New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-25
ALWAYS A MORMON.
TIE aLATrER DAY sAINTy OF TODAY

ryRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNAL
Salt Lake City, Feb. 15.-The Mormon President
John Taylor short time before his death, said in an
swer to question as what hs expected from the IN
coming Democratic Administration; q We do not as .
people, expect much from either Of the political parties
Of the United States We shall get no favors from any
Of them but must struggle along against their oppo
son as best we can until have power enough 20 de-
mand and enforce our rights" BY bis subsequent
conversation be made II clear that he expected the at
talnment of Statehood to give the Saints this power
but this ultimate hope was the one winch Always IN
spred Brigham Young, and which is In the grain OF
Mormonism to-day, namely, that the Mormon VIII
eventually possess the whole EARTH ana the rest OK
mankind win be scattered like chaf from summer
threshing foor.n These are some OF the comforting
antcIpstions which have helped to sustain them
through all their troubles and the priesthood as wen a.
the rank and fle believe in their fulhnent Just as
firmly now as they Odd when King Brigham" taught
them in the Tabernacle.
The other day asked young Saint whom naso
known for years what his candid belief about inc
intention of the Mormons in pretending that they were
willing to have clause in the constitution I'm case OK
admission to the UnIon forever abolishing and con-
demuing the practice of polygamy Though ne Is nov
himself poIygamist, and has not been considered
close follower Of his creed he was quick 10 azc up ao
cudeels for the Saints and said
ave know the Government has no right to forco
,non us such condition, and that having done so there
would be nothing prevent majority OF the peopis
from repeating the clause and enacting law permitting
tho practice of plural marriage as religious tenet
among the members of such church or churches as
deem II proper The Saints, as you know, regard nas
part of their religion, like the rest OF IT, as having
been established by divine decree which IS hlg
than any earthly law. No matter what laws
nav be 10 conflict With our religious duty VIC 10 nos
- ed ratta han unan.-Woufd ~ for
be an outrage on human nature 10 torce US W Ao'
from a practIce which Is sacred, after We nso
gained the rights Of Statehood which ought 70 'oo
10 us every boon OF absolute home rulei Aust $40
our practice OF CELESTIAL marriage is purely uon''
concern which can and does affect nobody except oui
selves and our families. 1t is, SO iar a. 1e 49,
"a concerned. a private contract which Is entered
,n,o hv ali The parties Of their own free VIII and
accord. While I believe that those who have sisnca
The memorial to Congress asking for admission ana
those WIN have framed the law with the nonpovsa
clause a. a part OF the proposed constitution h@'o
.c,ea IN nerfcet good faith far do not believe
that sue, pledge could os ought to stand any iohse
than Il would take for us to acquire sta,enooo ON.
repeal f. Thousands Of the Mormons VINO sio ~
poly gamists, and probably would no' pl :. ,.,nr
doctrine IL there were free law allowing ~ uA
,rst az 7 do on this point ] should not' OIL couns''
,-,sb n be quoted but this is my cannic Don.t
az, ,hou,d think any fool could see how u''elD
.ts,r, q would be TO expect us 10 Keep promi's
made under coercion after we mao saah'u JUL F
and had the whip In our own HANDS,
Asked what he considered the cniei sisuni'
favor of polygamy, he replied: :" That u uf'''
command from Heaven .,,h.r
"A. would be rather difficult But DO you NOS
aomehow base the practice on the immoral rcia1O"N
that often exist between the sexesi u
ain opposition to them; yes, we SUBSTITUTE "a'Ae
for lbertinage.' ,.,..r Mans
would not married IIbertinase be better nsm'
for IT." ,s:
@No. / think not We hear great deai OF soha-
mental twaddle about plural marriage preakns "
the home and about II being so much oet'er ior 49,
mps TO have his own wife, and every WHO nor o
husband, but the trouble about all this ina. tas
men OF no sect or race live ur 70 m ,hsr, noy-
aT thev resort 10 debauchery-tha1s tho Engnsn OK
This Is one Of the stock Mormon arsumens ' y.
favor Of pOygamy Ssrs 20 elsewhere but among
as people. the moral EresussiusS t ~ With positive
rrrns arc he believed he was stating truth, h.
MS statement however is scarcely peSne Oh
g. *. . In hTg S.a. that .ss %iss g
SSns srs s.p " With their lot Il IS
hiated too that large class OF tho Young SAINTS ae
Known TO visit places Of doubtful rspue; mor. than
fOur.afths Of Utah today. Every aormon who has
been convicted and punished on cha,ge OF Poly
down upon the heads Of all legislators who make, and
ali Judges and other officers who enforce the law.
ITanklIn 8 Richards, who IS now IN Washington to
argue the case for the Mormons before tho Con-
and believes day as his father did before bin. thai
poiygamy was sacred prviiegs 10 which The saints
were entitled Born in the poyganous rsls.i9n, as
and he Is making fat salary by his constants legal
services TO the church. But when he Is pcaaing Tor
neone's loyalty, he knows In his heart that be Is
simply stopping 10 conquer and that such fragile
nledges as Mormon politicians have made against
ygsmy are merely for purposes OF expediency, az
a means to an extremely desirable end.