History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

REMEDIES AGAINST POLYGAMY. 395
civilization. The best will remain, while the rest will
be destroyed.
As a remedy against the Mormon evil, many plans
have been put forth. "Send an army and wipe them
out," say the unthinking masses. An army was sent
once, but when it came to Utah there was nothing at
hand to wipe out. But should an army go and find
them there, it would hardly be prepared to enter upon
the wholesale slaughter of 140,000 men, women, and
children while in pursuit of their daily vocations.
Education has been urged. This means is already
employed; but while there are gentile schools, the
Mormons still teach Mormonism, and the more they
educate, the stronger and more widely extended becomes
their faith. Senator Hoar suggested seizing
the perpetual emigration fund, but this appeared too
much like robbery. Make marriage a civil compact,
give the wife the right of dower, and so make her less
dependent on the husband, some have said. Amend
the constitution, prohibiting polygamy, others have
urged. But if congressional enactment fails, what can
constitutional amendment do ? Admit Utah as a state,
and let the people split into parties, and so fight out
their own issues. But they will not split into parties,
is the reply. If they were like other people, this might
be the result; but they are not like other people. For
the people to differ from their chiefs on matters of government,
or on any other matters, would throw them
outside the category of Mormons. Such a thing can-
not be. Their government, ecclesiastical and civil, is a
government of God ; their chief is God's prophet and
vicegerent, and his will is God's will and cannot be
questioned.
By the Edmunds act, approved March 22, 1882,
congress made polygamy punishable by disfranchisement,
and a fine of not more than five hundred dollars,
with imprisonment for not more than three years,
the children to be deemed illegitimate. There have