The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-06-12

was about 100000 for the last year re-
ported. The University of Deseret is
in part supported by territorial funds.
1t is non-sectarian and is open to all.
Forty students are annually admitted
free upon condition that they become
teachers in the public schools. OF de-
nominational schools the Mormons have
four; other denominations have eighty
five. In the Mormon schools 620 of the
scholars enrolled are Mormons; ten are
non-Mormon. In the other denomina-
tions 2 ,277 are Mormous and 3 ,773 non
Mormons. The average duration of
schools is 40 days. In respect of its
school provisions Utah does not seem
to be open to serious criticism, and
their results prove their efficiency.
The percentage of illiteracy is lower
than the average of the United States,
and there are thirteen states and ter
ritories that show a lower percentage
of persons who can not read. Con-
necticut and Utah have the same-3 81.
OF churches other than Mormon there
were sixty-five in the territory, having
los ministers and holding property to
the value of $4,000.
Concurrent testimony from men of
high character shows that the people,
of whom 10000 are Mormons and 49,
900 non Mormons, are sober, industri-
Gus and thrifty; that whiskey-shops,
harlotries, gamblng-dens, and all the
attendant forms of vice, are unknown
in many communities, and are not
found anywhere to the extent they
prevail in many communities outside
of Utah. The territorial government
has been frugal and honest. What,
then, can be the objection to the adj
mission of this territory as a state of
the Union? The existence of polygamy
and the power and teachings of the
Mormon church on that subject. The
advocates of admission admit that
polygamy is practiced in the territory,
but claim that it is not obligatory
upon the members of the Mormon
church; that it has been gradually dying
out, till there are now comparatively
few who are living in polygamous re-
lations, and these are chiefly past the
meridian of life; that polygamous mar
riages have ceased, and that in the near
future polygamy will cease to exist,
and that it is unjust to deprive the
many of their political rights and
privileges because few are violating
the law. In support of these claims ii
is shown that in 1882 there were 2,00O
of both sexes who were, or had been,
practicing polygamy. Making deduc-
tions for those who had then abandoned
this mode of life (some $1,000 and
allowing for the proportion of women
to men Gan average of three to one), it
is shown that there were not more
than $3.50 men in polygamy in 1882
The convictions for polygamy and I'M
lawful cohabitation under the acts of
congress indicate that the practice is
disappearing. In word, the parties
advocating admission insist that less
than one per cent of the population are
men in poygamy; that the doctrines OF
their church do not command polygamy
but only permit it.; that while by the
creed of the church it is permissible, il
is only permissible lUhen there is no ldlt
Of the state to the contrary, and they
propose to make law by constitu.
tional provision whereby it is forever
prohibited, and they have placed such
provision in the constitution. On the
other hand, it is claimed that it is not
permiSSire merely, but obligatory, and
further, is commanded by the church
that this offer to prohibit it forever is
only device to secure admission
and that after being admitted, the state
will amend that constitution and ther
congress will be without power to re-
strain or control.
| The Mormons present their church
creed to show that obedience to the
i laws enacted by the state is enjoinet
! by the church. They also present theil
book of doctrine and covenants to show
that polygamy is permissive not obli
gatory, and that it is not commanded
The state constitution offered contains
/ this provision; "Bigamy and polygamy
being considered incompatible with &
: republican form of government eact
of them is hereby forbidden and de-
clared misdemeanor." Penalties are
provided for violation of this section
1 and further provision forbids any
amendment, revision or change of the
} section without the approval and rati-
,, fication of congress. The objection
to all this is that it is not intended in
good faith to enforce it. The Nor
: mons, on the contrary, claim that they