The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-18
MORMONISMS UGLY HEAD
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UTAH
COMMISSION.

/ Further Legislation IN Support OF the
Existing Laws Recommended-T The
Promised Church Proclamation
In Favor Of the Abandonment of
Polygemy Not Made Yet.
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept 1.-THE Utah
commission has forwarded to the Secretary
of the Interior a lengthy report Of its
operations and proceedings for the year
ending Sept. l, 1890. The principal feature
of the report is a recommendation of
further legislation in support Of the exist
ing laws. After reviewing the elections
held in Utah since their last report,
the commissioners say: During the
year there has been frequent ex-
preston Of a hope that the church
would in some authoritative aud explicit
manner declare in favor of the abandon
ment of polygamy, or plural marriage, as
one Of the saving doctrines or teachings of
the church, but no such declaration has
been made.
THE CHURCH COULD STOP IT.
There is little reason for doubling. so
complete Is the control of the church over
its people, that if such declaration were
made by those in authority it would be &C.
cepted, and followed by large majority Of
the membership of the so-called mormon
Cnurcn, and settlement of
the much discussed Mormon
question" would soon be reached.
On the contrary in all the teachings in the
tabernacle and church organs. every effort
of the government to suppress this crime is
still denomInated as persecution, and those
charged with ferreting out and prosecuting
the guilty are denominated as prosecutors
Of the saints.
MORE UNITED THAN EVER
"The church seems to grow more united
from day to day under these teachings
AT general conference of the church held
at Salt Lake City in April last MILFORD
Woodruff, disfranchised polygamist, was
chosen prophet seer and revelator, and
president of the Church of Jesus Christ Of
Latter Day Saints in all the world That
Taylor, in 1887, that that Office has
been filed. At the same time
George Q. Cannon was chosen as first
| councillor in the first presidency, and
Lorenzo Snow as president of the twelve
apostles all Of them being disfranchised
polygamists. The council of twelve
apostles was completed by filing all the
vacancies.
ALL PoLYGAMISTs
n large portion OF Lne Twelve apostles and
high dignitaries Of the church are polyga-
mists, and are all reputed to be open be-
levers in the doctrine Indeed, it is be-
lieved that no one can be promoted to office
in the church unless he processes belief in it
as a fundamental doctrine
- IL is the opinion of the commission that
nothing but wholesome fear of the penalties
of the law leads them to even make pre-
tense of obedience to it, and that there has
never been any change in their gospel ordi-
nances. In conclusion, the commits
sion repeats what it said in its
last report, that in this matter the
government and congress should take
no backward or even wavering step, but
should continue active and vigorous en-
forcement OF the laws and Improvement of
them by the amendment Of such as would
make them more effective, and by enacting
such other laws as experience may show to
oe wise and more efficacious to accomplish
the desired end"