The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-03-16
|O CRUSH OUT POLYGANY
What ex-United States Senator
George F. Edmonds Says.
"AMEND CONSTITUTIONS

"AMEND CONSTITUTION"
Author Of Mormon Act Of 1882 Calls
on the Nation to Wipe Out the
Dreadful Evil-It is Spreading In
the West Rapidly, So He De-
cIares.
The following are extracts from
the opinion and recommendations of
ex-United States Senator George F.
Edmunds, on the Mormon question in
the Christian Herald. Mr.. Edmunds is
the author of the Anti-Polygamy Act
Of 1882. The evidence obtained by
the Senate Committee in the case OF
Senator Smoot, disclosed that some
at least, of the chief rulers OF the
Mormon Church have deliberately
and continually carried on the prac-
tice of polygamy without prosecution
or annoyance, in the face of their
pledges made to two Presidents of
the United States, and have set an
example naturally and almost neces-
sari,y to be followed by their Church
members and adherents, without any
danger of interference by the legisla-
tive or any other department Of the
government of the State of Utah.
They know that Congress has no pow
er, and that the State has no disposi-
tion to interfere.
The committee investigation has
also developed evidence showing that
the hierarchy continues to control the
government of the State, and that the
choice of officers, and their official ac-
tions, In some degree at least, are sub
ject to its control. 1t can quite cor
rectly say with the French king, Il
am the State All this is consist
ent with more than half a century of
it's history, and should surprise no
body.
The practice of Mormon polygamy
and the political influence Of the hier-
archy have been gradually and stead
lily expanded into the Territories
of New Mexico, Arizona, and Okla
homa, and into the State of Idaho,
Wyoming. California and Oregon.
This is condition. of things that
should receive the most serious con-
sideration of the great body of the
citizens of our country, to whom both
the institution of polygamy and the
interference or the attempted inter-
ference of religious or professed re-
ligious organizations with the politi-
cal autonomy of any republican coun-
try is abhorrent
What then can be done toward de-
stroying the evil? The National Con-
stitution can be so amended as,
First, to prohibit polygamous mar
riages and provide for their punish
ment, and.
Second, to require all persons TAX
ing Office under the Constitution or
laws of the United States or of any
State to take and subscribe an oath
that he or she is not and will not be
a member of any organization what
ever, the laws, rules or nature of
which require him or her to disregard
his or her duty to support the Con-
stitution and laws of the United
States and of the several States.
These two provisions would, it is
believed, have the effect. substantial
ly, to eradicate the practice of poly
samy in all the States and Terri
tories alike, and would, likewise, pre-
vent Office holding, either under Ma
tional or State jurisdiction, by per-
sons who felt that they had any
obligations of civil or political
character paramount to their obiiga-
tions to the whole country or to their
States.
The first suggested amendment
would in no wise interfere with
State sovereignty, unless the State
should desire either to establish or
tolerate polygamous practices, for
each State could prohibit and punish
the same acts against its sovereignty
II 1t should (as it ought choose to
do.
The second suggested amendment
does not in the least interfere with
the sovereignty of any State, but
rather supports It; and it would be
inconvenient and troublesome only to
persons really unfaithful to their
whole country or to their State, or (as
1t might be-, to any State or COM
munity which was willing that its
chosen officers should be under oblig-
ations paramount to those they owe
to their country, State or community.