Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-15
MR.. w. H. SHEARMAN.
His Views On the Action of Mr.. Orson
Arnold,
And the Criticism of the "Deseret
News" Thereon.

said publicly that he had put himself in
accord with the Edmunds law. If this is
true-and as the Neo0S says of Mr.. Ar
mold, 1--WE would not be justified in as
Stunning that he was playing the part Of a
hypocrite'-then President Taylor long
since did just what Orson Arnold has
now done, neither more nor less, except
ing that Mr.. Arnold declared his inten-
tons in the presence of the United States
Court, before which he had been sum-
moned, while President Taylor defined
his position in much more public man
ner and without any coercion, before
! thousands of his co-religionists.
We are thus brought face to face with
the issue which has been eliminating
for years - namely, the supremacy
of the laws of the United States
or those of the Mormon" church
where the two happen to conflict. Now,
if it is wrong for Orson Arnold to pledge
himself in the presence of the Court to
conform to the laws of the land, it was
equally wrong in President Taylor to do
so in the presence of his people, If it
one case it was in the other. If it is an
evidence of weakness in Orson Arnold, is
it less so in anyone else? Besides Pres
ident Taylor is the head of the "Mor-
mon" church; the whole people look to
him as their example, as the great shep-
herd who not only points the path of duty,
but leads in it, Now if it is right for him
to obey the law of the land, it must be
right for all his people to do SO too. Ex-
ample is louder than precept If God
approves and sustains him in this course,
as the "Mormons" devoutly believe, will
he not also approve them in following the
example of their leader? Nay, may not
President Taylor Justly say by and bye,
when troubles and difficulties thicken
81 showed you the way out, but you did
not follow"
Again, the court did not require Mr.
Arnold to renounce any principle of his
religion. 1t did not ask him to say that
he believed plural marriage to be wrong.
1t did not require him to cease to love,
cherish and protect any one or more of
the members of his family. 1t simply
required him to conform to the letter of
the Edmunds law He had only the
option of doing this voluntarily or
forcibly. If willingly, he could enjoy his
liberty and continue to protect and labor
for the happiness of those he loved.
Otherwise prison walls would put effectual
barriers between them and deprive his
family of Import and protection. In the
first instance he would be separated from
one, but could labor for all. In the
second he would be separated from all
and could labor for none. Will any sane
person say he decided wrongly or I'M
wisely?
Further: Which is the most sensible
and honorable course,-to do as Mr.. Ar
mold has, or to run away and leave fami-
lies unprotected and comparatively desti-
tute? Which shows the most manhood,
unselfishness and heroism? One virtu-
ally says-"If cannot do just as | please
and live as | have done, | will desert
both wives and children and leave them
to shift for themselves" The other saws,
81 will not forsake any, but will continue
to labor for the benefit of all even though
the law deprives me of their society,""
1t is but justice to the author of the
criticism IN the Ne1CS to say that it is I'M
derstood he does not propose to adopt
either OF the courses, but to boldly meet
the issue and take the consequences.
This may eXtort admiration from his bit
terest enemies for its heroism, especially
If pursued in spirit of modest firmness,
instead of proud defiance. But if all the
male members of the Church do this
what is TO become of the women and
children? Not only will they be left I'M
provided for, and prey to- the unprin-
clpled and INSCRIPTIONS, but the little |
property they now have will be absorbed |
by fines and costs.
Personal explanations are generally in !
bad taste and shrink from any notorietv. |
But there are times when it seems a duty |
to speak. | have never disguised my
friendship for the Mormon people, neither
have | hcsitated to protest against any,
thing | regarded as wrong and unjust on
their part. They have misunderstood
me, regarded me as their enemy, and
bitterly hated me. MANY
of them do STILL But that should not
and does not make any difference to me.
L love them-as a people-for their gene
raj integrity and devotion to God, truth
and righteousness, as understood bv
them. If | believed them to be entirely
wrong, | should love them more if pos
sible. For no one is capable of properly
|
S unable to do them good, unless he
owes them. Under no circumstances
will / ever be anything but their friend
But fattery is not friendship.
1t seems to me there is but one of four !
Kings for the Mormon" to do. Fight, /
iisobey the law and unfinchingly suffer ,
he consequences, run away, or submit.
he first would be suicidal No sane
Mormon" thinks of it. Besides, even
success by that means were possible.
is one of the unalterable laws of the
Universe that whatever is established by
ne sword must, sooner or later, perish n
y the sword. While principles that .
ucceed without resort to physical force o
an never be destroyed by it. !,
The second may be heroic and should q
e adopted by those who really believe .
hat God has commanded them to do a
hat human law forbids. But how MANY \
re there who can conscientiously state q
nat they have received a command from =
rod to enter into plural marriage" or
nat they have done so purely and strictly
'om a sense of duty?
The third may do for those who :,
ave plenty of money. But the !,
reat majority of those involved can y
W iut away anu III tIley cOuIu, nOtnlng
ould be gained by so doing, either in a
loral or physical sense, unless they
ould emigrate en- mdsse to some place a
here they could found an Independent I'll
al
What is the alternative? Submission.
ow, does submission involve cowardly
)andonment of principle? / would be al
re last to wish any one for whom had M
particle of affection or respect to re-
ounce any belief for fear of personal con-
quences. But submission involves
thing more than what Presi-
mt Taylor says he has done. 6;
ld what many nfharc rn,irntnl,r tnll =.