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Show FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD. The synopsis of the Utah Commission report is too brief to estimate it, as a whole, but there are some parts which are very good, and some -to which we could not subscribe. sub-scribe. That part of the report which speaks of the decline of polygamous marriages mar-riages is to be commended, and shows a true appreciation of things. , As the Commission Com-mission say, the present cessation of polygamous marriages is a suspension rather than a discontinuance. This suspension sus-pension has been brought about by the rigid enforcement of the law, and if this enforcement shall be continued, and as to this there is no doubt. - This temporary suspension will eventually event-ually develop into a permanent, discon tinuance. This continual enforcement of the law will tend to make the people think and act for themselves in the matter mat-ter of rendering obedience to the law, and thereby bring about a speedier solution solu-tion of the question. Any pause, doubt or hesitation on the part of the Government Govern-ment in the matter of enforcing the Edmunas law is looked upon here as a divine interposition in behalf of those who are violating the laws, and for this reason there should be no pause, doubt or hesitation on the part of the Government. Govern-ment. If such pause, doubt or hesitation is a divine interposition, it ,i highly desirable that there be no more divine interpositions if the Utah j question is to be solved in j favor of the law. The people here have never felt a proper respect for the law i j because the law has never been enforced, j and the people have looked upon the laws j enacted for the suppression of polygamy ! as an expression of hatred rather than as 1 regulations for the benefit and preserva-1 tion of '"society." Within one short year they have greatly changed their opinion as to the laws, and the change has been wrought by an enforcement of the law. The change in opinion has not been entirely in the direction of "we must," but to a very considerable extent it has been in the direction of "ought we not to obey the laws?" This is the hopeful sign, this is the dawning of a true idea as to citizenship. It is reason replacing brute force. This conception of the law and the duty of the citizen is of late date, but it is gradually spreading and with its snreadingr there will come a ! time when the violators of any law will j be few, and the sentiment of the people of the Territory will be in favor of all i laws and against all violators. To bring j about this condition of things will take i time, but to cease a rigid enforcement of the Edmunds law . would be to greatly j prolong this time. The Government j should move forward in this matter and j not backward. |