Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-02
A Document Calculated to Fill Presi-
dent Cleveland with DiSmay.

I
month, drew an immense concourse c
people to the large Tabernacle this after
noon. A brass band stationed at the en-
trance of the Tabernacle discoursed som,
preliminary music and then retired in
side. After some little delay Mr.. VIM
Jennings came forward and nominated
Delegate John T. Game to the chair. Hi
nomination was sustained and he took tn
chair.
Heber NJ. Wells was then appointed
secretary pro tenn.
Upon the request of the chair Mr.
Wells then came forward and read tn,
call setting forth the reasons for calm.
the meeting. Mr. Jennings, T. G. Web
Der, Elias Smith, Jr, and Romania Pratt
were appointed as Merchantmen of the
meeting, and w. NJ. Stewart and Mrs.
Clayton as assistant secretaries.
The meeting was then regularly opened
by singing by the choir, followed with
prayer by Apostle j. Grant.
Mr.. Game then came forward and adj
dressed the assembly, opening by saving
that the object of the meeting was to
consider matters that pertain not only to
our welfare as members of the Church.
but as citizens of the United States. Mr..
! Game reviewed at considerable length the
early history of the Church. The history
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints had been one of violence and
prosecutions, driven first from one place
70 OIL 4l,o.,.
hscated and their prophets murdered, the
loyalty OF the MOrmOns had continued
unbroken. 1t was hard to believe such
prosecutions could exist in land dedicated
to liberty. A hasty review of the early
settlement of Salt Lake valley then fol-
lowed, closing with, Condemn our re-
liglon, scott at our credulity if YOU will,
but look at what we have accomplished.
The speaker then passed on to the DUR
poses OF the meeting, stating that the
grievance which was complained of was
that laws which on their face are of gene
raj application are made to apply to
Mormons only. 1t is for the pur-
pose OF protesting against this distortion
OF laws that we are here to take adyan-
tage OF constitutional right, namely, the
right to assemble and peaceablv protest
against public grievances. eve hope that
our petition will be granted, but if it is
not, we have at least done our duty to
ourselves and children"
After a selection by the band. Bishop
.. f. Whitney was introduced and read
the following
DECLARATION OF GRIEVANCES AND PROTEST:
To the President and People of the United
States:
FELLOW CITIZENS A condition of af
fairs imperiling the vital interests of the |
vast majority of the people of Utah and
their co-religionists in the neighborinp
States and Territories, impels us, their |
representatives, to address YOU. Our |
rights as American citizens are trampled |
upon, and believing it our imperative |
duty, IN the presence of such danger. to
protest against the gigantic evil which |
threatens, not only our liberties but the
liberties of every freeman, we, in general
mass meeting assembled, in the name of
freedom, justice and humanity make this
appeal for relief and protection.
We are unpopular with our fellow
countrymen; it is our religion which
makes us so; we are a small minority in
their midst; but we have vet to learn
that these are grounds upon which TO
Justify, in land of liberty, the acts of on
preston which we as people, from the
beginning of our history, have been made
% suffer.
As to our religious faith it is based ND
)n evidence. which to our minds is con-
'luslVe; convictions not to be DESTROYED
y legislative enactments or judicial de-
lslons. Force may enslave the BODY.
'ut IL cannot convince the mind. To
leld, at the demand of the legislator or !
he Jucge, the rights of conscience, would |
rove us recreant to every duty we owe S
D God and man. S
among the principles of our religion is t
lat OF immediate revelation from God: S
ne OF the doctrines so revealed is celes- p
al or plural marriage, for which ostensi- a
~, we are stigmatized and hated. This q
a vital part OF our religion, the de- n
slons OF courts to the contrary notwith. II
andlng. Even the Utah Commission "
oncede this. In their report to the Sec p
etary OF the Interior, November 1884 "
OF plural marriage, thew saw. b
Inns article OF their faith is as m1cb on el
'sental ana substantial part of their N
eed, as Their belief in baptism, repent tc
nee Tor the forgiveness of sins and tba
Ike. All orthodox Mormons he. N
eve polygamy to be right, and that if is III
essential part of their creed" I'll
That the Latter-day Saints should view u:
is as a principle of their religion NAV q
qulre explanation. Polygamy, as IN h;
rstood among Occidental nations. is a &c
stem of sensuality, and it is difficult for n;
ople among them to conceive how if 10
n be associated with pure religion. be
II the Latter-day Saints believe that :
marriage relation is one which, when IN
operly solemnized here, exists in m
9rnlty. Every faithful woman in the to
lurch believes that in order to insure
exaltation in the presence of God and tn
= Lamb, she should be married or tn,
lied to an upright, faithful man. Act ha
upon this belief, these alliances are ar
med while on the earth, upon the un
hclple that the man is not without the an
man nor the woman without the man ret
sne Lord. They firmly believe that to
u mas revealed this to them as a COM the
.nd, but while patriarchal MARRIAGE. i'm
II Is termed, is part of their faith and tiol
ictice, they have no idea that If shouId y
,ohe universal. The equality of the Iva,
es, II no other reason, would nravant -
;. III Is a mistaken idea that onr an
lrch tavors the propagation of this - t.nt
trlne or seeks to establish it as mn ~
sal system. At the same time NO s'liO
Y believe that women ebo,IJ 0oi.