The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-08
MORMON WOMEN PROTEST
AGAINST THE NIQUITIEs PRAC-
TICED BY U. s. OFFICERS
Under the Provisions Of the Edmunds
Bin-Brutal and Rnflanly Mis-
conduct OF Deputy Harshals.
looRREsPoHOEHcE o. TIE APPEAL.l

looRREsPOHDEHoE or TIE APPEAL.l
MAsHIEoToE, April 6.-SeDstOr Blair
OF New Hampshire is a brave man.
he bad the courage to-day TO present
a memorial from the Mormon women
OF Utah. in which they vigorously de-
nounce the enforcement OF the Ed
munds law by the judiciary Of that
Territory, and vebemently protest
against their Acknowledgement by pro-
postd Congressional legislation. The
memorial was adopted at a mas meet
ing OF women held 10 Salt Lake City
on-the 9th Of March. 1t was prepared
by o committee OF nine Mormon
ladies representing different parts Of
the Territory. Among those who come
here 10 present Ii to Congress aad the
President is Mrs. Emiline Wells, the
editor Of The Romans Exponent OF Salt
Lake City. Mrs. Wells is a very re-
markable woman. She Is about fifty
six years old and was in her seven
teenth year when the Mormons were
drive out Of Nsuvoo, Ill. She was
among the number who made that
wonderful jOuTnev from the Missis-
sippi to Salt Lake Valley. She was a
member OF one OF the Oldest and best
families Of Massachusetts. In personal
appearance Mrs. Wells is not striking.
Her figure is petite, but her face is
bright and expressive OF intellectual
strength. She was in Washing
ton this winter 10 attend the Wo-
mans National Suffrage Convention,
and returned to Salt Lake City by
the way Of Kirkland, o., and. Nauvoj,
Ill, two Of the former abiding
places OF the Mormons. Some of the
most distinguished OF the members Of
the Mormon priesthood vera natives
Of the Western reserve. Bishop Wit
ney has q brother living at Kirkland
who Is q distinguished Methodist
minister. Farley p. Pratt, one OF the
most eloquent Of the Mormon priests
aud writers, and his brother, 0rs)n
Pratt, also distinguished for his elo-
quence as a preacher and his ability
as a controversial writer, we're from
the Western reserve. Signey Rigdon,
who was the favorite counselor OF
Joseph Smith, was a native of Allie
gheny county, Pennsylvania, and was
for many years a Baptist preacher in
Pittsburg. He and the PrAtts were
associated with Alexander Campbell
in founding the Campbellite Church.
The memorial In which the Mormon
women set forth their grievances is a
document which Is worthy Of more
than a passing notice. The style Of
the narrative is simple and the Ian
guage vigorous. Its araignment Of
the Federal judicial outfit in Utah
would make a tremendous sensation
il the wrongs therein told had been
inflicted upon any other people than
the MoImons. These unfortunate
people have been so systematically
traduced and mierepresenGed that il is
doubtful whether much sympathy
would be excited for them if they
were again driven from the homes
they have o for themselves in q
region that was before their settle
msnt Of it regarded as a hopelessly
desert and uninhabitable waite place.
Prejudice and rAncorous bigotry, sell
riRhteou ness and phaTifa ism, are
constantly airayed against them. An
INSCRIPTIONS and indignant set Of
agitatoPs, who want to get posses
sion OF the Territorial government
for purposes Of plumber, teud
out oil sorts Of sensational stories
from Salt Lake City for the purpose Of
manufacturing public opinion against
the MGrmons.
IN December last il was represented
10 dispatches sent from Salt Lake City
that the Mormons were upon the
point OF rebelliDg and destroying pub
lie property and numbering the Federal
officials. The President was impor-
tuned to send additional troops. A
company If soldiers were sent from
Omaha. IL turned out that all these
mi Misrepresentation were deliberately
planned at a meeting held at the
Walker House in Salt Lake City, at
which were present a number of the
most INSCRIPTIONS psrtisans of Gov.
Murray.
The veto of the appropriation bill
by Gov. Murray, which left the courts
without means to pay witnesses and
Jurors Tor two years to come ns well as
10 liquidate indebtedness alreaiy in
CURED, and deprived the Territorial
government OF financial reeources, was
the result Of a determination to bring
about such q condition of things that
Congress would be compelled 10 leeis-
late on the subject, II was expected
that when once the Utah question
came up in Congress the anti Mormon
pressure would be 30 glest that 4 bill
could be rushed through depriving the
Mormons OF political rights and there
by the Territory would be handed
over 10 a gang Of public p~lunderers
who comprise a very small traction OF
the people. The evidence demon
ttrating this TO be the scheme OF the
Governor aud his psrtisans being sub
mitted TO the President, he demanded
Murray resignation. He could not
assume responsibility for such a
1igrant act as this, even il the re-
moval oil the offender might subject
him to accusations oibeinga hypocrite
on the Mormon question.
The memorial in speaking ofthe con-
ttfuction OF the Edmunds law differ
emily In different cases, says; "Under
the latest ruling, a man who has con-
tracted plural marriages., no matter at
how remote q date, must not only re-
pudiate his families and cease I'll con-
neclion with them, but il he ts known
to associate with them in the most dis
tant manner, support them and show
any regard for their welfare,
the offense OF unlsEful c%ohabitation
is considered to hsye been fully estab'
lished, and be isfiable to exorbitant
fines and imprisonment for an indef-
mite period, one District Judge hold
ing that q Separate Indictment may be
found for each day OF such association
and r~eCosnition. In the case OF Solo
mon EiWsrds, recently accused Of this
~offense, II was proved by the evidence
for the prosecution that the defendant
had lived with one wife only since the
passage OF the Eimunds act, but
after having separated nom his former
plural yiis, he called with his legal
wife at the formers residence to OBJ.
tain a child, an agreement having
been made that each party should.
have one OF the two children, and the
court ruled that this visit was unlaw-