The Dillon tribune., 1885-11-07
MORMON MARRIAGES.
The Utah Commission Makes a very Plain
Report.

Report.
The Utah Commission, through lis
Chairman, Alex. Ramsay, has submitted
to the Secretary of the Interior their an.
nual report upon the transactions and pro.
ceedings of the Commission since Novem.
Der S, 1854, the date OF their last report.
Their report begins with the statement
that the usual annual revisions Of the reg.
istration list for the present year were duly
and thoroughly made by the officers Of the
Board, and the general election was held
August sd last. No person living in the
practice Of polygamy was allowed to reg.
lister or vote, nor was any such person |
elected or commissioned to any Office. |
This point, therefore has been surely |
reached, says the Commission. that the
name Of a polygamist cannot be found on
the registration lists and none Of this class |
are holding Office. Nevertheless, it is
true that nearly all the officers chosen at
the last and in other preceding elections
are Mormons, live in polygamy, subscribe
to polygamous marriages as of Divine
revelation-a law unto all, higher and more
binding upon the conscience than any
human law. A notable exception. how.
ever, occurred in Smmit county, where
the entire non- Mormon ticket, including a
member Of the House Of Representatives
of the Assembly was elected. This Rep
resentative was the first on-Mormon
elected for many years. The Commission
refers to the recent decision Of the Su-
preme Court in the polygamy cases as a
timely and valuable Interpretation OF the
law. 1t is believed that there have been
very few polygamous marriages during
the present year, but it is not regarded as
prudent to look upon this fact as indicating
anything more than suspension Of the
practice, resulting from vigorous enforce
ment Of the law, and not as an actual sur.
render, occasioned by a general and de-
cided change of sentiment regarding the
doctrine itself. Indeed, it is believed that
IL all the operations by the Commission
and courts should at once cease, or even il
a halting, hesitating policy should take the
place of the vigorous one now in force, l,
is altogether sprobable that plural mar
riages would again become verv general ir
Utah. A firm attitude of the Government
and the faithful execution Of the law sus
tanned by public sentiment has exerted ir
the past year repressive influence upor
the Mormon people never before expe
rienced by them since their establishment
in Utah. The course of certain polyga
mists, who have declared their intention
Of obcying the laws in the future, thereby
mourning the wrath Of the church, il
cited as an evidence Of internal dissensicn
f which although feeble, is all encouraging
feature Of the situation. Every step for
ward by the Government, says the Com
mission, will give more strength and cour
age to men who desire to respeetan ODE,
the laws. A single step backward in leg
islation or administration will help tn
church to crush out this growing spirit q
opposition, and perhaps lose to the move
ment against polygamy all that has bee
gained by the passage If the Edmunds ac
The report pays high tribute to the yea
and success of the present officers of tn
Federal court. Within two years eighty
three indictments have been found fu
polygamy and unlawful cohabitatior
: There have been twenty three convictions
and forty.thrce cases are now awaitin
trial. The great increase Of business bt
fore the Federal court at Salt Lake City
: resulting from the prosecution of polygam
: cases, has made it necessary that the az
rointmcnt of an additional Judge shoul
be authorized by Congress. 1t is re.rette
that the Prosecuting Attorney and assis
= ant have found it necessary to tender the
y designations owing to the inadequate r,
, enumeration for their services. The Con
= mission replies at some length to the ALT
cations that have been made by the defens
er> Of polyga'ny that the prosecutions unde
the Edmunds act are directed solely again
those who maintain polygamous relation
: and that sexual derelictions by other pc
; sons are not investigated. The burden I
their rejoinder is that the law was not
rccted against individual lascivious pra,
: tices, but against the assault by the Mo
. mon church upon the monogamic system
Little hope is entertained in view Of tt
u past action Of the Legislative Assembl
that it will this winter provide for the fiji
: ing of the Offices made vacant by the E.
munds' act Not the least obstacle in tt