The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-12-07
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.


the people gave governing functions. Finally and
speedily its voting strength lodged in the Re-
publican party and in the alliance the Republican
party corrupted.
The administrations of that party, since the adj
mission of Utah. have aided and abetted the schemes
of the poygamous church even as the administration
of President Roosevelt last year conveyed aid and
comfort to that organization refusing to relen when
advised of the magnitude of the evil for which it
was conspiring
The Republican party was not always in league
with the monstrous iniquity to which it is now
chained In the days when many who now
dsseners its policies stood steadfast in its ranks,
it had formed no sedous alliance with unchastty,
but was foremost among the champions of Ameri-
can womanhood and the sanctty of the American
home. The evidence is in the records
President Grant, Republican, in his third annual
message, submitted to Congress December 4, 1871,
said:
barism, repugnant to civilization to decency, and
to the laws of the United States. Neither poygamy
nor any other violation of existing statutes will be
permitted within the territory of the United States
1t is not with the religion of the self-syed saints
that we dealing but with their practices
They will be protected in their worship OF God &C
cording to the dictates of their conscences but they
will not be permitted to violate the laws under the
cloak of religion.
In his fourth annual message, of December 2,
1872 in referring the territories President Grant
said:
In but one of them (Utah) is the condition of
affairs unsatisfactory x 1t has seemed to be
the policy of the Legislature Of Utah to evade all
responsibility to the Government of the United
States, and even to hold position in hostility to
it. | recommend careful revision OF the present
laws of the territory by Congress and the enactment
of such law will secure peace the equality OF
hafO- +1a and he lt1n11t
tngushment of polyga1ny.
And again, in his seventh annual message Decem-
Der g. 1875, President Grant said
In nearly every annual message that I have had
the honor of transmitting to Congress have called
attention to the anomalous, not to say scandal
Gus, condition of affairs existing in the territory
of Utah. and have asked for definite legislation to
correct it. That polygamy should exist IN tree,
enlightened and Christian country without the power
to punish fragrant crime against decency and
morality seems preposterous True, there is no law
to sustain this unnatural vice, but what IS needed
is law to punish it as crime. x But as
an institution polygamy should be banished from
the land
President Grant, Republican, in his third annual
message, December 6, 1880, said:
1t is the recognized duty and purpose of the peo-
pie of the United States to suppress poygamy where
it now exists in territories, and to prevent its
extension The longer action is delayed the more .
difficult it will be to accomplish what is desired
Prompt and decided measures are necessary The
Mormon sectaran organization, which upholds po-
lygamy, has the whole power of making and exc
cutting the local legislation of the territory By its
control of the grand and petit Jures 1t possesses
large influence over the administration of justice.
Exercising as the heads of this sect do, the local
political power of the territory they are able to
make effective their hostility to the law OF Congress
on the subject of polygamy and, in fact to prevent
its enforcement Polygamy will not be abolished
if the enforcement of the law depends those who
practice and uphold the crime It can only be sup
pressed by taking away the political power of the