Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-06-08
STOP AND CONSIDER

STOP AND CONSlDER
The "News" has published brief
account OF tho Democratic convention
IN Idaho, at which heated discussion
occurred on The insertion OF an anti
poygamy plank n the State party plat
form. ITS opponents proposed an amend
ment which was howled down by the
majority, and was nisrepresented by
the speakers who favored the other side
of the debate. We have obtained
copy OF the proposed amendment which
we here insert,
eve also Instruct our delegates TO
said national convention TO use every
honorable means 10 have sald conyeu-
ton place plank in the national Dem
ocratc platform, advocating such
amendment 10 the Constitution OF the
United States as Wlll authorize Con-
Eress 10 pass such national legislation
as may be necessary to regulate mar
Tiages and divorces, and to suppress
polygamy and unlawful cohabltation,
bigamy and fornication within the
United states or any territory within
ats jurisdiction.
I'VE also call the attention OF the
people az Idaho TO the fact that there
IRE no adequate means Of enforcing the
laws IN Idaho for the punishment Of
those living I'm polygamy, unlawful co.
habitatiOn, bgamy and adultery or for
nloation and we faVOr the enactment
OF additional laws for the immediate
suppression OF such vices and the pun
tshnent Of those who practice them,
and we ask the Democrats Of this state
20 no IN In la InI
delegates to the Democratic convention
70 be held in Lewiston, Aug. 10 next"
II viii be found as the matter Is in
Nestlgated. that social purity, which is
no doubt the object In view
of many ladies aud gentle
men who advocate an amend
Inent TO the national constitution Of the
kind proposed, is far from the purpose
OF the politicians who are playing upon
that string for personal and party ends.
We have facts at our disposal which
would demonstrate this beyond ques-
lion. II we were running personal
campaIgn or a personal organ Of any
kind We know OF the character and
acts Of some OF the most blatant shout
ers for the constitutional amendment
but preferjust now at any rate to alb
stain from mentioning them.
This is a matter for serious contem-
platlon on principle, and other consid-
erations are Of small moment I'm COM
parison. 1t IS altogether untrue that
the Mormon Church IS engaged I'm
this controversy, and, 80 far as Utah'is
concerned, the question involved has
been settled by the Constitution and
laws of the State. But Is Il not little
strange, that the party which has stood
from the beginning for the right Of each
State IN the Union to regulate its own
domestic affairs, and 10 limit the gem
era government 10 those powers in
tended by It's founders, which are not TO
overstep the prerogatives OF the states,
now moves I'm the direction OF COM
plete overturning Of this fundamental
doctrine ana practice In order TO cur
ny favor with an excited populace2
If this departure Is effected, where is
the line to be drawn between the Fed
cral aud state iurlsdictions2 What Is
TO hinder further Capitalization OF the
Natioual authority. and the clipping and
ultimate elimination of local seIf.eoy.
ernment2 And what occasion is there
for such a movement? Recent aglta-
ton has exaggerated ana magniaed n
very small social anomaly INTO bupo
menace ia fine nation when Il ia ram
idly decreasing locol AFFAIR handled ef-
fectuallv vet conseryatively NV the
nroner local authority. If Ia ike had
inc a howitzcr IN slaughter n qrat to
ottemnt 10 thrust upon tho natiopai
,onstlhtion ao ,eedloss and undemo-
rrotic nrovlslop.
Rut If inc supportcrs % thls ,rove-
r,snt are IN earnest lot mo whole |
ground of ths relations of the sexos No |
covorod MARRIAGE divorce Grimes
.volrot the rampv or evcrv Nina and |
dsscrlption shoud he Included Tho |
,,,,norai,tv rroyaltnp shopId No leo |
isl,,ed ac.,lns, IN nm me- forms rocbsrv
..odrct,o, ahortlop irfonticido and |