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Show THE LADIES TOPIC. Salt Lake City, Nov. 10, 187S. Editors Herald: Tho prominent lopio this week relalea to domestic mattert", being otbiDg Ioi3 importaut tban the number num-ber of wivi s a man may have. Even tbe Indies are getting "on tlieir muscle" abjutit. Not that it U a very agreeable tcpia just now, ae LbiunBL'o, yet it ought to bo ouo of the moat delightful. It ia eo BOme-timta, BOme-timta, and would bo always if people were wise enough, for (lien Ihey would not make it otherwise than delightful. The anti-polygamic ladies Jaat week hud a meeting, which was reported in Hie Herald and in other city papers. Those ladies also held another meeting this week, tbe minutes of which I have not eeea in any respectable respect-able local paper. To-day the ladies who favor polygamy are having a meeting. All this induces me to Boy a woru oo tne auoject, loougu there are several other subjects I would rathtr talk about. The anti-polyga-raic ladies are tho assaulting and professedly the aggrieved party, paradoxical as this may seem. Tbe poiygamio UdieB are on tbe defensive, and ibis not of their own seeking. A man with a grievance is an individual not desirable to euouuDter, bat a woman wo-man with a grievance who wishes to be button holed by her ? Yet bore are a baud ot 100 or 200 womeu with a griovanco, a common grievance, though unfortunately it vit-illy concerns con-cerns notthem uor their families, but other womeu aud their families, which is a weak point in the caseof the aggressors, to begin with. President, Martin Van Buren told tbe "Mormons," when they were driven out of Missouri, that their 1 ftiu;e wusjtul-, but he could Uo nuth-iug nuth-iug lor them. Now let na see v.hether l ho ' caueo of tho?e anli-pjlygimic iludiea is just, as they present it and ' ne 1 and runny others view it. If we liud it tu be eo, we muy do eoaie-thing eoaie-thing for t!um whether we find their cause juat or udjubI. Those Udits, in their tirst mefciimr. told the tale ni their gnevunce, or grievances, in an tuldreos to Mrs. Presiueat Ha)'t9. Let us consider them set.::i'.im, and as br icily as poeeihlo. FirBt Polygamy baa existed in these valleys more than thirty yoars. This is about a third of the age of tbe republic of the United States, fo that the polycamic form of marriage has prevft'k d in this pnrt of the country until it is ubjut a third of the ago of tue republic of iua l.'mieJ tiuiea. Thud it is a doain-iu; institution estiiblislifd with tht rira'. sptllerx nud grown up with the community acd beciuo interwoven wiln the very l:lo of the same. How this can he a hgititnaio ground of gnevauco ti personu wnu (it very latu ycain liave cnoPtn this part of tbe Union fur their residence w hnrd to say. Second Congress lias failed to make and enforce en-force euch laws aa wou d ab .lisb this crime. The "Murtu ma" beiieveth'it congfCBi coi.atilutionally has no rilit to du any hulIi i biijg. Ho do I That polygamy is m rally a crime of itself id an iietrtiju that hs never bt;en proved. It it la constructively a crime, which in this relation I con-leud con-leud tbat it is uot justly, then that is no j-JstiticiUiou for its exlenuinative it-rriltiry. Third The belief that more of these r.lhauces have been consummated within a year pas1 t miu ever before, btitig situ ply belief, dees not amount to tne dignity oi an bSM-rtii'n, and lhereli.ro is of no account whatover. Tne Udiea sh u'.d not be sctred witli ai-Art-crows ol tneir owu mauut .ctare. Fourtb Temple-aro Temple-aro b;iug erected costing millioua. What of lli.il? Places of worship eoslirg millions are being or havt: beni ert-cted by most dcuomwiation-in dcuomwiation-in the L'n tid SlKiee. Is tin. t a ennu? Sr'o:iiuii baiit a nuiguificent temple. Whs '.lint it crime iu him? Look- ai York Mincer, dt. Ptiui'ri C-thedral, St. Peter's. U.e c.iihetlraU ot Milan and Slrafboury. Tut-y cost millions-Wuh millions-Wuh this a crime on ihn purl r-f their builderH? Fifth p. ia iniprssble to aii:ertam the exact numhor ol polygamous polyg-amous marriages. Weil, iu lanit uny bunnias of liie comphiinere? If they cau cciiul their own marriages, ii uot thai us far as their prourr business ex'etitle'r Sixth No Lientile can enter tue.