The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-07-21
MORMON PLURAL WIVES.
A Few Pertinent Questions With
Some Suggestions.


elders are supposed to be the partie
who will receive the greatest benefi
from the suppression of polygamy
therefore, would it not be well for tn
officers of the law to wait until thes
women make complaints against thei
husbands instead of compelling then
to testify against their will?.
Is pOlygamy contagious disease? II
! it is, why is it that the men who clamo
so loudly for quarantinIng the afflicted
ones in the Penitentiary have no
caught it before this, seeing that The,
have been SO long and badly exposed
If tits not, why is all this unnecessary
alarm?
Seeing that the religion of Christen
dom has existed for centuries and the
Mormon religion only fifty-five wears,
also seeing that Christianity counts IFS
yotaries by millions while the Mormons
(all told) number only 2OO, 600. what
consistency is there in trying to make
the world believe that the Mormons
will swallow the Christians, religion and
all?.
If we believe that our religion, our
politics and the government OF the
United States are in danger from
this handful of fanatics, let us
not, for shame's sake, acknow-
ledge it, or the people of other nations
will ridlcule us, and call US fools. But
if we are fully convinced of the fact.
would it not be better to improve our
religion, our politics and our govern
ment, and make them equal at least. if
not superior to, the Mormons, and
thus save ourselves from being captured
by them?
In view of the high moral standing of
those accused OF polygamy, as well as
those who have been tried and con-
victed, and their excellent character in
all else but their polygamous relations,
what reason IS there in persisting that
polygamy IS demoralizing in its ten
dency? Is it not rather a conclusion
jumped at than TACT established?
If one OF the consequences of polyg-
amous practice las claimed by its op-
ponents) is deterioration of the race.
by what philosophical reasoning can
We account for the fine physiques and
healthy condition of the offspring of
such marriages?
Are not the people generally giving
to Mormonism too much importance,
and will not the present policy (if con-
result in the very opposite to
that which is intended? For in the
very. nature of things, these bitter and
prosecutions must result IN
more fully roofing into the body polite
as well as our social life, this so-called
evil And further. if the press and the
pulpit would drop the Mormon question
q 70 tfof 70 Il ~ ~
result sought to be obtained be sooner
reached than by continuous abuse of
a people who claim they are acting
from honest convictions of right?
AS the men who have tried to live in
conformity to the Edmunds law re
ceive no credit therefor in court in Utah,
and as the man who pleads guilty" is
mulcted in the same sum and is SEN
fenced to the same term of imprison-
ment as the one who pleads mot
guilty" what advantage is gained by
either2
What section of the Edmunds law
provides for the consideration of conse-
quential damages growing out of polyg-
amous relations, or what right has
judge to offer to compromise with a
man who has been found guilty by a
inry, and promise him missionary APP
polntment if he wouldn't do it any
more? AA1 what salary would a mis-
sionary thus appointed receive, and who
would pay it?
If the half-masting of the National
Flag on the Fourth of July in Utah is
treason, of what crime are those Fede-
raj officials guilty, who reside in Wash
ington, Utah and elsewhere who did not
mast the flag at all on that day?
Will the Young Democracy" in
Utah absolve all the conflicting elements
Republicans of which the
- Liberal party" were composed? Ifso
what KIND of democracy will it be? Or
if they should simply unite to beat the
MormOns at the polls on election dav.
and get defeated, which section could
receive the honor OF the defeat?
On the other hand, if by such combi-
nation they should in the future win,
which section would be awarded the
aurels3 Young Democracy" had
better consider future consequences be-
ore the amalgamatiOn takes place.
Is salary of $4,000 year sufficient
for any true Democrat to
ut in the judgment seat and pass SEN
ence of Imprisonment and fine upon
men land most oil them fellow Demo-
q NiiO IL IC DSCli VI
ave it be acting according to honest re-
igious convictions?
Is the Democratic party so strong
hat it can afford to jeapordize the rep
esentation of prospective State and |
acrifice two Senators and one Repre-
entative at the shrine of an unjust and |
'urely Republican, partisan measure |
ERECTED exclusively against the religious
Practices of it's pitizenS2
And in view of the rapid growth of the
iormon community ana extensive set
lement in the adjoining Territories will
lot several other States be jeapordized |
s well rs Utah, and finally lost to the
party For whoever absorbs
he Mormons viii find them such a tower
+ strength as will assure success every
ime they enter the field.
All OF which is most respectfully sub
lifted by a DEMOCRATIC QUERIsr.