Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-04-25

she united States-uOW Gentfiei
aud MOrmOns Take tine News
Angus m. Cannon Says POIygamy
Will Not be Surrendered The
Saints will Go to Prison pr Di,
for La.
Decision was rendered by the United
States Supreme Court on Monday last il
the polygamy case of Rudger Clawsor
against the United States, brought at Sal
Lake by a writ Of error from the Supreme
Court Of Utah. Clawson, plaintiff il
error, was indicted for ~polygamy at the
April term of 1884, Of the District Court
OF Utah, and after trial found guilty and
sentenced to q fine of $500 and four year.
imprisonment. He appealed to the Su'
preme Court Of the Territory, and thai
tribunal having affirmed the judgment o.
the District Court, brought his case to Sal,
Lake for review, upon the ground that the
grand and petit jurors by which he was in
dicted and tried were illegally constituted
A number of leading non-Mormons, in.
Guiding members Of the bar, and Mormons
were interviewed by o reporter of the
Tribune. A certain banker said il was q
sockdologer. ] don't see what they can dc
now to dodge. / told some Of them to-day
that it was the last ditch. There was nc
use in their talking about making any
purchases. That could not be done, for
we had at last an able and incorruptible
judiciary. l think when the first old buck
of any considerable importance jumps the
fold TO come within the laws, there will be
a mighty following of sheep.
Another business man said: III q Jury
of twelve Gentiles brings in q verdict OF
guilty where any prominent Mormon is on
trial, you may know they are twelve hon
est men, and that Mormon gold cannot buy
or influence them"
President A. M. Cannon was asked:
What do you think of the Supreme Court
d~ecision?"
at was a great surprise to me. I never
had a doubt but that the Supreme Court
would reverse the decision in regard to
the open venire. l Am sorry on account
of the country. I know that the Edmunds
law is Unconstitutional, but when it passed
l told my children shat / would live
within the law, and I had my rooms fitted
up purposely to do 30. My reason was
that my children's bread and butter de-
pended on it. / knew there was q number
Of hungry office seekers who would like my
Office, and I did not propose that they
should have IT,"
"Then, Mr.. Cannon, why do you not
advise your people to do what you have
done, and why was it wrong for Mr..
Arnold to pledge himself to live within the
law in the future ?"
With me it was no sacrifice to stop CO.
habiting with my wives, as they are all
past child bearing, and we believe in mar
rying only for the purpose of procreating
and making earthly tabernacles for the
myriads of spirits who are awaiting to fill
them. But I would be torn to pieces be-
fore l would give up one jot Of my religion,
and if | were called upon to marry o young
woman tomorrow 1 would do SO. / tell
my children to live their religion, and
that they must abide the consequences. I
will certainly do go in my case now before
the courts. If they convict me, they
can convict any one living in q house
where there is more than one woman,
but I would not pledge myself to
live within the Edmunds law for
any power in the world. / know that polyg-
amy is from God. 1t is our religion, and
we will never give ii up. The United States,
when they acquired this Territory from Mex
leo. found US here, and they knew polyg-
amy was a part of our religion. How diff
ferent they acted from the manne in which
England acted towards the people of India !
There the people are left undisturbed in
the practice of their faith. I mourn for
the country. But it is one Of the signs
that have been foretold, and means the de-
struction OF the country if it is not more
Just. I've had no faith in the Supreme
Court since that eight to seven business.
Some OF our people think it would be diff
ferent il we had q Democratic Supreme
Court, but / don't know. We will always
have to suffer persecution. I have enjoyed
more peace and prosperity now than I ever
expected to enjoy, and I expect to see
this prosecution go on until Christ comes
to reign over US. l have great respect for
Judge Zane. I think he is an honest man,
and / have no feelings against him. but the
nation should never have passed such laws
as they have for any officer to execute"
"Do you think, Mr.. Cannon, that the
majority Of your people will now obey the
law?"
"No, sir; they cannot. They will abide
the consequences. even to imprisonment
and death; and, I believe, with some 1t will
end in DEATH"
Mr.. Swan, Secretary of the Utah Central
railroad, said: cit is an absurdity to ask
a man to obey the laws of man instead of
the laws of God, and no man will do any
thing but what God commands"
II. s. Eldridge says: my opinions are
not for the public. 1 have q private opin-
ion that no law can bind a mans con-
science, and that a man to be a criminal
must injure some one else. Whom do
~polygamists %injure? If you say their
wives and children, I answer these COM
plants are not coming from them.
That's ALL"
Apostle II. j. Grant had no opinion to
express for publication. 1t was one of
those matters that he did not want to ex-
press an opinion on now.
James T. Little said: II think the de-
cision will have q restraining influence.
A great many men went into polygamy
six months ago who would not go in now.
Their opinions are of course unchanged,
but they would not consider ii prudent to
practice it. 1 think that will be the way
three-fourths of the Mormon people will
look at it. There are some who will OF
course practice ii, no matter what laws are
passed or what decisions rendered"
Francis Cope said: 81 don't think 1t
will mska anv chanOa don't hin any