The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1899-01-14
A sENsELEss DISTURBANCE.
The fact that Utah has electe

in congressional circle. The Re
view in no sense appears as thu
apologist for or eondoner of the
cursed principle or practices oi
polygamy but in the case under
consideration there arise many
points Of interest and which con
Germ the future lives and happi
ness of many more than the prin
cipals in this affair and which
involve as important principles a:
are t. be found in the antagonist
to polygamy. There can be NJ
right law or worthy statute thai
has not in it the element Of justice
nor should one be furnished foi
The commission of an act which
was commended by the law and
countenanced under the custom
of the country, under a statute
which annuls the former law.
This is not only contrary to the
true and real intent of law but is
antagonistic to the principles of
humanity. No one more heartily
condemns .polygamy. whether
practiced under the tolerance of
law or in contrayen ton to law
than the writer but we can but
feel that there is much in the hur-
rah made of this particular case
that is in the line of straining at
a knat and swallowing gate post.
A case of this character and pre-
senting such conditions as attend
ed it cannot, save in the exercise
of much hardness, brutality and
absolute injustice and wrong, be
arbitrarily settled. Let us study
the facts in the case. Polygamy y
is iio new practice in Utah but for
generations has prevailed there and
it has been instilled into the youth
of that land as a divine injunction,
having not only the sanction but
the command of God that it be
practiced. Environment, associa-
tion and teaching has much to do
with the formation of character
of the creation of sentiment---this
will be conceded by every thoughts
full person. It need not be thought
strange, then, that those reared
under the influence of the teach
ling and practicing of polygamy
do not look upon it as the crime
and shame as do those living un-
der happier and more enlightened
surroundings. Here, then, is the
case: A man trained under the
encouragement of many wives is,
under the laws of his territory,
married to three women who have
been reared under like associa-
tions. The territory in which
this happens applies for admission
into statehood which is granted
upon conditions that polygamy be
abolished. But is it proposed
that this condition is to retroact
and nullify the marriages, legal
as ever were marriage relations
contracted, that were made prior
to- the adoption of the law prohib.
iting more than one marriage by
the same party? What is to be
done to the women who have hon.
sstly and, as they were taught, le-
gally entered into this relation
What IS to become of the children
born of this relation? Who is to
decide which is to be the legal
wife and which the Legitimate
children and how is reparation to
to be made to those declared out.
casts from the pale of society and
respectability? These suggestions
become peculiarly pertinent in
consideration If the proposition
that if Roberts, the congressman
elect from Utah. discard all of his
wives but one, be will be admitted
to a seat infongress. Which wife
pray, is be to select and which
choice to BE brought within the
safety of He law? He is legally
married toall or to none-the ce'
remony of each was performed
under the license of the same Law
and if one Be legal all are. The
effect of makkag choice between
the three cannos be legalized over
the other two. This is a matter
that the provisions of law cannot
settle save to injusfice-timer alone
can and will wQgk its solution.
The truth of TIL matter is, al
this Is ssmuch adoAbout nothing
and has its origin the meddle.
Isomeness of lot OF rfiicious WI
men who are neglecti1r their du.
ties of creating happy nd com.
Portable homes to mix up some.
| thing they know nothina about
This talk about admission ~ Ro.
berts to participate in the a&ks d
congress being flauntln Tho kaet
of decent women Ia all popp51.ot,
The true women Of the lan2 ar.
i .o@;uf,od that fho iau hoo r