The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-05
The norman NlluatIen.


While Delegate Cannon Is industriously
working up sentiment at Washington
favorable to the exemption Of his constit-
uents already in the polygamous moose
from any disturbance In their domestic
relations, the saints OF the Utah Zion ap.
pear TO be taking tho situation very coolly
and are now circulating petition for the
pardon Of Reynolds, tho particular polyg.
amist affected by tho recent decision Of
the Supreme Court, In presenting his
case the Salt Lake organ Of Mormouism
says:
The dolngs OF whole people should not
DO packed upon one pair Of shoulders,
therefore We hope TO see and sign apeti.
tition for Bro Reynolds relief, Butthat
request should not and must not COmpro.
mise, in the very smallest degree, the I'M
shaken faith OF tho l.attcr.Day Saints In
the truth Of the principle for the practice
OF which bro. Reynolds has been con-
demned, nor our testimony Of Its tlivIne
origin, no matter what decision may BIO
rendered by Legislators or judges, BY pres:
idcntS or emperors, or by oil tbs civilized
and heather nations that constitute the
whole world.
The history OF the now famous Rey'
notGs case Is briefly this: About four
years ago, shortly after the passage Of the
Poland bill prescribing the mode Of Inn
pannelling jury, and depriving the Nor
mon probate courts Of criminal jurisdic-
ton, hopeful attempt was made to en-
force the anti.polygamy law. George lsey'
nolds, Apostle Cannon and one or two
Others were indicted, but the technical
legal evidence Of the plural marriages was
lacking, save in Reynolds case. Tho
priests who VIGOROUSLY conducted the
endowment house ceremonies feigned i'm
penetrable Ignorance, md il was only BY
strategem that the neediul testimony
was secured. The United States Marsha
captured Mrs. Reynolds No. on tho street
one day during the tIial before she
had been "counseled," and the unsophis
ticated woman, when produced on thu
witness stand, innocently blurted out tho
whole story OF her marriage, and pointcC
TO Apostle Wells us the one who performed
The ceremony. Reynolds was convicted
The case was then appealed to the Su
preme Court OF the territory, and agair
the verdict was guilty; next ii went up tc
the United States Supreme Court, whcrt
it slumbered two years. After all THU
grinding Of the machine Of Justice on hi
account, it would seem eminently flttinl
now that Reynolds should suffer the pen
atty Of his crime. He exhibits no Contri
ton, and firmly adheres to that tenet o
his religion which is standing defiance
Of the law Of the land His imprison
mcnt for couple OF years might prove {
wholesome example to his polygamistit
brethren,
The Mormons evidently propose to as
sumo the role ofsaints prosecuted for con
science sake, and they will probably moi
in the least amend their evil ways til somt
tangible coercion is used against them
The preaching at the Norman meeting
houses the Sunday alter :hc Reynolds de
cision was universally defiant The little
episode, however, of IN indiscrcet siste,
who clapped her hands for gladnes rs she
learned for the first time the purport o
the decision doubtless expressed the In
most sentiment OF the better class Of Nor
mon women. The lofty assumption O.
religious principle on the part OF the
priesthood in defense Of polygamy il
best voiced by the Descret Neuv: "Tht
issue" it says, sis between the Supreme
Being and those who venture, Ignorantly
or otherwise, to oppose His purposes ant
designs. Daniel was apparently at issue
with Darius. But the conflict really wa
between the King Of Kings and those who
sought to establish human DEGREES above
divine commands. History has recorded
the result" The same paper characterizes
the distinguished iurists who rendered tht
obnoxious decision US "cloudy.minded'
and "feeble in understanding" and dc,
clarcs that they rendered their judgment
under popular pressure.
The saints aprcarto have been appre.
h"nstve of the character Of tho decision,
and indnstriousIy occupied the days Of
grace in marrying and giving in marriage.
Wealthy elders seized the opportunity to
replenish their harems with youthful
stock, as provision against possibly arid
future. The prevalent notion has been
that in case OF an adverse decision its ap.
plication would not be retroactive but
simply confined 10 future ofrenses. John
Young, ason OF the Prophet Brigham, was
conspicuous in taking to himself n new
wife in view Of the contingencies, barely
pronouncing the marriage vows before tile
courts decision flashed over the wires TO
Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune calls atten.
ton to his case as ono meriting tho atten.
ton OF the courts. Itdoes not believe he
would be convicted, but the trial would
give one moro illustration the territory's
need OF further congressional legislation 10
render effective the law to punish poly.
gamy,
steam W. FogSIsn.
Editors IntelliEeneCr
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