The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-22
FROM MoRMoNDoM.


Editor Free Press.
The recent discussion before the on
g%ressional committee on Territories with
reference to Statehood for Utah may
cause the readers of the FREE PRESS to
relish a dish served up here at the CAPT.
toll city of this wonderful Territory, and
grand center of SANITY influence and
power. l will therefore devote this let
ter to telling a few thingsabou Mormon
ism as l % see it. In order to any
thing like a definite understanding of
the Mormon problem as presented to
the government, it must not be forgot
ten that the Mormon church is a theoc-
racy, receiving all laws necessary for
their well being either in spiritual or
temporal matters direct from God
through the priesthood, hence they
have no need of civil law, and regard
legislative enactments as altogether I'M
necessary. They have Territorial and
civic organizations, but these are under
the control of the priesthood, and do not
conflict with the authority and interests
of the church. Thew are situated IL
many respects towards the government
of the u. s., as the Jews were TO the Ro-
man government in the days of Christ.
Government reserves the right TO APP
point the governor, the judges, the mar
shal, etc, and to enact laws for the gen.
eral good of the territory. This curtails
local authority in a great degree, and in
some measure counterac's local leglsla-
ton. The advocates for Statehood de-
clar5d before the committee in Wash
ington that polygamy was dead, and the
Mormon people were loyal to the govern
ment and willing to obey the laws. Here
then we have II Territory according to
Mormon showing possessing all the re-
quirements for Statehood. Why does
the committee refuse TO recommend 1t ?
Simply because these representations
are not true. The twin relic of barbar-
ism so much talked of a quarter of a CEN
tury ago is not dead. Po,ygamy still
lives, and men are convicted of this vio-
lation of congressional law almost every
day. Instead of being willing To obey
the law and abandon their lustful and
immoral practice, they respect and even
lionize men whoare caughtand punished
for it. One of the Apostles vas convict
ed a short time ago, and while under
bonds of 81 1000 to appesr in court on a
certain day to receive his sentence,
preached on invitation In the Taberna-
Gle on Sunday, went INTO court on Mon
day accompanied by six or seven wom-
en- and a few dignitaries of the church,
received his sentence of 500 fine and 80
days in the penitentIary, was placed In
the custody of the marshal to be carried
to that institution. Instead of the
church people feeling that this was a dis
grace, the carriages of some OF their
chiefs were in waiting at the courthouse
door to escort him in triumph to his
martyr home, and then excuse them
selves by raising the cry of persecution
for religious opinions. Such circum-
stances demonstrate the fact THAT behind
all their professions of LOYALTY and devo-
ton to the government there is rebellion
in the heart, and a religious determine
ton to thwart the government in her et-
forts to suppress this vile practice, and
make its disgusting sinfulness apparent
to the minds of the young. No, pOlyga-
nv Is not dead, and how al it die so
long as the book of Mormon and the
covenants are held as sacred as the New
Testament scriptures, and the prophe-
cies of Joe Smith and Brigham Young as
divinelv true as those of Daniel or Eli
jah. Celestial marriage is Il divine insti'
luIlOD, anu CdLlOl NC put AWAY Nv man
authority. Congress has pronounced II
a crime punishable by fine and impris-
onment. The government has appoint
ed Gentle officials to execute the law,
and they are faithfully discharging their
duty as best they can, and vet polvgamy
lives. What shall be done Is the prob
lem to solve. The legislature of Idaho
recently passed a bill disfranchisin2
Mormons. The governor said it might
be unconstitutional, but that was a ques.
ton for the courts to decide. He signed
the bill, making it the law of the Terri:
tory, and no Mormons will be registered
until the courts determine the constitu'
tionality of the law. This looks like
rather energetic treatment, but does not
Justice demand. that they should be
treated as other foreigners. and as such
required to become naturalized and take
the oath of allegiance before exercising
the rights of citizens? Here perhaps il
a good place to pause and do some
thinking. Fl Z. GARRETT.
Salt Lake City, Feb. 10.