And, surely, fire and sword are not the instruments with which to cure the evils which our own supineness, want of statecraft, and mis-legislation have permitted to poison the atmosphere. A Government which is itself largely responsible for the evil it seeks to cure is in duty bound to consider well and act wisely in the application of remedies. But while the responsibility of the Government and people of the United States binds them to the application of a cure for the evils invited which shall not be intolerant or inhuman, it does not forbid the use of _effective remedial measures_ suggested by political expediency and in keeping with Christian charity. Still, it is well for us to remember that we are bound as Americans to deal with this pernicious system on _American principles_, and as Christians to deal with it on _Christian principles_. The only measure which has yet been enacted looking to the cure of the political evil in Utah was _the disfranchisement of the polygamists_ by the Edmunds law of 1882; but although they have been disfranchised and rendered inelegible to office, they are only about 12,000--a very small fraction of the Mormons; and practically the old men, the Mormon leaders, who have controlled the affairs of Utah for thirty years, have simply abdicated in favor of their sons. Consequently the Territory is still under Mormon rule, and the priesthood have it in their iron grasp. This law is good so far as it goes, but does not go far enough to effectually cure the evil. But other and more radical measures have been _proposed_. By the new Edmunds Bill, which passed the Senate on January 8th, 1886, it is provided that _the President of the United States shall appoint fourteen trustees to administer the property, business affairs, and operations of the Mormon Church corporation_. There is no doubt that this act strikes at the root of the political evil in Utah, for the vast wealth of the Mormon Church in the control of the priesthood is the foundation of their power. Nevertheless, the wisdom, constitutionality, and effectiveness of the act are very questionable. In the first place, if that law could be enforced, _it would open wide the door of the meanest kind of political jobbery_. It is the most delicious bit of patronage to which we have been treated for a long time. Fourteen gentlemen are to be rewarded for distinguished party services by the appointment to handle Mormon money. This is a new kind of party plum, and, in my opinion, is simply infamous.