Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-28
The Mormons Denounced as Traitors
the American Union.


WASHINGTON, September 27th.-The an
nual report of the Utah Commissioners has
been received by Secretary Noble. The re-
port saws the Commission on November
3, 1888, appointed Canvassing Board of
five reputable citizens, three of whom were
Gentiles and two Mormons. This board
made returns of the vote cast for delegate
to Congress on the b of that month,
when it was found that John I. Cain, a
Mormon, had received 10 127 votes, and R.
N. Baskin, Geatile, 3,4S4 votes, and S. r
Thurman 5l1 votes. Cain was given a
certificate of election.
With but one exception the report states
that there was no charge of fraud in the
conduct of the election. The Commits
sion has, continued the report, followed
in the footsteps of the first Utah Commits
sion, which re, o 5nizcd the fact that Con-
gress in creating it desired to use the best
endeavors to wipe out and extinguish po-
lygamy, and so far as possible all polyga-
nous influences and tendencies. With
this purpose in view, the Commission
in appointing registrars of election selected
when p Sc BILE J belonging to the mop
Mormon element, and always appointing
a majority of the judges of election, two
out OF three, from the Gentle class.
In some places, however, there were no
Gentiles to fill the positions. This course
the report states, has had the effect of de-
creasing the Mormon vote.
Touching the question of polygamy, the
report says: "Polygamy is not at the
present time openly prscticed except, per-
haps, in few remo.e and out of-the-way
places but the nom Mormon element insists
that plural marriages are solemnized clan
destinely and practiced secretly in the
larger centers and throughout the Terri
tory"
This may or may not be true The Com
mission neither atfrms nor denies it in the
absence of positive evidence. Doubtless
many members of the Mormon Church
never have practiced and never intend to
practice polygamy.
The Commission makes a number of
recommendations, among them that the
jurisdiction of all polYgamous and sexual
ottenses, without regard to the place where
. the same was committed, within the Terri
tory, be conferred on the District Courts,
and that the term of Imprisonment for un-
lawful cohabitstion be extended at least
two years for the first and three wears for
the second offense, and that it be made a
penal cffense for anv woman to enter the
marriage relation with any man, knowing
him TO lave q wife living undivorced,
coupled, however, with the provision tnat
In cases where polygamous wife is called
as witness against her husband her testi-
mony could not be used in sny further
prosecution of her, and like provision as
to the husband, and that persons who re-
fuse TO take the osth that he or she is not
cohabitating with more than one husband
or wife in marriage relation, as the case
may be, shall be excluded from making a
location and settlement upon the public
lands; that the laws with reference to i'm
migration of Chinese and the importation
OF contract labor, paupers and criminals be
so amended as to prevent the immigration
OF persons claiming their religion justifies
the crime of polygamy that the Constitu-
ton should be amended so az to further
prohibit polygamy; that law be enacted
creating Board, to consist of the Gov
ernor of Utah, the Commission and Secre.
tary OF the Interior, to apportion Salt Lake
into Aldermanic and Councilmen districts.
1t also recommends that the Commission
be authorized, in its discretion, to cause to
be made annually new registration in
stead OF revision of the former list that
Congress pass laws for the government and
conduct of the public schools in the Terri
tory; that as soon as the result of the
eleventh census is known the Territory be
redistricted for legislative purposes.
The Commission believes the Limitation
on prosecutions for polygamy and bigamy
should be extended, and sentence to hard
labor should be added, that their con-
finement may not be scent in idleness and
glorification of their supposed martyr
DOM
The Commission has no doubt that pun
Ishment OF women for voluntarily enter
ing the poiygamous state would do much
TO lessen their zeal for the peculiar institu-
ton, and thus tend to remove one of its
strongest bulwarks.
regard tO ha h,ttn,1 Of;
tion, the report says: While we forbid
immigration of non-prosalyting, peace
loving doClle Cinnamon, because we fear
future danger. from their Coming: while we
forbid the landing on our shores of con-
tract laborers because they cheapen the
wages of American born citizens, and pau
pers, because they become burden, there
IS a lar greater reason for closing our doors
as nation and fOrbidding citizenship to
the hordes who are brought here to swell
the ranks of an organized body which
teaches them in advance TO hate our Gov
ernment, denominates its Executive. law
makers, Judges and prose cutors, as perse-
cutters, and lnstills into every mind con-
stant teaching that their pretended reyela-
tons are more binding than the highest
and best laws of the land, and resistance TO
such laws is virtue and rendering of
obedience to God. How far short of trea
son these teachings are, we leave TO these
who can answer"
In concluding the report the Commission
says; Congress should take no backward
or wayering step in the enforcement of the
laws sga INST polygamy. Many of the
Mormons do not believe in the prsc
tice, but from the standpoint of their
faith and creed, they accept 1t as
revelation from God, through that prophet,
seer and revelator, Joseph Smith, ratified
and approved by the great President, Brig
ham Young, and that whoever desires to
do so, had every right to comply with this
ordinance of the church."
All laws forbidding the practice of
polygamy, the report continues, 1.-The
Mormons pronounce unconstitutional
There are grounds for belief, it is stated,
that polygamy is still taught by the church
as saving or finance, and that those who
practice il are assured of higher exaltation
in heaven than those who content them
selves with one wife"
Extracts are given from Mormon papers
showing they are still open advocates of
polygamy
That the teachings and practice of polyg-
amy have not been discontinued as claimed
by some, is proved, the report saws, from
the fact that since September, 1880. there
has been in the Territory of Utah 357 con-
Ylcuons for adultery, fornication and un-
lawful cohabitation and only two for big
amy.
IL plural marriages are now celebrated"
says the report, lit is done in the secret
chambers OF the temple. If polygamy is
practiced, il is with the secrecy with which
the burglar guards his house-breaking and
a thief his larcenies.
Those who are convicted of polygamy
regard themselves, and are regarded by
their friends, as martyrs, and think il no
disgrace TO be sent to the penitentiary."
The Courts are commended for their
vigilance and also for the mercy with
which the mandates are tempered.
The Commission. in view of the present
condition of the Territory, as regards polyp-
amy, does not think Utah should be ad-