The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-10-08

u
Surely no person who is unbiased, that
gives this subject even the most casual
attention can characterize such treat
ment as other than flagrantly unjust.
1t has been estimated that out of q
community of about 100000 people,
more or less, from 10000 to 1900 are
( identified with polygamy. When the
EdmundS act was passed this small
minority who were deprived by it of
the right TO vote or hold Office, volun-
tarily, without the application of
coercion, withdrew from those priv
/ ilegeS, Notwithstanding the high esti-
mate they placed upon them. 1t NAV
/ we'll be asked wherein is the Justice IF
I placing the bulk of the people at a dis
| advantage as well, seeing they have
done nothing to furnish an excuse for
such treatment? Granting tnat the
small minority connected with polvg-
amy are criminals before the law
! what Justification is there, OIL that ac-
/ count, for Furnishing, as the Edmunds
and other acts do, the OverwheIminD
majority? If such doings were per-
4 petrated in any other connection thev
would be unSparingly denounced as
! oppressive and tyrannical in the most
4 extreme degree. If one portion of a
community are designated as criminal
to hold the other and much the greater
portion responsible for such 4 cOndl-
| ton is not only unjust, but decidedly
absurd.
Statements upon this subject have
been made to the Chief Executive OF
the nation, in the form of a protest and
petition for redress of grievances.
Knowing that Misrepresentation have
taken the place of impartial scrutiny
I of the question with which the Latter
day Saints are associated, the cOnse-
quenceS being a general miSapprehen-
sion of the community and their af-
fairs, we presumed that Mr.. Cleveland
was not acquainted with the real situa-
ton. An opportunity was thus sought
to acquaint him with the facts. The
very reasonable desire was expires Sed
in this connection that a commission
of inquiry be appointed, that the truth
might appear and be given to the ma
ton. Was it too much to expect that
this action, supported by arepreSen-
tatiOn of 200,0 900 people, would meet
with some favorable response, which
thus far has not, however, been made?
Yet 1t would be Unfair to attribute the
delay OF the President tither to indif-
ference or disposition TO refuse 10
accord justice to a people whose iiber-
ties are being trampled upon to an ex-
tent that is almost past human endur-
ance. 1t is still hoped that he will
take some consistent and humane
action in the premises. In abiding to
the delay in granting response to the
representations made to the President,
we must not forget the extensive and
arduOuS character of the duties de-
vOlVing upon him, as the head of the
administration of a great government.
We mention this that you may not be
disposed to be too censoriOus in re-
gard to the actions of. men in high
places who have the power to redress
our grievances. And even when we
feel that we are WrOnged, it is proper
for US to follow the example of our
Lord and Master, and say: Father,
forgive them, they know not what they
do"
Referring once more to the situation
in more local sense, we are not obli-
viouS to the anomalous position in
which the Federal judicial officers are
placed in dealing with a subject which
appears to occupy large share of
popular attention. While it is impos-
sible for them to escape pro-
nounced exceptions being taken to
their official course, on account
OF its harShnesS, undue rigor, and
unjust discrimination in admins
tering the laws, they are entitled to
some consideration, justified by well
understood circumstances. The Lat
ter-day Saints are the objects of popu-
lar Obloquy. Their institutions appear
to be greatly disliked. The officers are
doubtless Influenced by the general
clamor for the application of heroic
treatment to the Saints. They them
i
to some degree by personal prejudices,
and their official conduct, by these con-
dltIOnS, is thrown out of balance
While their course cannot be sustained
in the light OF fair play, some allowance
should be made on account of the liza
bility of the human mind to be warped
by influences in conflict with the prin-
ciples which should universally obtain
in courts of law and presumed Justice.
Neither would it be justifiable on the
part of the Saints to. entertain toward
them, on account of their departures
from their proper line of duty any ran
corous or veageful feeling. A spirit
of that character is not in unity with
the genius of the Gospel of peace. All
men are in the hands of Just God,
whose mighty, penetrating power is
capable of Analysing all the motives
WHICH pIOIupO uuludu dCIlOug anu lie
can and will deal with US and them and
all men according to the principles of
eternal justice.
Upwards of forty years ago the Lord
revealed to His Church the principle of
celestial marriage. The idea of marry
ing more wives than one was as
naturally abhorent to the leading men
and women of the Church at that day
as it could be to any people. They
shrank with dread from the bare
thought of entering into such relation
ships. But the command of God was
before them in language which Go faith
full soul dare diSobey.
"For, behold, reveal unto you. a
new and an everlasting covenant; and
If We abide not that covenant, then are
We damned; tor no one can reject this
covenant, and be permitted to enter
into my glory.
And as pertaining to the new and ever
lasting covenant, it was instituted for
the fulnesS of my glory; and he that
receiVeth fulnesS thereof, must and
shall abide the law, or he shall be
damned, saith the Lord Godp
DamnatiOn was the awful penalty
affixed to a refusal to obey this law.
1t became an acknowledged doctrine
of the Church; it was in0issolubly in
terWoven in the minds of its members
with their hopes of eternal salvation
and evaltafiOn in fine OrpSappa of Cod