Year: 1872

The main and plain moral, which We
deduce from all this, is, that the govern
ment should have policy in regard to
Utah, and pursue it with n reasonable
degree of coherebce and perseverance


Now there are three policies from which,
having come to such purpose, to choose,
One is, the vigorus and relentless carry
ing out Of the national sentiment aud laws
against polygamy, the crushing out of the
Mormon rebellion as we crushed out sla-
very rebellion. To this is first required
some new aud more practical legislation.
The existing law against polygamy seems
TO be impracticable. At any rate, there
never has beep any successful action un-
der il. The recent federal prosecutions
of polygamists in the territory have found
the territorial laws against adultery more
available for their purpose than the di-
rect congressional act. To this policy,
we suppose, the large body of the Gentiles
in the territory would invite Congress !;
they would be sustained, also, by large
body of the outside public. But there
are many grave objections to it, and it is
very doubtful if Congress could be
brought up to the legislation that is nee
essary to initiate ii


0nthe other extreme is the let alone"
policy. Brigham Young agrees with the
greater rebel, Jefferson Davis, in desiring
that. 1t has good many advocates, also
in Congress, among our leading journals,
and among prominent visitors to Utah in
the last few years. The Mormons have
apparently retained several public men
from the West to represent and advocate
this view. Mr.. Dawes seems to have
given it his encouragement. But pratt
caly it is impossible. We could not let
jeff Davis alone, we cannot let the lndi-
ans alone, we cannot let anybody alone,
who sets up an independent and antago-
mstic organization or existence within
the arena of our national growth. So
long as the Gentiles in Utah undertake to
to live there, and do business, so long the
government is bound to protect them in
their rights, to see that they have fair
play as free citizens of the nation, to de-
fend free speech, to establish impartial
Justice, and administer the common laws
of civilization for the protection of life,
liberty and property. This it had not
done in the years that are past but it
may e justly called upon to do it strictly
now. With such qualification as this
and it is not possible to take it with any
less-the let-alone policy might prove the
West one. But in the sense in which the
Mormons demand it. aud have taken ad-
vantage of it, when they were permitted
to in the sense in which they are con-
stanty urging it, is simply impossible.


There is middle course which is prac-
ticable, and. which seems to us polite.
Ii does not involve iudiscriminating or
unrelepting persecution cf mere fanatic
ism, such as in large measure fires the
Mormon heart, but it does require con-
sistenr, self-respecting pressure on the
part Of the government upon the Nor
mon hierarchy, and its aristocrate and i'm
possible preteutions, with full protec-
ton to all opposing residents, not only in
their life, liberty and property, but IN all
those other independent rights that be-
long to free people. Neither is it neccss-
airy to such a policy, that all the polygam-
GUS marriages should be broken up at
once nor even that all the gross offenses
ot the Mormons should be unearthed, and
their perpetrators punished. 1t is pro-
badly impossible to do this; certainly ii
is inpracticablc. But the MormoDs
should at least'bc given to understand
that these sort of things must now be Civ.
en- up absolutely. There should be legis.
lation contrived and enforced for the pun
ishment of both parties to any new poly
gamous marriage. If the territorial Leg
islature and its officers will preserve the
public peace, and adjudicate fairly all
questions of property as well as crime be-
tween Gentiles and Mormons, they should
have the opportunity to do so. If they
fail, then the administration of justice
should be taken out of their hands, and
absorbed by the purely federal course,
which should have power to select juries
independent of purely Mormon influence
Then there should be present at Camp
Douglass, overlooking the centre Of the
struggle, respectable force of federal
soldiers, with we'll equipped battery Of
cannon, commanded by cool, cautious
and courageous soldier, whole policy and
that of the civil federal officers Of the ter.
ritory should be in harmony, each with
the other, and directed and sustained by
the government at Washington.


Some of the details of such policy
would not be easy of adjustment MOI
would any plan, however well devised
succeed at once and perfectly Social
peace and political order are not likely to
reign in Utah for many years to come
But the principles of such middle poll.
cy are not difficult of determination, aud,
once fairly inaugurated, with wise and
able men to direct it, we are sure it would
commend itself to the good judgment Of
the country, no less to the better opinions
among the Gentle residents, and com.
mand, at least, respect from the more
wise and liberal Mormons themselves


Above all, we would not, during the
whole pendency Of this controversy, admit
Utah as state, not even with the pro-
posed condition that polygamy should
4 theceforth cease That is what the Nor
nous are now strivingsto secure, but that
is what they are not entitled to have. II
they are ready to abolish polygamy or