The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-01

! ten thousand Mormon people, headed b.,
the city council and fire department
escorted him from the prison through thu
streets of the city to the tabernacle, wher'
meeting of eight thousand to ten thou
sand people was held, and speeches were
made endorsing his conduct. AS the pro
cession moved up Main street, the
AMERICAN FLAG WAS DRAGGED IN THE DUST
and large banner was carried by little
| e rls on which were inscribed the words
I'VE will uphold poiygamy." AS the pro
cession passed the building where the dis
trict court was being held, the people gave
vent to their feelings by hooting and leer-
| ing and kissing. At the meeting in the
| tabernacle, banners were numerous, on
which were inscribed such sentiments as
the following:
The nineteenth century is too late for re-
ligious pains and penalties TO be imposed IN the
| name OF the law" prisons are made for
thieves, Yagabonds and law-breakers. and not
FOR honorable men. When used for such pun
poses we honor the prisoner more than the per
SecuIo-" Honor TO the man who prefers
fealty TO his friends. his religion. his country
| ana his God TO obedience to the unjust fiat OF q
jaundlced judiciary" when Freemasons, Odd
secrets public, it will be time enough to practice
on Mormons Try the others first. There is
nothing more sacred than religious obliga'
| tion." Better the penitentiary for faithfulness
| in the next " ut would accord more with the
dignity OF the judiciary in timing an honorable
| gentleman for contempt, TO find more powerful
| reason thun the cut and color OF an apron for
its action" The women Of Utah uphold polyg-
| amy
On the 9th day of July. 1888, the flags
were displayed at half mast by the Nor
mons in this city at the city hall, at the
county court house, at the Office of the
Deseret NeWs, at the Gardo house, at the
Mormon Cooperative store building, and
other places. Counsel for applicants claim
That this demonstration was not intended
to be an insult to the government nor its
flag, but as sign of mourning, because Of
the unjust laws against polygamy, and the
acts of the officers of the government in
enforcing them. But the evidence fails TO
| show that Grape or any emblem of sorrow
was displayed in any manner, and there can
be no question but that the half-masting Of
the flags was intended TO be, as it was ur-
derstood by those who witnessed it, an in
suit to the national authority
Tire evidence shows that the church has,
\ in the most determined manner, and with
all the means at its command,
OPPOSED THE ENFORCEMENT OF TIE LAWS
of the United States against polygamy and
unlawful cohabitation, while polygamy has
been constantly preached as a cardinal
| hOAliluG VI luC CuuICu- ~ lulu Has UGGu
raised in this territory to aid in the defense
OF all who may be prosecuted for violation
OF these laws, not only in Utah, but in Ari-
IONA and Idaho territories In May, 1885,
John Taylor and George .. Cannon of the
! first presidency of the church, both OF
whom were then under Indictment for I'M
| lawful Capitalization, and were hiding from
the officers to avoid arrest, issued a circular
| to be read in all the churches. calling for
/ n N tr,in Ifinns m fhio finn IEbap boy
been convicted for violating these laws,
and the court has offered to suspend sen
tence or intiict q light penalty if the offend
| ers would promise to obey the laws
in the future, they have almost invariably
refused to make any promise whatever. 1t
has been common custom among the
Mormon people, ever since the enforce
ment Of these laws began, when one of
their number has been convicted and SEN
fenced to Imprisonment for violating the
law, to give him reception on his return
home, and honor him in every way possible,
while those who have promised obedience
to the laws have been ostracised and held
up to the public eXecration and scorn. To
suffer fine and Imprisonment for violating
the law, or for Giving his religion; as
they usually term it, is deemed by them as
worthy of all praise, and will as their
leaders teach, result in the exaltation in
the life to come of him who thus proves
the sincerity of his faith. As showing the
manner in which the vioators of the law
are honored, quote from the Deseret Nelrs
of date January 10, 1889, which was intro
duced in evidence, as follows:
A CORDIAL RECEPTION.
William Chatwin writes as follows from San
! taquin January IA. 1899: VIII you please insert
in the Ns1cs an account OF the following heart
melting scene that was transacted at the Santa
quin depot on Sunday morning last, the 18th in
slant. The residents of SAINT aquin had been
| informed that their bishop George Halliday.
would return home from the penitentiaTy, as one
who had endured imprisonment for conscience
sake, by the mornings Utah Central train. The
Sunday school children and teachers were
prompted by feeling OF love and respect to go
down to The depot n procession to welcome him
home, singing songs Of welcome, and bearing o
banner with the following inscription: Bishop
| George Halliday, We truly Welcome you home"
| But the weather being too unfaI orable for such
o project, the teachers and larger scholars could
oniy go, though the smaller ones were with
great difficulty restrained from following after,
notwi outstanding the snowy, condition of the
| morning On arriving at the depot all We e
moved 10 tears OF joy. Since his arrival home
| the members Of the ward have decid.d to give
him reception party, but to accommodate all
take one half at time. May all honorable con-
victs for the truths sake be SO worthily treated
AS illustrating the pressure brought to
bear by the Mormon leaders to prevent
their members when convicted of violating
the law from pr omising obedience, l quote
two editorials offered in evidence from the
DeSeret Nelus, the church organ, Of date
September -, 1885, one in regard to mem
Der who had refused to make such pro-
mise:
IMPRISONMENT AND HONOR.
The position taken by Bishop H. B. Clawson
this morning will be endorsed by every true Lat
| ter-day Saint. He could assume no other and
| be true 10 his religion, his family and his own
| manhood. The dilemma in which he was placed
was tersely defined by himself. He was left to
| elect between Imprisonment and honor, and lib
| -rty and dishouor, To his honor be IL said in
| time and eternity that he chose the former. No
man under similar circumstances can consist
| emily take ally other course The reasons for
adopting the stand ne took were clearly, though
| briefly, given by the accused. They might,
| however be elaborated indefinitely. There
is one principle involved that makes the
| altitude from the standpoint OF the Latter-day
saints infalllble. Celestial marriage, including
plurality Of wives, has been accepted by them
| as divine revelation Those who enter into the
| covenant il involves take that step with this
understanding. and that God is recognized in
| the formation of the contract. This being the
status Of the member, TO presume that any per
sons who have entered into the relationship can
consistently take part in diverse contract with
any Other and necessarily lower power TO render
1t nugatory for any portion OF time is absurd. The
| agreement is for time and eternity, and II is
| sueref, re continuously in force, unless broken
Ov one or the other of The parties Yet such is the
| Dosl ticn in which the courts place the Latter
~ nts in the present prosecutions. Theyde
uand that Q covenant OF renuncidtion be entered
pto with them. This is speaking from the stand
point Of the Saints. opposed 10 AMI infaiDle prin
ciple OF RECON Zed jurisprudence thai
no agreement entered into under di
rect supervision OF higher tribunal
.an be dis urbed or nulliaed by one OF
i lower order II this e the case in Ordinary
lie gal All irs, how much more force Is gwen 70 il
vEn npr1iad which (iOI him self
aas instituted for the benefit Of those OF His
children who seek to obey His laws. one point
advanced by Bishop Clawson was evidently
| cruelty taken advantage of by the court WHIT