Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-05-26
THE REPLY OF THE CoNvIcTs

T..
4 lew days ago Governor West visited
the Penitcntiary, and in an interview
with the Mormons incarccrated in that
institution for violation of the provisions
Of the Edmunds act, offered TO interCcdc
with the nations Executive for clemency
in their behalf ii they would but promise
to hereafter live within the laws. Our
readers will remember the answer re-
turned to this kindly proposition by
Apostle Lorenzo Snow, the first of the
Mormon convicts to whom Governor
West made his appeal. II was what
all who are familiar with Mormon
history and character could have foretold |
1t would bc---a miserable reitcration OF
the persecution howl, n lying assertion
that Mormons accused Of the crimes OF |
polygamy and unlawful cohabitation are
unable TO secure fair trials in the local
courts, and thrice-repcatcd point-blank
refusal to promise the Governor, or for
that matter the President OF the United
States, that hereafter he would live in
obedience to the laws OF the land. That
was Apostle Shows answer, and the
DEMOCRAT was not mistaken in as-
serting that that too, would be found
TO be substantially the answer OF the
Apostles iollow-convicts, ii they
were sufficiently impressed with the
kindly intentions OF the Governor to
return him any answer at all. 1t seems
that they were so impressed, and that ior
the purpose OF dissipating any doubt that
the Governor may have had rs to their
true position on the question OF obedience
to the Nations laws, they yesterday com
municated their reply to him by letter,
the full text of which appears in our local
columns to-day.
Starting out with the statement
that "We have no desire to occupy
defiant attitude toward the Gov
ernment, or TO be in conflict with the
nations laws" these convicts proceed to
remind the Governor that what the law
declares to be crime is tenet OF their
religion, "which they conscientiously be-
lieve in and practice from firm convic-
ton of its being a divine require
ment." In other words, while
claiming 10 be well-disposed to-
ward the Government of the United
States, their first allegiance is given to
the Mormon "higher power" and when
1t comes to choice rs between the
United States and that "highcr power"
they will yield unquestioning obedience
to the latter every time, no matter If, in
SO doing, they are called upon to trample
under foot all the constitutional laws OF
the land, or show their loyalty TO the
Mormon God by splitting upon the sacred
Constitution itself. Yet, they do not
'dcsire to occupy defiant attitude
towards the Government or to be in con-
iict with the Nations laws" Their acts
give the direct lie to their words. for they
are to-day and for many years past have
been - occupying defiant attitude
towards the Government" !" and their de-
sire TO continue in that attitude is so
strong, that not even the offer OF Execu-
tive clemency can move them to simple
promise 10 hereafter live in obedience TO
the laws--the same laws which every
where else throughout this broad land
are accepted and respected by good citi-
1ens, Of whatever political party or re-
igious denomination. This looks as
though il might be even more than II
desire TO occupy defiant attitude toward
the Government; il looks as though it
might be settled determination to do SO
and that is just what it is, and just
what it will continue to be so long as
these men remain the dupes OF the de-
signing and disloyal priests At the head
Of the hell-born monstrosity whose bale
iul influence is felt everywhere in this
and largely thr ughout adjacent Terri
tories. Ii the Mormon people cannot
serve their "higher power as
they want 10, and at the same
timo obey the laws oil the land,
as all other people do, then it is time
TO teach them, "higher power" or no
higher power" that the perpetuation oi
the free institutions OF this land depend
largely upon the enactment Of just laws
and their rigid and impartial enforcement,
leaving TO none the license to do in the
name OF religion that which, committed
by Others and under ordinary circum-
stances, is deemed to be crime and
deserving OF the seyerest punish
ment and whether the Saints like It or
not, they must live in obedience to those
laws, else take the punishment they will
deserve, or leave the country. Crime
has no place OF sanctuary; wherever
found It's virtues lawful game, Ii these
men, exercising the faculties which God
gave them 10 exercise, would but listen
10 the voice oi reason, no earthly bless
ing need be wanting 10 them; but they
will not, they choose rather 10 war
against the power which would protect
and bless them, and for so doing are they
consigned to the he'll oil punishment they
30 richly deserve.