Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-23
mTHE SHIELD oF FAITH. -

The second number oil the Shtetu U
Faith is out. 1t is interesting and serves
as record OF all who have been
convicted of polygamy and unlawful
cohabitation, and defines the status OF
each in regard to obeying the law in fu-
ture. There is absent one name from
those who promised to obey the Edmunds
law--the one whose name is absent IS
Mr.. G. V. Spencer. This may very aptly
be called the roll OF honor, and people
will select the ones to place in that roll
according to their ideas OF what is honor
and what is not. This Shield Of Faith
shows one thing very plainly, which is
that those who have declined to promise
obedience to the law are far more numer-
Gus than those who have promised to
obey it.
The Edmunds law was passed to ac-
complish particular object, which object
was the suppression OF polygamy. For
this purpose that law imposed a certain
punishment for forming poygamous
marriage, and another punishment for
the continuance OF the relationship after
it was formed. Very few convictions
have been had for the crime OF polygamy
since the passage of that law, but there
has been quite number of convictions
for unlawful cohabitation. The reason
for this is that in the one instance it is
almost impossible to get any evidence of
the marriage, while in the other it is not
so difficult. The convictions for unlaw-
full cohabtation being frequent, it may be
asked how it is that apparently there is
amists to discontinue the practice OF un-
lawful cohabiton. For this condition of
things many reasons may be assigned ,and
among the true reasons will be found the
following ones. Those who are in polyg-
amy believe that the Government will
get tired If prosecuting the violators OF
the Edmunds law, il those violators but
hold out long enough. Their experience
of enforcing the anti-polygamyl law by the
Government in the past gives consider
able Justification to their view OF the pres
ent effort to vindicate the law. Then
again these same violators OF the law re-
ceive a great deal OF sympathy from their
co-religinists who are not liable to prose-
cution, and this sympathy gives to these
violators of the law much hope and con-
siderable strength to bear the penalties
imposed upon them for the violation Of
the law. Another reason that may be
4 f. LA g
who go to Jail in preference to promising
to obey the law, is that the punishm emf
imposed upon them is comparatively
light; and knowing the character
of evidence required to secure convic
ton for unlawful cohabitation, upon thei
release from prison it is their determine
tion to avoid any course OF conduct or the
making of any remark that can by any
means be construed into evidence of co
habitation with plural wives. Their posi-
tion in this regard can be best illustrated
by the story OF the Irishman. "Pat,
said the judge, 81 sincerely hope that a
this is your first offense, you will neve
be caught stealing again" "Your Honor
l join you in the hope that won't b.
caught stealing again"
Another reason why those who are il
prison now for breaking the Edmund
law will not be reformed, is tina
they are all associated together, an
being together, they naturally discus
the reasons for their confinement, and il
their discussions come to the concluso
that they are being prosecuted and ar
real martyrs. This is naturally the cas-
with all men who are associated in cor
finement, and to so associate men is tn
surest way in the world to confirm ther
in their crimes or errors. This is tn
defect in the prison system in Utah, an
not OF any law.
To see the evil which pervades the Tel
ritory and to understand many of tn
reasons for its continuance, is one thinl
but to suggest its cure is quite anothe
and one far more difficult. II the form,
ton Of polygamous marriage is to /
punished as crime in those entering il
to the relationship, then those perform
ing the ceremony creating such polygam
Gus relationship should be punishe
equally with those entering into such pr
hibited marriage. The polygamous ma
riage is punished as being inconsistei
with the unit OF the State, which is IL
family upon the monogamic system.
the formation Of such marriage is pr
hibited and heavily punished whe
formed, then the same reasons exist Il
prohibiting the continuance of sue
illegal relationship after its formation
for prohibiting its formation. This beir
the case, why should not the continuatic
OF the relationship be punished to Il
same extent that its formation is? Nal
the punishment for unlawful cohabit
ton co-extensive with that for polygam
as first and Indispensable step. The
are others to be taken, but none OF the
should be backward from the progre
that has been made. Another thing tn
should be done is TO abolish the statu
OF limitations so far aspolygany and u
lawful cohabitation are concerned; or,
least, extend the time in which the
crimes may be barred TO such leng
that the statute cannot be so easily liv
down as now. But all these things m;
be done and still very little will be g
anmnli ahad tnwa rda vindioat;p,, tIo 10,