Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-05

Enabling Act under which this State
was organized that Utah has failed to
comply with. The talk about her vio-
lating the compact" entered into with
the nation, Is but a little Of the froth
that has hoated on the current Of popu-
lar mlsinformatlon that has flooded the
country. When II is examined, It viii
be found that 1t contains not a particle
Of solid substance.
AS to polygamy, using the term as
defined by law. there Is less Of IL In
Utah than In any Of the popular States
OF the Union. Even II the charges that
have been made during the recent ex-
citemcut were true, which we do not
admit, the polygamous marriages al
legged TO have occurred since Statehood
are 50 few, that they would cut no fig
ure in an Investigation entered into for
the purpose Of obtaining facts. There
need BE- no apprehension on the part
OF sensible people as to the stability Of
the position Of Utah as one Of the states
Of the American Union.
The Washington Post OF January 81,
contains the following editorial on this
subject, under the heading OF How
Would You DO IT,"
The san Francisco Chronicle, re-
ferring 20 the Roberts case, which was
pendin. when the article was written,
says.
The Mormon leaders are now con-
scious that these latter-day exposures
of the continuance Of their p0lygam0us
practices betray their duplicity and
criminality and put Utahs Statehood
In jeopardy. The election Of pOlyga-
mist 10 Congress was an open violation
OF the fundamental principle on which
Utah secured admission 10 Statehood
and Il Was the Mormon mode OF ask
ing the country what Il would do about
ID. The House Of Representatives Is
propari,V the answer, so far as Utah's
n anreseniative-elect is concerned, and
there cannot be much doubt In any
bOdy's mind what the nature OF II viii
be-
III the Chronicle should happen TO
feel inclined to let It's readers and the
county know how a state could be cx-
PEELED frcm the Union by reason OF mis-
conduct OF any Kind. from murder TO
petit, larceny, on the part OF individual
citizens, our San Francisco c0ntempor-
airy would acquire fame as the discov-
erer o! that which has eluded the re-
search % all the statesmen and jurlsts
Of the past. There IS not the slightest
IA 40 IFfuh 40 oh lie nnn.
slitution and statutes so as to protect
polygamy. 1t has not been proved
that any plural marriages have
taken place since the 'Mormons agreed
10 abandon that odious. intOlerable
practicg But II. In spite OF all proba-
hillties, In defiance OF decency In VIOLA
ton Of pledged faith, Utah should
plant polygamy IN her Constitution,
she would still be a member OF the fam
ily OF States, and there would be no
way, except by revolution. to get her
out All this was conceded when the
bill for the admission OF the Terri
tory Of Utah as a State was before
Congress IL was clearly understood
that once In possession OF Statehood,
she gould repudlate her anu-polygamy
promise and still retain Statehood.
lDtle ~ nolnlNt III Allt HhNlNH = Auliba-
mental law to prevent any or all the
States from plunglng into that loath-
some relic Of barharism.'
statehood may be jeopardized by
rebellion against the United States. At
any rate " state should set UP an
army or navy OF us own. and use such
force against another State or against
the United States, It would be the duty
Of the general government TO suppress
such rebellion. and for all practical
purposes Statehood would be suspend
ed pending the restriction Of normal
conditions. The national sovereignty
IN such q clash between Itself and State
sovereignty would be compelled to vim.
| dicate itself But polygamy. detestable
az II u.s. could not be treated as a re-
belllon. even II directly encouraged by
state laws. Pracdced by individuals
| IN violation OF State laws, II Is simply
a domestic offense. and beyond the iu-
| rlsiiction OF the Federal courts. The
turning down OF polygamist congress-
man-elect Is n matter that cannot put
! Statehood in jeopardy.