Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-29
THE TRIALS.

charge of unlawful cohabitation. The
question which great many are asking
themselves is, What course will these
leading Mormons take? For long time
il was thought that the course that Bishop
Sharp might take would be the one
usually followed What his course has
been all know, and it is one that all who
are not in favor OF breaking the laws favor.
But that course met with a severe con-
demnation from Mr.. Sharp's co-religion-
lists, and the papers of his church set upon
him as though he were wild beast whose
very presence i'm the community was
source OF danger. In this course OF con-
domination for those who obey the law
and laudation for those who disobey it,
the Deseret Evening Ne,vs took the lead
but was largely followed by all the
church papers, In all the history OF
Utah there was never such din
raised for disobedience to the law
rs since Mr.. Sharp promised TO obey
it. That din was raised that any who
were inclined to follow Mr.. Sharp's exam
pie might be frightened out OF any such
inclination; and we believe the din has
succeeded in its object; but this can only
be determined by the result Of the trials,
which begin to-day. If the men who are
TO be arraigned to-day choose to suffer
imprisonment in preference to promising
obedience to the law, let them 60 to pris-
on, and let the law 90 on and be vindi-
Gated. Put the fact OF imprisonment on
the ground OF martyrdom, and what is
the cause for the martyrdom? The men
broke law. OF their country knowingly
and wilfnlly, and when the law comes for
its vindication and they are punished,
they term it martyrdom. Let them term
it what they choose, but what they term
it should in no way affect the enforce
ment OF the law. If Il man may do one
thing in defiance of the law, he may do
another, and if an indulgence should be
given to one who breaks the law, it should
be given to another who breaks the law.
If laws are not TO be respected and en-
forced, they should be abolished and let
each protect himself. 1t has got TO
that pass in Utah that the laws
against polygamy and unlawful cohabita-
ton should be rigidly enforced, or
those laws should be abolished. The
people here think that the United States
will get tired OF enforcing the laws, and
will cease. Such may be the case, but
we doubt it. Did the people of Utah
ever for moment think that perhaps if
the laws were persistenly and unceasing-
ly vindicabla they themselves might get
tired of the struggle? If the
suppression of polygamy and unlawful
cohabition in Utah is only to be accom-
plished by the process of attrition, very
well, but let the attrition go on and see
whether the larger or the smaller body
will be Worn away first. But it is fire.
quently said that there will be much suf-
fering consequent upon the enforcement
of the law. That is true, but in the great,
great majority OF polygamy cases have
not the men entered in to the rela-
ton since it was made unlawful? Is
there man in Utah Territory to-day who
believes that il Congress were TO grant
universal amnesty to all poygamists in
Utah and all the United States Terri
tories on the condition that no more
polygamous marriages were to be formed,
although those already formed were to be
allowed to continue in stdtu quo, that the
people here would give an honest promise
not to celebrate or form any more polyga-
nous marriages? They might make the
promise, but it is very doubtful whether
they would be sincere in observing it
The Mormon people would look upon ii
rs another sign OF weakness in the Gov
ernment, another interference by God in
their behalf. We have heard Mormons
say that they had contempt for the
United States because OF its vacillating
pusilanimous treatment of the Mormon
question. They have looked upon leni
ency as weakness and dislike to resort tc
strong measures as fear. They look upon
the stringent enforcement OF the law to-
day merely as spasmodic effort which
will shortly cease Thay admit that the
: effort has been prolonged more thar
usual, and .hey ask among themselves
how long it is going TO last
and the answer they make tc
themselves is that the present con
dition OF things cannot last always
and that soon God must display His hant
to protect His people. 1t is the hope o
having this hand shortly displayed that
various men are now preierring the ful
penalty OF the law TO promising any
obedience to it. None would wish tc
deprive them OF that hope, but we woult
wish that they might see that such hopei
are vain. So long as men sniier imprison
ment such hope is IL blessing to them, bu
such hope does not repeal laws or unbol
prison bars. But q great many are no
sustained by any such lofty feelings
They have placed themselves in box
80 to speak, and they dare not extricat,
themselves therelrom for fear OF the con
demnation and reylement they will hay,
TO encounter from those who have beer
their box-companions. They are in tina
frame OF mind described by Hamlet,
"Whether tits nobler in the mind to suffe
The sling5 and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or TO take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end themY"
That very apily described their menta
aont;siau and ,,bat tIa;, Il Jao;e;c,, ,,,;Il l.