Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-11-30

- - - tss,-e the court with the same alter
nafive as Bishop Ciawson- He chose lib
srty and dishOnor. There IS nut little need
a., Comment on the case Let the reader
,,,,,-,,,s what we have said in relation 10
NJ Ciawson. and he has but % imagine
n onpOSfte in order n understand our 81
Innate OF the position tbhakhEr NEWS,
18th, lsshl
A further showing how the
Mormon Church hUnOrs those who
violate the laws Of the United States,
n Is only necessary to look at the
cases Of some Of its leaders. John
lately one of the presidents
Of the Church, was indicted for
unlawful cUhabitation, and died
while in hiding to avoid arrest, still
retaining his position as president.
George q. Cannon who IS now
one Of the presidents Of the Church.
was indicted for tine same offence,
and was convicted and served a
term in the penitentiary. Apostle
John Henry Smith, a witness in
this case, testified that he j. a
noIyaCulist. and that he married his
Mural wife since the law Of 1852 was
passed prohibiting pOlygamy. Chas.
w. Penrose, who was a witness in
this case, and who was indicted for
unlawful cOhabitatiOn, and was par
doned by the president Of the
limited states, is today the Editor
Of the newspaper organ OF the
Church. Joseph F. Smith, who is
also one Of the presidents u
the Church, is and has been
for several years, under indictment
for unlawful COh2bitatiOn, and has
been hiding from the officers in
order % avoid arrest
1t is claimed by counsel for appii-
cants, and some evidence was intro
duced tending 20 show that in the
Doctrine and Covenants and other
Church publications, obedience %
the laws Of the land is taught, and
also that the Constitution u
the United States Is an in
spired instrument; but the evidence
discloses that the reason the COusti-
tuition of the United States is CON
sidered an inspired instrument is
that it is construed by MOrm0ns 10
prohibit the passing Of any law
against pOlygamy, and all such laws
are considered 10y them rs in viola
tiou Of the Constitution. ~ 10
their teaching obedience 10 laws o.
the land, il Is only taught in gene
raj terms. During the ten days this
investigation lasted, not u word q
evidence was introduced or offered
showing that any preacher Or
teacher Of the Church ever, In q
single instance, advised Obedience
to tire laws against pOlygamy. On
the contrary, the evidence in this
case, and the whole history Of the
Mormon Church in Utah show that
il has persistently refused Obedience
to at least portion Of the laws Of
the government, has insulted and
driven nited States officers from
the Territory, has denied the as-
thOrity of the United states 70 pass
laws prohibiting pOlygamy rs I'M
warranted interference with their
religion, and generally has autag-
oniZed and denounced the govern
ment in almost every possible way.
Undoubtedly there are many men,
bers Of this Church who feel friend
" 10 the government, and would
gladly break the shIckles that bind
them to the Mormon priesthood h
Aley felt that they dared do so; huE
With an organization the most
thorough that can be imagined,
which can be welded against them-
they remain in the Church rather
than take the risk Of financial ruin
and social OstraCism-
The Mormon Church teaches,
First: That 10 j. the actual and
veritabie kingdom Of God on earthr
not in its fulaess, because Christ has
not yet come 10 rule in person, but
for the present he rules through the
priesthood of the Church, VINO arc
. his vice-gereuts on earth.
second: That this kingdom Is
both a temporal aut spiritual king
dom, and should rightfully control
and is entitled 10 the highest al
legiauce Of men in all their affairs.
Third: That this kingdom Will
overthrow the United states and all
other governments, after which
Christ will reign in person.
Fourth: That the doctrine q
that under it certain sins which the
blood Of Christ cannot atone fOr.may
be RENTED by shedding the blood
Of the transgressOr.
Fifth: That pOlysamy is a COM
rand Of Goa which if 4 member
obeys he will he exalted in the fu-
ture life above those who DO not.
Sixth: That the Congress Of the
I nited States has no right under
the Constitution TO pass any law i'm
any manner interfering with the
practices Of the Mormon religion,
and that the acts Of Congress
against IolygImy, and disfranchis-
ing those who practice il, are I'M
warranted Interference with their
religion.
Can men be made true and loyal
citizens by such teachings. or are
they likely % remain so surrounded
by such Influences VIII men be-
come attached 10 the principles Of
the Constitution Of the United
States when they hear the govern
ranical and oppressive Il would
be rs unreasonable to expect such
result rs il would be 10 expect to
gather grapes from thOTns or figs
from thistles.
IL has always been and still is the
policy Of this government 10 en-
courage aliens who in gOOd faith
come % reside in this country, %
become citizens, but when a man Of
foreign birth comes here and joins
an organization, although pTOfessed-
ly religious, which requires Of him
an allegiance paramount to his
to the government, an
that impiously and
claims To be the
kingdom Of God, 20 control its menu
bers under his immediate direction,
and yet teaches and practises n
system Of morals shocking to Chris
tian people everywhere. and unde.
which the marriage Of man 10 two
Or more sisters, or to 4 mother anu
daughter is sanctioned, an O-EaniI''-
lion that sanctions blood atonenlehl
Is a means Of grace. and muruer as
4 penalty for revealing the secrets
If its ceremonies, and Whlch tOr
nearly half n century has refused 10
acknowledge the supremacy OF the
United States or render obedience
% its laws, It is time for the courts
% pause and inquire whether such
IN applicant should be admitted to
The evidence in this case es;ah-
fishes unquestionably that the teach
nss. practises and aims Of the Nor
non church are antssonistic 10 the
Of the United States,
Utterly subver,ive OF good morals
md the well being OF society, and
hat its members are animated by n
ceiling OF hostility towards the
and its laws, and there
ore an alien who is a member Of
aid church is not n fit person to be
made a citizen Of the United States.
The applications Of Fred w.
Iiller, Henry J. Owen, John Berg,
'harles r. ClissOld, Nils Anderson,
'arl p. Larsen, Thomas NJ. Num-
ord, John Garbett and Arthur
'ownseud, TO become citizens are