The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-21
DEFENSE OF MORMONISM.
president Junn Taylor's Argument for
tie Mormon Church.
The Latter-Day Saints Not Hostile to the Gov
ernment-How the Edmunds Law
Works in Practice.

rains a discussion between President Taylor, of
the Mormon Church, and Governor Eli Murray,
of Utah, upon the question of Ecclesiastical
Control in Utah" There is nothing new in Gov
ernor Murray's paper, which presents the views
he has frequently given to the public; but Presi-
dent Taylors defense of the Mormon cause will
be found of general interest. He opens his con-
tribution by DENYING that any combination ex-
lists in Utah to nullify the laws of Congress, but
asserts that the people of the Territory are con-
tending in peaceable and legal manner for the
same rights and privileges enjoyed by their fell
low-ctizens and no more.
The commissioners under the Edmunds BILL
he explains, at once upon their arrival in Utah
''franed test oath which they required every
man to take before he would be permitted to
vote. By this coup d'etat every citizen in Utah
Jew, Gentle and Mormon-was DISTINGUISHED
without indictment and without trial-a most
summary method of robbing people of their
rights, one that we claim is entirely opposed to
both the letter and the spirit of that great char
ter of human rights, the constitution of the
United States-an instrument for which, be it
said, we have the most profound reverence, be-
neving, do that those who framed 1t were
inspired by the Almighty. This uneonstitu
tional exaction, which 'at one fell swoop for
the time being dsfranchised whole territory,
amounted to this, that a man must swear that
he had never simultaneously lived with more
than one woman in the marriags relation
1t was, at the same time, a bill OF attainder.
The first antl-polygamy law of Congress was
issued in 1862, and all those who had, previous
TO that time, from deep Tehgions
conviction received and entered into
that order of marriage, but had never broken
law of the United States by so doing for the
simple reason that there was no such law, were,
by the commissioners ruling, equally debarred
from voting with those who had married In
plurality subsequent TO that date"
The writer claims that the poly gamists-men
and women-not only did not attempt TO nnllify
this law, but made no effort to exercise the fran
chise, leaving it in the hands of those who were
unmarried or had only one wife, and actually
assisting the commission in executing the law.
"The remarkable interpolation in the commits
sioners' test oath of the words in the marriage
led to many curious Incidents" says President
Taylor some of which would be ludicrous if
they were not so Illuminating. Here is case in
point: former mayor of Salt Lake City, Mr..
Feramorz Little, very honorable gentleman
ana highly respected, came TO this Territory
many years ago, before there was any law OF
Congress against plural marriage and espouscd
two wi les subsequently ,a one n6 OF these tSe
time that this incident occurred he had been for
years without a wife He had son who was
appointed registrar for a certain district in this
city and his son had the modification of being
compelled. under the ruling of the commission,
TO refuse his father permission to register, and
consequently deprived him of the right 10 vote
"a privilege which he had perfect right TO
ercise, both because of the provision in the con-
and again by reason Of the statutes OF imtta-
81 tons, which bars all action In any such cases
% after the refusal of the registrar to place his
fathers name the registration list, we'll
known keeper of a bagnio and her associates
presented themselves, and the son had the
humiliation Of having TO permit them TO re gis-
ter. These courtesans afterward voted:
Another case: A man came 10 the place of
registration, and remarked to the officer
that he supposed he could not register as
he had a wife and also kept mistress. This
1,i,rf,f la npaid raio oh FOR
ward fellow to make so. ready an ackpQwledg-
~ SIZE
forward in such u crooked transaction the
breaking off the marriage vows ana IN marital
infidelity. But the officer knew what was in the
oath better than did this man, and advised him
TO read it. He did so. When he came to the
words in the marriage relation he Immediately
said: Yes, I see. can go that and was at
once sworn and registered.
$50 it will be perceived that under the official
construction of the law the most depraved the
vilest of mankind. can vote. can use the fran
chise and enjoy the benefits resulting therefrOm,
and that this portion of the United States is ac-
tuaily threatened with being governed by such
an element"
President Taylor declares that ''there is a
great deal of niisapprebension existing in the
minds of the people with regard to our mar
rage Institutions. None but the very best of
our communicable ylrtuous, the honest, and
the upright-are permitted to take more than
one wife. They must be recommended
worthy by their bishop aud by the president of
the stake in which they reside We are, of all
people the most strict in our ideas with regard
To morality and virtue. II a man who is a men,
Der OF our church commits adultery form cation
or bigamy, he is at once cut off from the
communion with the saints, and all fellowship
in the church is withdrawn from him, for we re-
gard These sins as among the most abominable
OF evils, the most heiD0us next TO the shedding
OF innocent blood. There not to-day a more
virtuous community in the world, or one where
female chastity Ia more highly regarded or more
vigorously protected"
The writer makes an argument in support OF
the position that Congress has no power under
the constitution to pass laws for Territory
which ii could not pass for "A State. He declares
that Utah has militia, although 1t formerly
possessed one which did excellent and timely
service, and asserts in the strongest terms the
absolute legality of the existing Territorial gov
eminent. He denies stOutly that the Mormons
have ever been in state of rebellion against the
federal government, that the Mormon leaders
were in any manner implicated in the Mountain
Meadow massacre the perpetrators of which,
he says they assisted TO bring to Justice.
AS to the claim that Mormonsm is not re-
liglon, he says that ''the whole history Of the
Mormons has shown that they are religious peo-
pie. Their early prosecutions they endured on
account of their peculiar religious views and
practices. They came to Utah not, as alleged,
TO erect an establishment of religion contrary to
the constitution and laws, but to found state
where all sects would kave equal rights TO wor-
ship God according to the dictates of the con-
sciences of their members, which rights the Lat
ter-day Saints had been denied in Missouri and
Illinois. When they came here Utah formed
part of Mexico. Five hundred of their
religionists we're then enlisted in the service of
the United States, as the Mormon battalion,
lighting the sister republic One of the first
things done by the Mormon people after their
arrival in what is now Utah was to raise the
stars and stripes and establish American insti-
buttons and laws as quickly their isolated po
sition-more than q thousand miles from the
Western frOntier-would permit; they
next applied to Congress for
State government. Ever since that time they
have endeayored to attend peaceably to their
own affairs. and keep the laws of the land-as
required in the re Violations given through the
prophet Joseph Smith-notwithstanding the re-
peated and almost unceasing efforts of political
demagogues and sectarian zealots to stir up
hatred, malice, confusion and disorder"
AS to the relation of spiritual and temporal
affairs in tine Territory President Taylor says:
"Our church courts are simply courts of recon
eiliation or arbitration between church men,
bers and for determining charges of transgres
sion and In way affect the civil powers or the