Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-03
M0RM0NISMSC0MPLAINTS
THE COURSE OF THE GOVERN
MENT DENOUNCED.


SALT LAKE, UTAH, May 2.-Meetings
were held throughout Utah, Idaho and
Arizona to-day at all the Mormon taber.
nacles, at which the declaration of grIev-
ances and protest which had been formu-
lated at the general conference of the
Mormon church, April 3, was read. The
declaration is addressed to the President
and people OF the United States, 1t be-
gins by saying:
The condition of affairs imperilng the vital
interests of the vast majority of the people OF
UJah and their cO-religionlsts in neighboring
states and Territories Impels us, thor repre-
sentatlyes, TO address you. Our rights as
American citizens are trampled upon and, be-
heylng It our imperative duty in the presence
OF the danger to protest against the gigantic
eVll which threatens, not only our liberties
but the liberties OF every freeman,
we, Ia general mass meeting as
sembled, in the name of freedom.
justice and humanity, make this appeal for
relief and protection. We are unpopular
with our fellow cOuntrymep. 1t is our rell-
gion which makes US 80. We are a small
minority IN their midst, but we have yet TO
learn that these are grounds upon which to
justify IN land OF liberty acts of oppression
which we as people from the beginning of our
history have been made 20 suffer. al To our
religious faith il is based upon evidence
which to our minds is conclusive Convic
blubb arc nob lO pc utblfONRu Dy LEGISLATIVE
enactments and Judicial decisiOns. Force
may enslave the BODY, but 1t cannot convince
the mind to yield at the demand of u egisla-
tor or Judge. Rights OF conscience would
prove 1t recreant to every duty we owe God
and man.
IMMEDIATE REVELATION.
Among the principles of our religion is that
OF lmmedlate revelation from God. One of
the doctrines 80 revealed is celestial or plural
marriage, Tor which, ostensibly. wesare stig-
Nsat -
religion, the decisions OF the courts TO the
contrary Notwithstanding. The declaration
then IN defending the practice OF polyRamy
declares that the prac ctice, as understood among
Occidental nations liza system of scnsu8IitN,
but the Latter Day SAINTS believe that mar
rage - one which, when properly sOiemnized,
exists in eternity. Every faithful woman in
the church believes that il order TO secure
her eNaltatiOn in the presence of God she
shou be married or sealed to an upright,
faithful man. Acting upon this
while on earth upon the principle
That man is not without woman
nor woman without man in the Lord. They
firmly believe that God has revealed this 10
them as a command, but, while patrlarchal
marriage, as it is termed is part Of their
faith and practice, they have no idea that 1T
should become universal. Equality Of sex,
II no other reason, would prevent this. 1t Is
a mistaken idea that our church favors the
propagation Of this doctrine or seeks TO
establish 1t as universal system. At the
same time we fully believe that woman should
be married. even II two or three of them, Hs
IN the family of Abraham, Jacob and others,
become the wives Of one man.
EFFECTs OF PLURAL MARRIAGE.
Instead, therefore, of our 81 stem OF mar
rlage promoting sensuaiity experience has
proved that IL checks it. and instead OF being
destructive to the family relation il IA D re-
serVative Of il. Plural marriage was pub
licly proclaimed the doctrine of the church
IN 1892. Congress declared 1t a crime in 1862,
but the law enacted against it remained for
II years dead letter, the Federal officials
hesitating to enforce it as if they doubted fs
consttutOnality. The law Of 1852
was, was not ,s-o DECLARED constitutional
until Jan. 8, 1879. Plural marriage. therefore,
was openly taught and practiced 10 years be-
fore any law eXistcosagainst it., and u years
had elapsed from the time OF its first public
promulgation until the Supreme Court de-
cided the law to be constitutional. Thus IL is
apparent that plural marriage " as not intro
duced IN violation OF the law. but the lazy was
enacted against this principle Of all re-
ligionD The charge OF treason and rebellion
made against MOrmOns is declared to be un-
just and untrue. The fact is cited that a
quota OF 800 men was sent 900 miles over
land TO assist the United States in lighting
against Mexico. 1t is asserted that the gem
eral government has ever been willing to lend
willing ear to all reports Of seditiOn made
against the Mormon people, and that when in
yestigated they have always been exploded.
THE REFUSAL OF sTATEsHIP.
Strong complaint is made that the govern
ment has refused 90 confer statehood IN Nor
Mons although Utah has all the qualiaca-
tions Of population, wealth and stability OF
commerce and society. 10 complains that
aliens have invariably been sent into the Ter
rItOry to govern the people who, with hOnOra-
BILE exceptions, have tramplcd the rights Of
the people under foot. Petitions, protests and
memorials against these abuses have never
been needed. The commissioners appoint
ed under the Edmunds law have grossly
abused the a thOrity conferred upon them.
and have usurped extraordinary, illegal and
arbitrary power, while their sole dutv under
the Law was TO appoint registration and elec-
ton officers, and 10 canvass the returns and
issue certificates Of election 70 members OF the
Legislative Assembly. They have illegally
assumed TO exercise important legislative and
Judicial functions. They OiiiciOusly for
muiated an nnOrthOrzed and illegal
eXpurgatory test oath covering the whole life
Of iudi yidual8, and required each ielectOr in
the 1errto 10 take II before he could reg
ister or vote, amt By their orders the names
of all persons who faled 10 take this oath
were stricken from the registry list.
NON-NoRMON PRoFLIGATEs.
They 80 constructed the test oath that IL
could not be taken By any person who had
ever lived IN poly RamY or who cohablted with
more than one woman iu marriage relation,
but 10 could be and was taken by persons who
cohablted with more than one woman
only Morm0ns, and permitting non Mormon
vOlatOrs Of the law to register and vote.
They have arbitrarily assumed TO exercise
legislative powers by the PRONUNCIATION of
rules and orders which In effect materially
changed the existing laws ana excluded from
the polls thousands Of legal voters WHO have
since been restored TO the privileges Of cleo
tors by decision OF the supreme Court Of
the United states.
10 ia further asserted that they have con-
sttuted themselves % supreme tri unal for
the determination OF all matters in the
territory pertaining 10 elections and quaihca-
tiOnB Of voters. 10 rs asserted that they have
grossly abused their authority In the appoint
mcut OF registration officers by selecting for
such positions whenever possible only such
persons as belong TO the anti-MOTmOn fac
lion. Complaint s made that the United
States officials have "Renorally allied them
selves with sectarian priests and political adj
Yenturors leading their effective influence
20 fOment local cxcitcment and degrade
us IN the estimation of people abroad" "The
present Governor especially the report says,
''has acted the part Of a petty tyrant. lt ls
cited that he vetoed the bill passed by the
Legislature for the erection OF university,
and also the bin passed in accordance with
the Edmunds' law for the discontnuance Of
the Utah cOmmissi0n.n
AN ALLEGED INJUSTICE.
Tho declaration then asserts. "rhe Ed-
muuds law, which not only provides for the
punishment OF pOlygamy, but also cOhabita-
ti0n with more than Que woman, whether in
marriage relation or outside Of IT, 10 made 20
operate upon one class OF people Only-biOr-
mOns-and yet Of the non- NJ ormOn class who
trauegrCtsed the name ~ legion. The para
mUur uf fn4afrnnana anil hnrIofa apnurn' from