Arizona republican., 1890-10-02
THE UTAH COMMISSION.

etc., and that of the lS6 indictments found, no less than l49 convictions were secured. Evidently the Mormon au- are disturbed by the state ments made in this report. The num- Der of cases enumerated does not include all by long way. The report thus sets forth the difficulty of making any correct enumeration of polygamous yio- lations of the law:
 "When it is remembered that there is a large number of communities and pre- Cincts where there are no anti-Mormons to act as registrars, and the Commission is compelled to appoint them from the membership of the Mormon Church; 1; that these reports (of polygamous unions) come only from precincts where there are watchful opponents of the crime; that Mormon registrars never report the cases occurring in the pre- cincts in which they serve, and in which plural marriages are probably most ire quently entered into; and that the greatest care is observed to keep such marriages secret, so secret that the birth of a child is generally the first cause to suspect the fact of unlawful marriage, it is more that probable that only small proportion of the polygamous marriages really contracted are reported, and q still smaller proportion where conyic- tions could be had even for unlawful cohabitation."
 President Woodruff declares that there has been nothing in his teachings, or in those of his associates, since the the law prohibiting polygamy was de- clared to be constitutional by the Fed eral Supreme Court, that could be construed to encourage poIygamy. But not long ago this head of the Mormon Church, in discourse delivered in the Tabernacle, made this reference to plu- ral marriage: "These things are clear, they are pointed, they are strong and they are revelations of God, and they will be fulfilled whether men believe 1t or not. l say there is not nation under Heaven, there is not King, Prince nor a President, nor any other man who has power over the sons of man, but should give unto their subjects the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own conciences; they are not responsible to the Emperors, or Kings, or Presidents, or Governors who rule over them"
 Every Mormon must have understood the reference, and that it was no less than a direct sanction of polygamy. The doctrine is as zealously taught and defended as at any former time in the history of the Mormon Church. It is practiced only to less extent because there is a Federal statute which forbids it as crime. The Commission recom- mends the enactment of the Idaho test oath for Utah, or a law of similar character.
 The report of the Commission has created something of a sensation in Utah as we'll as outside of that Terri tory. The impression has been gaining ground that polygamy was well-nigh extinguished. That is the impression that the head of the Mormon church now seeks to strengthen. The Commis- sion finds different condition, and even goes so far as to recommend further legislation. There has never been any renunciation of the polygamous feature of the Mormon creed, save by the small number who profess to be followers of Joseph Smith. It is doubtful if there ever will be any absolute renunciation. It was not an original article of the creed. The revelation" came to Brig ham YoIng. The Reformed Mormon church, or the followers of Smith, have always declared that the revelation" was a spurious one.
 The Mormon problem is hardly less perplexing now than it has been for the last twenty years. Utah is seeking ad. mission into the Union. Within the limits of that Territory there are about 200, 900 inhabitants. The only obstacle today to Statehood is polygamy. It is practiced by only small minority o1 the inhabitants. But the Mormon Church dominates the Territory. With out provision in the Federal Constitu. tion prohibiting polygamy, the State in the sovereign capacity might sanction it. The hope was that in Utah, with. out further legislation, there would soon be an end to this fanaticism. The Commission does not furnish much evidence which points to such result
 President Woodruff, however, immedi. ately after the promulgation of this re port concludes a manifesto with these words: "I now publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is tc refrain from contracting any mar. riage forbidden by the laws ot the land" But substantially such advice has been given many times by the leaders of the Mormon Church It was always understood, when given in public way, to be for Gentle ears Some of the leading bishops who sus. tained polygamous relations and who even ofliciated at plural marriages, gave substantially similar advice. It was understood to have no binding force. IL could have none, for the very reason that a contrary doctrine was continually taught and practiced. Violations of the Federal statutes are less open and no. torious. That result would virtually follow when severe penalties were occasionally enforced. The leaders of the Mormon Church have always main tained absolute power over all members.
 A A ol. L