
be done to put down polygamy, it
does not agree with the Advertiser
and Others that the Utah man
should be excluded. There is no
principle of law, no line OF authorl-
ty, under which congress could
deny him his seat. While the
house is sole judge of the qualitica-
tIons of its members, there are GER
tam rules of law and justice by
which 1t must be guided. 1t can,
not afford to shut out member by
an arbitrary use of its prerogatlye
for causes unconnected with his
election and IN no way rejecting
on his ability to legislate creditab
lly. If so, why has it refused here
tofore to exclude notorious rakes
Inscriptions traders and cam
paign criminals who have enjoyed
membership without disturbance
The wives of the Utah man ar'
not to have seats, and are really
not objects to be considered in de
Gliding his claim as representative;
of legal voters who have chosen
him. Congress can not go behlnc
u member and kick him out be
cause OF the number Of women anC
children VINO cling to his coattail
If the house had this power anC
saw fit to exercise IT, it is quit,
probable that toes might be mash
ed off some distinguished member
in the scramble. There are polyga
mists and polygamists. 1t is quit
possible, if half the reports regard
ing alleged social scandals in Wash
lngton are true, that some of tht
great statesmen who stand ready
to condemn the man from Utat
are more hopelessly divided il
their affections or domestic rela
tions than be is. There is another
phase of the matter. he and Other
peculiar religionists claim thai
great and good men Of old ar,
shown even by the holy scriptures
to have had more than one wife
each, and that in given clrcum
stances they considered polygamy
ii duty. One must admit the diff
Guilty that comes to the devotee Of
this kind of religion, who, when
the law is changed against him
finds himself with three good wives
and three sets Of hopsiuls, all de.
pendent upon for protection and
support. Can congress afford to
resolve that he must drive off Re
becca Jane and Hagar Ann with
all their young ones and adhere
solely to Mary Eliza as q means OF
qualifying himself for the sacred
duties of the house of representa-
tives? He promises by fair in.
ference not to do SO any more. He
will not dare to brisg all his wives
to the District Of Columbia, be.
cause to do so wonld subject him
self TO prosecution and lmprison-
ment. He will be permitted to
bring in only one family at time.
After one set have seen the ele
phant he will ship them hame with
an order for No. 2 or No. 3, as the
case may be, to come on to Wash.
ington. THIS is shocking; out
there'ls apparently no legitimate
means Of ejecting this trigonoUs
husband, 1t is just as well, az any
rate, not to exchange him Cor u
daddy monogan,iat, like some Of
those who are eager 20 kjck him
out, who does not know the mean
ing of martial obligation and TO
whom good morals and bad morals
are all the same.
wy ANTED SEVERAL TRUSTWORTHY