The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-08
THE INDIGNANT MORMONS
IN GENERAL CONFERENCE AS
SEMBLED AT SALT LAKE
Review the Operations OF the Ed
munds Bill, Which They AS.
sert Is Enforced With
Brutal Bitterness.

SALT LAKE, UTAH, Octph AT
the Mormon General Conference at
Coxville, Utah, today ao epis,le was
read nom President TAYLOR and
Cannon congrstulating the people
upon the unity OF faith increasing
among them, cau'ed by their present
po:it on. and urges continuance of
their efforts to live lives Of purity, at
the the evil doer and hypocrits msy
be cast out. The present troubles are
merely a fuifllment cf ancient
prophecy, aud with God on their side
the people have been greatly bic tssed,
aud their hearts should swell with
Thanksgiving fer the watch atd
cne He has exile lded TO the
families of these i'm ri oned, exiled
or on missions for the burdens
they have borne for al. Re
ferring to the District Cou,ti OF Uuh
he considers the Law unjustly ad-
ministered. The course taken ia fxtre-
mely vindictive and unrelentipg. Social
purity and the Suppression OF vice is
not the object, but the oppression of
individuals on account of rsligioul
position. By unwarrsntable ap.
plcalion the Eimuuds act
men ate made offenders because
OF religious sCruples ard
rendered criminals when not fairly
amenable to the law individuals who,
according to evidence, lived with one
wife are presumed to have cohabted
with another and convicted when the
presumption ia obliterated by proof.
In anumber of instances where parties
honestly endeavored 10 live up to the
Edmunde law when indictments were
found the husband was almost invar.-
aby convicted and sentenced to the
full penalties of fine aud imprson-
ment. Contrary 20 the jurispru-
dence of centuries legal wives
were compelled under threats Of i'm
prisonment to testify against lawful
husbands and divulge sacred family
secrets by systems Of segregation. Au
oftense according to law and punisha-
BILE to the utmost extent by six
months' imprisonment and a fine of
$500. is multiplied into many offenses
and the full sentence inflicted for each
fraction. The plan adopted, making
several counts on one indictment, the
number not heing defined by law, is
left 10 the arbitrary disposition OF
grand jury selected for known hos
lIlity to Mormons, and usually tools OF |
an unserupulous and bitter District |
Attorney. Petit jurors are selected for
known sntsgonlsu to the Nor
mon re e)ple, in nearly every instance
finding verdicts as asked by the Dis
trics Attorney, oblv Gus of the excu'-
patory portion Of the evidence. Strong
anti-Mormon jufies are selected on
open venife to try Mormons ON Of
lenses not included in the Edmunds
act, the courts deciding on questions
of law piocedufe, as desired by the
District Attorney, ignoring defendants
counsels requ stt for legal instructions
to the jury, the victims being en-
tirely at the mercy Of their perse.
cutors. He refers bitterly ID tue in
justice of compelling their wives
and children of tender Yeas to testify
in the courts, and becoming iustru-
ments OF their parents incarceration.
Many old men, who have contracted
no new marital obligations, but are
merely engaged in caring for families
hon orably, are victims of the courts
and the heartless severity
with which victims are pursued is not
Tor the public benefit, but to wreak
on the Mormon Church.
Obedience to law, as Construed by the
courts, is difficult of comprehension,
owing to the numerous and diverse
definitions. No beir G OF humane feel
ngs would ssk that wives and chill
1ren be abandoned and families
broken up, causing sorrow and anguish
with no pubic benefit resulting. We
ire unequivoc cal advocates of Law and
order, ana 'houSh we contend against
,ruel, oppressive, uGsconsituiional
md ex post facto administration of
he Edmunds law, we are aleo fighting
. battle for civil and religious liberty
md freedom of conscience on behalf
" common humanity and virtue.
Mormons stand for
and every fort made to rob
Is of inherent legal rights and destroy
10Th, polygamists and monogamists
like, strongly admoni'hes the people
o cling firmly to their principles, prac-
icing lives of purity, and trust God
Or delivereuce, which ultimately will
urely come.