Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-23
AErI-PnLYGAMY.
Mass Nesting of citizens Memorialize
Congress.

cago committee, eXtfacss u winch oo-tiihS-io
appeared in the RECORD UEIoN yesterday, I.
meeting of citizens was held at the West
minister Presbyterian Church last evening to
memorabilia Congress to enact laws for the
suppression of polysamy. TIE meeting was
quite large, the church being comfortably
filed. The attendance of men much exceed
| az that of women.
L. s. TAYLOR
Was called to the chair, and Rev. H. J.
Becker was elected Secretary. Mr. Taylor
said he deemed it duty to attend the meet
ing and lend his al to its purposes. He had
Known MOrmonisin from its infancy; had
lived near the Nauvoo settlement. He be-
lieved all men had a right to worship as they
pleased and that no law should be passed to
abridge that right; but polygamy should MOI
shield itself beneath that cloak. He was
glad that Congress now showed some DISPOSE
ton to suppress the evil.
REV. N. SLATER
Was then called out. He had had a close &C
quaintsnce with the Mormon people. Was
among and near them several years. Polyg-
amy was not one iof their doctrines when
the Mormon Church was organized in 1880.
The Book Of Mormon then prohibited it. In
four or five years 10. Smith, Oliver Cowdry,
Sidney Rigdon and others claimed to have
revelations These were printed, and called
the Doctrines and Covenants" and were re-
ceived by the Mormons as of Divine inspira-
ton. This book also prohibited polygamy.
The church began with six persons. Some
delegations were sent to Ohio and Missouri to
proselyte. From these beginnings sprang the
present organization. In Missouri they were
guilty of practices obnoxious to the people.
In this they were encouraged by
the doctrine that they were Saints
of the Lord, and entitled TO large
share of the earth. They used to say they
would dominate the United States. In 1S4S
things became so bad that they were driven
out of Missouri by the State militia. They
then settled at Nauvoo, Ill. In June, 1914,
,Jo Smith was killed by mob of the people
while in Jail Ia January, 1916. the Nor
mons called on all their people to emigrate
beyond the Rocky noun tains-they wanted
to get beyond the jurisdiction of the United
States and make for upper California, then
belonging to Mexico. In 1916 the Mexican
war began, aud in 1913 Mexico coded to the
United States a vast region, and in
Guiding Salt Lake valley. Then the Nor
mons sent delegations to the Sandwich
Islands, to see if they would be received
there. The Mormons reached Salt Lake
July "a, 1847, and TO this day celebrate that
date. About 1886 81 10. Smith pretended
to have revelation incorporating polygamy
into the system. He left the written revela-
ton where his wife Emma would find it. She
did End the paper, and destroyed it. Smith
brought the matter before his counselors, and
had conteation with Cowdry about it, lead |
ing to q separation of these leaders, who
were, by the book of covenants. declared to
be of equal authority. In 1Si3 Smith had
another revelation on the subject at Nauvoo |
n l.. IL Il
others had entered on polygamy, but they
kept the practice secret. At Salt Lake, in
1850, it was denied that polygamy was prac
ticed. The speaker was in Salt Lake in
August, 1850. and staid there eight months
thereafter. In November the leaders pub
lcly announced polygamy as an institu.
ton Of the church. The speaker investi
gated and found the practice very general.
Apostle Spencer himself introduced the
speaker to his four wives Apostle Grant
had four wives and DIR. Richards, Brigham
Young's counselor, had seven wives ; to all
these he was introduced. They were like
obseouious slaves-devoid of womanly indie
pendence Heber Kimball was reputed to
have thirty wives, and Brigham Young de-
clared he didn't know how many he did have.
W. B. c BROWN
Was the next speaker. He only knew of the
polygamic Mormons by heersay. He knew
they practiced polygamy. To resist that,
which strikes at the very foundations OF our
civilization. he had come to the meeting on this
birthday of the Father of his Country; and he
thought it particularly appropriate fer cist-
zeps to meet and join in protest against this
foul tlot, polygamy, en- such day. APP
plause Nature protests against it. APP
plause The stability of the race rests upon
the strength of the domestic tie. Applause.
Nature created the sexes in about equal
numbers and made men and women
equal at the domestic hearth. Applause
At the family altar are sown the seeds from
which must spring national stability. LAp
plause.l In the relation OF husband and
wife we are indebted for all we possess as a
society aud nation. Rob woman Of her
pride of character, modesty and virtue, and
she is no longer his companion, counselor aud
guide. Applause No woman of intelIi-
gence and refinement can divide her hus-
bands love with another. Applause. The
polygamic wives and daughters of Utah can
give their sons and daughters none of the
lessons of modesty and virtue that shall fit
them for the stage of action. Applause.
From such an institution can we expect to
spring a race of men fit to govern and inherit
this land of Washington? lApplause.] All
sections of this land are bound by indissolu-
bic bonds. Applause. No section can revel
in crime, and the effects of the ulcsrous
career be unfelt in all the Republic. No part
| of the foundation Of the national structure
/ can rest upon this rotten stone, without en-
| dangeIiug the whole ediice. Applause.
| No part of national organization can rest
on concubiuage and add to the national
strength The nation cannot afford to permit
this fostering sore to further grow. lap
plause Let us agitate. agitate, until the
| law is made so effective that every vestige of
polygamy and its concomitant evils are swept
| .h,,s
our neighbors in Utah, let us have an eye to
ourselves and resolve to teach our children
those principles that shall make us rich in all
things that conspire to build up nation
strong, virtuous and just. [Applause.l
REV. I. E. DwINELL
Then read the following messages
SAcRAMExTo February 2lst.-To the Anti Polyg-
| amy mass meeting, Chicago-A meeting will
| be held here tomorrow. Sacramento stands with
Chicago for the suppression of poiygamy
/. f. DWINELL, for the committee.
[Response.l
| CHICAGO, February 22d.-Apti- Mormon polygamy
mass meeting. Sacramento, Cal-The citizens Of
Chicago in mass meeting assembled, congratulate
their fellow cOuntrymen upon the interests every
where awakened. Let all insist upon no COM
| promise" with the law brealers.
| JOHN D. CATION, Chairman mass meeting.
The reading of the dispatches was received
with loud applause.
REV. T. S. DUNN
Was the next speaker. He said it was prob
ably popular to be anti polygamic here, and
Illustrated by an anecdote. But though we
are all of one way of thinking here, it is none
the less a duty to enter protest against
further liberation of polygamy in the Terri
tories or States. [Applause.l He sketched
the system of government In the Mormon
church, to show what an espionage is kept
over the people, and what effort is made TO
perpetuate the polygamous system. Brigham
Young once said he'd force po.ygamy down the
throat of the nation, and he did 50 by ssnding
Cannon to sit in Congress, who had his four
wives. while the ordinary bigamist would be
sent to State Prison. The polygamy of Utah
is the worst kind of polygamy. as it SO de-
grades the first wife, Ii 1872 the Mormons
passed law depriying the wife of her dover;
this was threat over her to force her consent
to polygamy. 1t is tie worst polygamy, be-
cause it is the heart and center and soul of
the religion Of the people there. Applause. ]
From his investigation he was satisfied that
this doctrine forces many Mormons into po-
lygamy unwill1ngly. Polygamy in Utah is
not, as in other lands. merely permissible,
but is enforced. 1t is said by politicians that