The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-04
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

ites an organization of oath-bound murderers that
had been created in Missouri in 1888, by order of
the church authorities.
Congress began to pay some attention to condi-
tons in Utah, but nothing definite was accomplished
until 1862, when that body passed law defining
the crime of bgamy The act provided that all per-
sons convicted of the offe1se to be punished
by term of imprisonment not exceeding five years
or by fine not exceeding $500 Congress also an
nulled all laws passed by the Legislature of Utah
territory for the protection of the practice of polyg
amy and took away the charter of the Mormon
church
All these remedial acts of Congress were disre-
garded by the hierarchy the general Government be-
ing engaged in war with the Southern States and
unable to give attention to its rebellious enemies
in Utah. For twenty years the pc ygamous organi-
zation under the control of Brigham Young con-
tnued to grow in numbers and in RIGHTEOUSNESS and
when the general Government awoke again to the
situation it was confronted by task of considerable
magnitude.
With this it daied until 1882, when Congress
passed the Edmunds act. Under that law, bgamy,
polygamy and poygamous cohabitation made
punishable by fine and Imprisonment. The guilty
ones were disfranchised rendered ineligible to Of
flee jury service or any position of honor trust
The management of elections and the registration of
voters were committed to a Federal commission of
five.
The entire administration of the affairs of Utah
territory was placed in the hands of the general
Government in theory, but the law of Congress was
openly violated. The hierarchy defed the Govern
ment and the first presidency issued denunciatory
address to the people of the church, in which he
said:
The war is openly and undisguised1y made upon
our religion. We did not reveal celestial marriage
We cannot withdraw renounce it. God revealed
it and he has promised to maintain it and bless those
who obey it. Whatever fate, then, may threaten us,
there IS but one course for men of God to take
that is to keep inviolate the holy covenants that
have been made in the presence of God and the
angels
Such was the response of the church to the COM
mands of Congress- reafirmation of the old, bo-
gus revelation palmed off on the people by Brigham
Young, that he and his harem might not be dis
turbed Polygamy was as openly practced as it
had been before and the Government meekly suf-
fered the violation of its mandates for five years
more
Congress was then seized with mother spasm of
reform against the vice of Mormondom and in 1887
it passed improved law, popularity known as the
Edmunds- Tucker act. This enactment closed every
avenue of escape and all persons in open secret
violation of the law against polygamy became sub
ject to arrest, prosecution and imprisonment The
property of the church declared forfeited and
the Attorney General authorized to wind up
the affairs of the Mormon church.
1t was then that the hierarchy became convinced
that the ng-sufering Government had exhausted
its patience and determined to apply the most
drastic remedies to the fostering of polygamy.
1t had remaining of hope-the church
appealed to the courts alleging that the Constitu-
H. L.
pecting the establishment of religion prohibit the
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