The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-15
TO TIE PRESIDENT IND PEOPLE.

TO TIE PRESIDENT IND PEOPLE.
An appeal by the Mormons--.i Protest an
Declaration Of Grievances.
Meetings were recently held Throughout
Utah, Idaho and Arizona at all Mormon taber
nacles at which a declaration of grievance
and the protest which was formulated at tn
| general conference Of the Mormon church
April 9Th, was read. The declaration is ad
dressed to the president and people of th,
United States. 1t begins by saying:
| "a condition Of affairs imperiling the vita
interests Of vast majority Of the people Of
Utah and their co-religionists in neighboring
states and territories impels us, their repre-
sentatives, to address you. Our rights as
American citizens are trampled upon, and be-
'ieving it our imperative duty in the presence
of such danger to protest against the g gan
tic evil which threatens not only our liberties
but the liberties of every free man, we in
general mass meeting assembled in the name
OF freedom, justice and humanity, make this
appeal for relief and protection. We are I'M
popular with our fellow-countrymen. 1t is
our religion which makes us so. We are Il
small minority in their midst, but we have yet
to learn that these are grounds upon which to
justify In land OF liberty the acts Of oppres-
sion which we, as people, from the beginning
OF our history have been made to suffer AS
to our religious faith 1t is based upon evil
dence which, to our minds, is conclusive
convictions not to be destroyed by legislative
enactments. or judicial decisions. Force may
enslave the body but 1t cannot convince the
mind To yield at the demand of legisla-
ture, or judge, the rights Of cons ience
would prove us recreant to every duty we owe
to God and man. Among the principles O.
our religion is that of immediate revelation
from God. One of the doctrines so revealed
is celestial or plural marriage, for which osten-
slbly we are stigmatized and hated. TITS is
vital part OF our religion, decisions of the
courts to the contrary notwithstanding"
The declaration defending the practice of
polygamy declares that the practices as under
stood among the occidental nations is r syster
OF sensuality, but the Latter Day Saints be-
lieve that marriage is one which, properly sol
emnized, exists in ext, rnity. Every faithful |
woman in the church believes that IN order TO |
insure her exaltation in the presence OF God |
she should be married or sealed to an upright, |
faithful man.
The declaration then says: "Acting upon
his belief these alliances are formed willie
lpon earth, upon the principle that the man
s not without the woman nor the woman with
out the man in the Lord We firmly believe
hat God revealed this to them as a command,
put While patriarchal marriages, as it is
termed, Is part of their faith and practice,
Ind they have no idea that It should become
universal. The equality of the sexes, If for no
other reason, would prevent this. 1t is a mis-
.aker idea that our church favors the propa-
,aton OF this doctrine or seeks to establish 1t
Is universal system"
1t then goes on to say that the general gov
has ever been willing to lend a wiling
ar to all reports Of seditons made among the
dormon people, and the right of citizenship
las never been conferred upon them, and
petitions against these abuses have never been
eeded.
Continuing the protest says that the COM
nissioners appointed under the Edmunds law
rossly abused the authority conferred upon
nem and have usurped extraordinary illt gal
nd arbitrary powers. They officially forniu-
tied an unauthorized, Illegal, exploratory
est oath which could not be taken by nv one
Tho ever lived in polygamy, thus disfranrhis-
1g thousands of legal Mormon voters. 1t is
lrther asstrted that they constituted them
elves supreme tribunal for the determine
on OF all matters in tic territory pertaining
the election and qualification OF voters. 1t
asserted they greatly abused their authority
i the appointment OF registration officers by
,lectlng Tor such positions, Whenever possible,
nly such persons as belonged to the anti
ormon factions. Complaint Is made that the
nlted States officials have generally allied
lemselyes with the scctarian priests and po-
ticai adversaries, lending their executive in
fence to foment local excitement and degrade
J in the estimation Of the people abroad
he present governor especially says the re-
'rt, has acted the part OF a petty tyrant 1t
cited that he vetoed bill passed by the
for the erection of a UNIVERSITY and
50 bill passed in accordance with the Ed !
unds law for the discontinuance of the Utah ..
mnission. The declaration then asserts the !
Ecmunds Jaw" which not only provides for
&C punishment OF poiyeamy, but for eohabi-
ton with more than one woman, whether
the marriage relation or outside of it. is u
ade to operate upon one class of people only n
Mcrmons-and Yet of the non Norm IN class u
no transgress the law the name is legics. s.
sc paramour OF mistr, sses and harlots, secure II
i'm prosecution, walk the streets in open 81
y No United States official puts spoilers /.
his trail or makes an, effort to drag his 1
eds of shame and guilt before the Judge and a
rs for investigation and punishment But p
W the contrast. In Utah, Idaho and All 81
IA, concerted assault is made upon the p
ormon people. "Spotters' and spies dog v
cir footsteps. Delators thrust themselves II
TO the bed chambers and watch at the H.
VS.. Children are questioned on the streets IT
TO the marital relations of their parents. C
miles are dragged before the commissioners n
d g. and juries and on pain Of punishment ie
: contempt are compelled to testify against K
cir father and husbands. Modest women D.
; made to answer shamcfully indecent ques- /
ms as TO the sexual relations Of men and II
men. Attempts have been made to bribo "
IA to work cases against their ncighbOrs III
disreputable characters are en- p
,gcd to spy into men s family relations
The document concludes with various pro- y,
Us against these proceedings and by asking ol
the appointment by the president OF n com ~
ssion to fairly and thoroughly investigate
} Utah situation and pending It's report 1t
)tpgtS apatuef the Inn of nj |