The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-11
THE MORMON INIQUIRY.
Something About the Social, Legal and Pe-
itieal Evils Of the Utah System.
Interview with Gov. Ri q. Marfay.

AAseRvfeW VITA G0F. Eal A. murray
II suppose suggested the reporter, that
polveamv is at the root Of all the evils in Utah
4,--s = s. $500, 3. -...,, -.
anu e1lae - "eie eoo1lsiieu ~ "oeAu De eoAAA
paratvely easy to correct the other wrongsN
ssYou are mistaken said Governor Murray.
ss1oo1,-,a,,, 4; - +ha ,,.oa+ ON :, Irtab n
Soy = ~ sNs $500 - :. 80,
that Territory there is government under
corporation, and this corporation is known as
AZ 49,. GU. 5. !. .4 I'll
requirements OF the secular as Wen az the eceie-
siastical government. The corporation was es-
tablished nv TERRITORIAL statute and II was de-
clared that the ordinances rules and regulations
of the Mormon Church sbould uot be legally
ltss to1pnys o. Ytsl IN cha sfsf,4te
were - az laaaast atrs ~, IA astahlsl 4
religion which has not been s,,ccessfnllv leoallv
questioned, from fha wear 1881 fine date Of its
massage mn to the present time
.sC,sIs9 vrs, mora snerifeallv dascviha tbA ma
ts,re of these nosrersgs aslsaj tlse ra1.crte,.
s'They are coIHplete as to the risbfs Of proper-
~, 1oI3t;oa1 r. - =, an ssa,.;. :. =; r tba
,y,rds e. on rato ~ ~ ~ s. 90 - fsa,srAse
includ;no IA AFT estabsbir he Tarritoyr II
Utah and every act ' Of t1e feTritorial Tessla
ture. which derives its newer from that Con
eressional statI1te were repealed Il wo,,ld leave
Church. intended to meet ali reoyrirenreTts Of q
commercial or political character. The basis,
th fundamentaI ca11sn of ali tbis ia The
ton Of the divine origin Of the church with its
oppoir1ted leaders and bishops it, eerlesfastieal
courts and other machinerv Of rovprnrnenf All
Of which are supposed TO pet their a1ifhority di-
rect from God To these All Questions sc gov
eminent and differences between Citizens are re-
ferred, instead Of to the courts authorized un-
der the authority of Congress- It will at once
be seen that under these conditions polygamv is
not the great wrong to be remedied. fhink that
the most serious wrong is the establishment Of
another government, independent Of national
controIn
Twill YOU explain the machinery Of this
ecclesiastical poyernmentFp
'IThe entire TERRITORY Is laid off in vartIs over
each of which Bishop presides Several wards
constitute q stake--a stake of Zion,-over which
president Of 4 stake uresides. The stakes
form the church. which is governed by the presi-
dent of the church If all the legislauive and
congressional enactrEents were abolished there
would still be the Bishops court and the other
courts of appeal forming an ecclesiastical gov
eminent in the cornpletest sense This govern
ment, you perceive is as independent Of the
Legislature Of Utah as it Is Of the United
States
What are the attendant evils of this sys-
tem7n
1.-THE result of the power in the church Is the
continued so-called election Of 4 Legislature
under the form Of law which, beyond 5 cues
ton, is now and always has been named bv the
president Of the church. This Legislature is
paid for out Of the Treasury Of fhe United
States
please explain the workings of the courts IN
UG6n, SAID the reporter
I'm Utah as Id every other T'arritorv f.on-
eress has provided for three district, iuaces to
be anuoinfed bv the President 1pha tbraet eo,1rta
over which these Judges preside are like orr State
Circuit Courts here ia Kentnebv The three Dis
trict Judges together form the Supreme Court Of
the Territory They try both civil and criminal
cases IN addition to these each co111,fv has lie
Probate Court presided over l,y 4. i,1ee ejeetd hs
the people Of the county Until tfe Tsvrep even
csed fv these Probate Courts had bseT, RESTRICTED
BY CONGRESS- thew asss,rned crininaI iuristictios,
and other unwsrranted authority. This. of
course, was done with a view to having the exc
cution Of the laws in the hands of the tie pro-
bate Judges. who. at All times held themseiives
accountable 20 the president Of the church.
ssDo the church courts actively interfere with
the ureroga4iyes of the ree,Ilar ce,1rtsgn