The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-05
PUNIC FAITH.

Everybody SHOWS what plnic faith
Is. It's faith shat is insincere. It a
faith thstis sept inviolste as long as il
b convenient 30 be bound by its agree
ments; but when il no longer answers
the int rests of those who had the
power to dictate the terms OF il. they
ride over it without regard to its exist
ence. 1t means tire achery then. 1t
means disappointment to those who
trust in it. 1t means betrayal to those
who rely upon it as true. We may
pause here. Enough is already said of
II 10 make il despised by every honest
man. Its existence in every walk of
life is undesirable-nsy, even despic-
able. In business and social life moth
ing can be worse than insincerity. 4 nd
II deteStable in al individual in
the private walks Of life, how
are its evils multiplied when it is prac-
ticed by great 90 eminent. or accred-
tied representatives thereof If there
ls'nothing to excuse it in the private
individuals, how much less there is in
the public capacity Of government Off
Gals! And yet, no other term can half
so we'll describe the conduct of the Fed
ersl officials in the Third District Court
Of this Territory in dealing with those
who have been arraigned before it on
'charges,of polygamy or unlawful CO.
habitstion.
The protested object of the Federal
courts, especially of the United States
Prosecuting Attorney is not to inflict
punishment upon those charged with |
this offense against the statute, out to
suppress a system OF marriage
that has been established IN
Utah. To do away with the
semblance of a polygRmous household.
That the ostentatious display of it's op-
portunitles might cease. This vas their
object, and the prosecuting attorney as
siduously set himself down to the task
of accomplishing it. And every scheme
his fruitful brain could invent has been
employed to bring about the consum-
nation so devoutIy desired. It was
thought by him, and those connected
with him in this business, that if a Wig
Or0us crusade was inauguTated against
this relationship, which the statute has
named a crime, the Mormon Church
would in q short time be brought TO its
knees suing for mercy at the feet of the
valiant (?) crusaders, headed by the
prosecuting attorney. IN his ambitious
dreams the chief prosecutor saw the
Mormon church IN the dust at his i'm
perious feet. He heard the applause Of 1
the vast multitude throughout the
United States who were watching the 8
course Of events in this Territory. He {
felt the crown of victory pressing his l
heated, Jhrobbing brows. He.saw him I
self upon the pedestal of fame and IN 7
der writ: THE Conqueror OF Mormon {
Polygamy." To accomplish his ambi- $
iouS purposes, strained constructions 2
n re placed upon the Law; and men I
who thought they had arranged their 7
family affairs in such a manner as to a
conform 10 the provisions of the 7
Edmunds' law were dragged into I
court snd by the construc- {
tons put upon the law. made @
guilty Of the ofense of unlawful cohab- !
itatiens and sent to prison. Before 60 !
ing, however, an opportunity was t
them of making & promise to t
obey the law as construed by the courts t
Ter the future, which promise would en- i
ite those aTraiEned to the leniency of
he court. perhaps TO the suspension of
sentence altogether. But to the sur J
prise and eh2gEin of the Court and d
Prosecuting Attorney very few indeed 9
.ook advantage of this offer, covered as
I was with the senblsnce Of mercy. T