The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-02
" MORMON WOMEN on PLURAL
MARRIAGE"


a pamphlet with the above title
comes 10 us. The commiseration with
which we have naturally regarded the
condition Of the plural wives Of Utah,
strengthened by a perusal Of 'Wife No.
IS" the Mormon Prophet and his Ha-
rem.n and other works Of that kind, the
authenticity Of whose sickening details
we have no reason 10 doubt, has been
doubly strengthened by the perusal
Of this protest against the abroga-
tion Of polygamy, by the women who
suffer from its most unnatural bondage.
IL is impossible TO read the speeches con-
tained in the "pratest" without an oc-
casional dash Of contempt which such
slavishness to creed and man-ordained
religion inspires, but pity still is mon
arch in every woman's heart as she con-
templates the utter helplessness Of plu-
raj wives, bound by their heart-strings
to their children; financial nothings,
whose only hope is in hugging the
chains that gall them. The avowed pur-
pose Of the mass-meetiug at which these
sentiments were advanced. was "tO de-
clare their feelings in regard 10 their
holy religion, and to protest against the
auti-polygamy petition" Think Of the
crucified feelings Of wife who could
say, "Look at.the wives before me who
havestepped forward and said, husbands,
DO your duty in obeying this revelation
OF plural marriage, and I will sustain
you" or those of another, an aged
woman who bad spent iorty-four years
in Serving her God, in this new and
everlasting covenant" who said, MY
husband is a polygamist, his other
wives and children are as much a part
Of bis family as me and mine, being
the first wife" A key note TO an this
most unnatural and feigued submission
is struck by another who says, "The
great importance Of the fact that our
children aud childreu's children have
been born under the teachings and
practice Of this principle is an inspira-
tion not 10 be neglected or unheeded -
The sacred affections Of the wife and the
holy affections of the mother are at war,
and under such narrowing strain, in
eongruities that rasp all the finer feel
ings Of women more happily situated
must result It is not strange that the
awful stigma TO them Of declaring plu-
raj marriage illegal, themselves coucu-
biues and their children illegitimate,
should arouse the woman in their souls
and cause them 20 strike IS for life, iu
defense Of their social position. With
this appalling fact before her Mrs. +. B.
Wells, in speaking Of those who seek 10
sbrogate plural marriage, says, "They
know not what they do; were they
conscious OF the consequences were their
undertaking to be successful, they would
cease their efforts and shrink from the
task"
Noticeable 10 all the speeches reported
is a spirit Of forbearance toward all,
which only lives of patient self-abnega-
tion could teach. Their plan, instead Of
studying 10 reveal the crown of mar
tyrdom that rests upon the brow OF each
plural wife, is 10 conceal il carefully
from view, striving themselves 10 for
get the thorus that fester and rankle,
turn it which way they Will Only "a
strong and rebellious spirit like that OF
"Ann Eliza, wife number l9, ," goaded
into fierce resentment, fist displays the
cruel thorns aud then casts them from
ber. The women Of Utah would not be
women were they not ready TO fight for
their own and their children's legal and
social position, and it seems they must
be less than women to submit TO the
degradation Of polygamy. Pity, but DO
not censure them.