Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-10
DISAPPOINTED.

Our local contemporaries seem dsap-
pointed with that part o. the Presldent's s
message which relates to Utah. This is
natural, for it neither suits the radical
policy of the one or the non-intervention
policy of the other. To us it seems about
the proper thing, and the Presidents at
titude towards Utah can only be def
niteiy known when various bills touching
Utah matters shall be presented to him
for his signature That, and that alone,
will be the test.
The NeDs says the President knows
nothing whatever about Utah affairs,
and that all his information on such
affairs is erroneous. He may be errone-
ously informed as to some things in Utah !;
he may have some wrong impressions; (;
but some things he does know, and they
are things that none will deny. He
knows that there is a country called
America, and that in this country there
is political organization known as the
United States, and that this organization
is recognized by every government on
earth. He also knows that there are
subdivisions of the United States, and
that one of these subdivisions is called
Utah, and that SO long as Utah re-
mains a Territory she is under the
control OF Congress, and that the
powers OF the Utah Legislature are
delegated powers, and not sovereign.
He knows that Congress has passed a law
known as the Edmunds law, and that
this law was passed for the purpose of
suppressing polygamy. He is not mis-
informed when he is told that polygamy
very largely exists in Utah; and being so
informed, he knows that to the extent
that polygamy exists there is violation
of the laws of Congress. Is not his
knowledge OF affairs amply sufficient to
justify the remarks in his message con-
corning polygamy in Utah ? We grant
that as to the practical workings of the
polygamic system he may be totally ig-
norant, or that what information he may
have on the matter is totally wrong, yet
this would not affect the fact that
such system is in contravention of
a law of the land, and that as Presi-
dent of the United States it is his duty
TO enforce this law. We are inclined to
think with the News that the President is
not fully informed on Utah matters 1t
is probable that the President does not
know the true theory as to the doctrine
of polygamy-that it is privilege con-
fined to the members of a partic ular sect,
and that it is not intended for extension
beyond that sect; or as Mr. Taylor and
MIR. Cannon have SO neatly said: "It
should also be understood that the prac-
tice is not generally admissible among
the Latter-day Saints. 1t is strictly
guarded, the intention being only to al
low those who are above reproach to en-
ter into this relationship. The practice
of the doctrine is not for extension be-
yond the church, and is even limited
within its pale" Perhaps he does not
know that ii Mr.. Taylor were to forbid
the officers of the church to grant this
privilege" to any member of
his church, no matter how ex-
emplary and worthy he might be,
nor how much above reproach, such
member could by no possible means OBJ
tain such privilege. We ask the Neys
if this is not SO? There is another thing
the President does not know, but of which
he should be made aware. We prefer to
let the NeaUS tell this in its own language:
But we know better than he when he
assumes that, "These are not the homes of
if he means by that the marriage
system of the Latter-day Saints in Utah. |
We are certain that of this system and its |
workings he knows next to nothing. His |
information depends upon reports made by |
persons as uninformed as himself on the |
subject, or the misrepresentation of inter- |
ested persons. All the staple arguments |
against "polygamy'' are framed in reference |
to Asiatic polygamy, and they do not bear
on the subject The homes we are and have |
been establishing are just sucn as he pre-
scribes and praises.
The italics in the above are ours. but |
the Importance Of the word "are" cannot
be overestimated. The homes which the |
people here are establishing, according
to the Neacs, are polygamous The fact
is quite important and shows that the
President is right when he says there
should be no relaxation in the just en-
orcement of the laws now in operation.
Il is satisfaction to know that there will
be none.