-o temples or endowmeul houses. Arc they built by or for,! he Ucutilts. or with Gentile mouey? If the Lieu-t Lieu-t ilea widi to enter temples or endowment endow-ment bousee, why not build eomc of their own, and then they will have a riu'iH to enter ttiein at pleasure, iu-iif.nl iu-iif.nl of wanting lo intrudingly enter :,ousoj not buil'. by or lor them, where they b-ive no rigut to enter, and iuto which they are not invited. Ibis alhged grievance smacks of impu-tlctxo. impu-tlctxo. Iu tbe Jewish temple, ouly the high prieet could enter the uaucl-cary uaucl-cary or holy ol holies, a-.:d ho only oijcc a year, to make atonement for the b'iu of the people. duveiUh "McriuODB'1 aud even apostates respect re-spect tneir religious oaths and coveu-uutp.,So coveu-uutp.,So far as that is true, it is rather to I heir credit than otherwi.-v. Eighth " Mormons" as witnesses and jurymen uubluehiugl; peijure theniF-Civea. If the 1 -id its aiM'jrt that the "Mormons" aro as gre:it Binners aa non-"Mor-monn" in tliis respect, it is an unproved un-proved assertion, amounting to tiolhii'g. Ninth Polygamy has never luki.'u euch a degrad.ng aud debasing form. v-in among serui-h.rbariHU3, as n U'ah. Assertion without proof. Ten'.b It is degrading lo men and Momeu, a curse Lo children, destruc-t destruc-t ve lo family reUtiono and civilizi-iioo, civilizi-iioo, and is reduced by unrepeatablo things t-) tho lowest form of indi cency. Aseit:on without proof. Eleventh That it should bo practised as a religion, relig-ion, and that a polygamic apoBile NhuuU sit in congress, add to the cnoimity of tbe crime. Assertion without proof. A mere matter of opinion. Polygamy as a religious practice is the only po'ygamy that can ho constitutionally practised in Utah. According to snipture, members of polygamic families will bo among tho chief inhabitants of the post-inihen-nial Jerusalem, and surely congress is rot a more eeleel body than the rtsi-dentsof rtsi-dentsof that holy and perfect city, into wnicb there shall in nowise enter miyihicg that detiloth or workclh libumination, and which the glory ol i he Lird sha;l 1 gbten. Twelith Tne Utah legislature is composed almost entirely of pclygnmists and members oi il ti "Mormon" priesthood, and has J.jue all iu its power lo conserve pilyHiny. The legislature of Utah is coiupiised, as all other legislatures in the Union are supposed to be, ol members chosen by the people, h!1 of them directly by ibe people in Utah. Is tbis a grievance? Toe legislature has done nothing in the matter of poljunmy. Thiiteenih The right of dower lias been abolished to break down the distinction between the lawful law-ful wile and concubine. If there are any concubines in Uth, 1 do not know it. nor do I know who docs. 00 those ladies know it? If not, hire is more assertion without proof As 1 understand it, the right ot dower was abolished in order thai all a man's children uhuul 1 have a claim upm Lin fi r support, and be be re-poniiHe re-poniiHe fur all it st he causes to come into tne wi rl intend of any of tbern eotuiuK iot) iho world on (he irresponsible irre-sponsible plan eo common in Chrie-tcudoni. Chrie-tcudoni. Foui t?enlh The "Mnr-mens" "Mnr-mens" are extending their settlement-' into the iifighbrriitK territories, and are Himinc, and not nitOKuther unsuccessfully, un-successfully, for