One hundred years ago
AMERICAN feeling has proved too strong for polygamy, even when de- fended on the ground of religious liber- ty. The Mormons are tired of suffering prosecutions for their "peculiar institu- tion," and the President of the Church has formally announced that the Saints have abandoned the practice, and prop- ose on that subject "to submit them- selves to the laws of the United States." They will probably for a time substitute some system of concubinage, but socie- ty will soon work itself clear of that, nothing short of a religious sanction ever suspending the tendency of the white races towards monogamy. It will be interesting to observe if the emigra- tion to Utah suffers in consequence of the change. We should say it would not, the real attraction of the Mormon com- munity being that it is a community — a successful attempt, that is, to organise industry on a grand scale. Polygamy does not attract much, or all Asia would by this time be Mahommedan. It des- troys domestic life too completely, and establishes too wide a distinction be- tween the rich and the poor.
The Spectator, 27 September 1890
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