Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-19
AN EXAMPLE.

Bishop John Sharp went into court
yesterday and asked leave TO withdraw
his plea OF not guilty to the charge OF
unlawful cohahitation. This request was
granted, when Mr.. Sharp entered plea
OF guilty and read a statement OF his case
and his desire TO conform to the laws OF
his country, although he thought those
laws harsh so far as they forbade him
the exercise of what he deemed relig-
ious right He stated that when he
entered into polygamy there was no law
straightforward, and has nothing OF the
hypocritical sophistry that marked the
statements OF some who have been before
the Court.
We are not surprised at the course that
Mr.. Sharp has taken, as we have known
for some time that such was his intention
and that he had prepared a statement to
read to the Court, but we had expected it
would be read at the time set for the call
ing of his case.
Mr.. Sharp has SET a worthy example
and has shown to his co-religionists vino
are in the same trouble that he was,
way out Others have done the same as
he, but their position in the community
and the church to which they belong has
not been such as to command the same
weight as an example as the position of
Mr.. Sharp. We believe that we rightly
estimate his character when we say that
he has always been conservative and
moderate and never militant. Always q
devout and sincere member Of the Nor
mon church, he has never allowed fanata-
cism and unreasoning religious zeal to
blind him to the true condition of things.
His experience has been too wide, his
mind is too comprehensive not to realize
the fact that the present effort Of the
Government to suppress polygamy is an
earnest one, and one that will not cease
in a short while. But the main question
is, what effect will his course have upon
the conduct OF his co-religionsts
who are liable to indictment at
any time? Is his influence with his
co-religlonists such as to cause them
to follow his example when placed
in similar positions? Among the masses
OF the Mormon people he commands more
respect than influence; but among the
Mormons who belong to the same class
that Mr.. Sharp does, his example will
have great weight, and very many are
liable to follow it. But the blind, unrea-
soning masses of the Mormon people will
look upon the course of Mr.. Sharp just as
their leaders viii look upon it; as they
condemn or approve it, SO will the masses
To one who looks at the situation here
IN its true light, it is impossible
10 see how Mr.. Sharp could have
pursued any other course unless he chose
TO suffer imprisonment indefinitely; and
as the adherence to polygamy is ire
quently justified on the ground that duty
towards family, as we'll as to ones con-
science, requires that man who is in it
must remain there to protect and provide
for them, on this line OF argument it
would appear that Mr. Sharp has pur-
sued the wise course because now he can
devote his time and attention 10 his busi-
ness and commercial affairs and it is
upon the success OF these that must de-
pend the material welfare OF those de-
pendent upon him.
One special good may be expected 10
result from the promise OF Mr. Sharp to
obey the law, which is that the Mormon
people will give the situation in Utah and
the probable outcome of it more serious
thought and study than ever before. For
those who desire to extricate themselves
from serious dilemma there is a way,
and that way has been trodden by man
whose life has been an example fit to be
followed by all, and we sincerely trust
that this last example he has set his
people will be followed by them. Nc
man is so high that he can command the
same respect and consideration without
the law as within it; and no matter how
exemplary his life may have been, tc
violate the laws of ones country or tc
continue their violation, no matter under
what belief must injure his otherwise
good name.