the baUuce of power therein. If this ia all Irue, there is nothing whtitever in it cither unconstitutional uncon-stitutional or illegal , there is nothing : in il wronn, morally or religiously, and therefore there is no cau60 for grievance. The Lluve are the grievances alleged, al-leged, and not one of them ij real and (substantial. Tney are all imaginary imag-inary and without solid basis. Tbe only semblance of a grievance lies in ibn, tbat polygamy w practised ss a part of religion in Utah, tbat those ladies believe- it lo be a crime, and tbat congreos will not abolish tne supposed sup-posed crime. That is absolutely all. It is not a grievance that congress will no'- lake efltctual steps to abolihb this form of marriage, because congress con-gress baa no right to do so, if the constitution con-stitution ia properly and fairly interpreted. inter-preted. It may be tbat coDgieas can do as it pleases. So can the murderer. But both congress und tho murderer will be rewarded exactly accordion to their deeds, whatever they may bf , whether they be good or whether they bo evil. Nevertheless, to obtain and retain thy respect of intelligent and upright men and women, both individuals indi-viduals and bodies ol individuals muct act consistently and in accordance with crnc' principle. Now, aituouii tneto alleged grievance griev-ance nro imaginary ratner than real, tin re is iiO doubt tnat tbo ladies who subscribed Ij them are tomcwhrtt t serened in mind over . them, a Itw pi-riispi; sorely exercised. So lar one can eympvthiza with them, ; and therclorn they are not to be b'iimed ijr wishim: to hve tbo enev- i ances reni-'vcd aiid lor meeting and (alkiug and laboring to that end. Oppuaiiiiiu to a serious grievance, or a Buppo;ed eerious grievance, is not to bd deprecated. It is perfectly legitimate aud is commendable iu i t -e 1 . It is natural, and is both a right and a duty. Lot the opposition should tie intelligently and honorably cooducttd, otherwise it cannot bB ap proved by iatslligont and honorable people, nor can intelligent and hju orab'o people he induced to engage in i, except under a mistconcepti.in of its na'.uie. Thuy may be deceived and deludt d into i'nggiug in euch Opponlllon, Dill II Id tneir boetneso to have thtir eyen mid ears open and tucir (in tida clear upon thu Biihject, so that they will not be badly deceived and deluded. Opposition uiuat be tioccst iu intent and legitimate in moimd. Wrong must be opposed by right, vice by virtue, unriijb'.eous uess liy rig'iteuuauess, and the metn i.ds oi oppjsition muot bj right tnd virtuous nud righttous. Nobudy haa tne rigiit tj oppose any otner person hy any and ail meaus, fair or fuul. rucu upyuaiiiun is peireculiou, and uo pereui has any rignt to perjecute a.iouier percon. It is acual criuit) to reci'gu-z "B -t ac tucli ur not, lur lh-re iire clinic, serious crimes, winch human law docs ntA touch. Now what do loose .'a .ies propo?n tj do? Ttit;y prc)oae lo petiuou congress con-gress io make a law lo render eflettivt tue uiv i-p uygaiuy law oi 661, and to livo tucii petition signed hy anti I pohg lujis'.a thruugi.out the United S utet). 'ii.at is, Kiey propose to have a law made cxpre.-eiy siriugeiit aud amplified f)r the ocCAfciou, and then to invoke liie, pains and penalties aud lerrjta ol sid Uws, aud il necessary lo p:irsue tbo "Moriuon" pulygmniate, witn ti th aud awo;d. Wtmt for ? To compel them to lorswea: iheir wives, their children their refgiou aud their (Joil. Such an enormity 1 cannot can-not approve by any meaiid, and I here enter my sjlemn pruns in ud vaut e ugatust any tuch execiabltv meU-ods ut oppojilion. It is not lair nor commendable to tuus uppuae Ihe religion ot any peop e, and it argues a f-tUliy lame caue iu t ;uco wijo adopt sucn meaua of opposition. Nor can it be done until uie preuul constitution ul the United States is trampled in the dust. Tnissort ol fire and swoid virtue is akiu lo tne oil tyrannic. 1 puri'.anleftl vii tut serving Uod in one's own wity and making everybody every-body else do the cume. Tbose I'nll polygamous laiiies not ouly wish to serve- Uud and their couutry mono;a-mnusly, mono;a-mnusly, but they wisii to couijtt;! overyboJy else to do tho name, or at least to prevent anybody from doing it any other way, eo far as marital matters are concerned. They wish to maite t very body else niouoga- m;s:s by force, or el.-e exterminate them, a policy whih, ilenforced universally, uni-versally, would be likely lortdoco the inhabitants ol this nninJane sphere by about three- :ourths. I can nut eucourage any such murderous Pubi-nejri. Pubi-nejri. IL would be just as reasonable for polygauiista to pel i lion congress lo enact a etringent law punishing scv.-iely all who would not lorswear montigamv, but who would slick to Hie uut-wire system. How would thuie anu-po ygamic ladies nojoy a law of that kind? Tit for tat is common com-mon law. Wnat is sauce for polyga-mists polyga-mists is sauce for monogamists. What people bow they must expect to reap some day. Now if tjoaa ladies do think that polygamy is wrong, they should adopt tbe peaceful and honorable and winning me ins of persuasion and example to convince and convert tbose who are ofacoulrary opinion. For he woo converlelh the sinner from tho error of bis ways shall save a ooul from death ami shall bide a multitude of sins. Again, they Mat turn nnsny to righteousness shall shine aa the stars for ever and ever, But there is no such pronna i given lo tho?e who seek by pt-n.il terrors lo drive people to bejome dastardly recreant lo tneir wiva and their C'iildr-u, their religion and their God, and no honest and courageous people will be ti'Us driven. I will support no movement I hat aims lo conioel peoplu to do violence lo their most potent aud moat sacred convictions, when those convictions infringe on no one's rightt. I am uncompromis mgly opposed to liie gospel of hale, now and all tbe Lime. Li i.l is love. So should bis intelligent creatures strive to be. " I In conclusion I present a few of the 'many advantages oi the polygamy j order of m-miae, which those anti-A anti-A polygamy ladiea may not have duly considered: FiM It increaieB the opportunities- for women to gfft married mar-ried nnil Have families of their own. Seem d It incresa the chancet for them to be married to the men tbey love. Third It lessens the num ber of ftttinine candidates for a man's hand on din mouog-nmr-iH p!m. F urili It lie I pe gieaily In dry up that frightful y per niei tu ihiii" kr.own us Ihe "t-ociol evil," abundantly dcmonMrated by the e'triy hi-trry ol tin- territory. All the hoiiM?B ol prostitution in tlie t-r-ntory have bren introduced by tbe mnnngamriiH Gentiles. Fifth It ifloids a fertile field for the develop rn-nt of the race iu accordance with the griti.d nnil far reaching evolutionary evolution-ary theiirem, I might as properly say axiom, which one of our ablest and most distinguished 'oc il educator! and l-'cturersenunciates thuB "Mao, a progressive lieing." Beft re thin is read by the public, thf bu pre me court of t!ie United States may have pronounced upon tbisquee-lion tbisquee-lion of constitutionality, and possibly adversely, but that will not change my opinion, which ia the general opinion in this part of the world, and comeB from au enlarged and juit view, and not a narrow and party view, of fundamental principles. Now I quit this unpleasant and thorny eubject, aB somebody or other will be sure to be displeased with what I tay about it, for it is a hard matter to please everybody. At le-aot it is for J. J. |
