Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-10-01

where. We will not accuse him Of
uttering anything original. The
words are but an echo. But they
embody falsehood. 1t Is one that
suits his purpose and is likely to find
favor. But 1t is utterly without
foundation in fact whether
he knows it or not The
Commissioner is not acquainted
with the people Of Utah CT with
their faith or condition. He has
been here, he has been told the
usual tales, he has drawn his salary,
but he knows no more Of the "MOr-
mons; than If he had never seen a
'sAiOrmon," and is no more compe-
tent to discourse concerning them
than Of the jewellers in the anti
podes.
The closing sentence OF the re-
remarks We have quoted, contains
two positive falsehoods, from the
obloq1y Of uttering which We chal-
lenge Col. Robertson to free himself.
II there are any plural marriages Of
recent date Of which he is cog
infant, let him furnish the evil
dence. Marshals, grand juries,
prosecuting attorneys ami district
courts are watching and waiting for
such Information II defiances Of
the Government are being hurled,
at conferences, they eau be quoted
and thus proof can be pro-
duced. II he does not bring
forward some cases Of pOlyg-
amy, and some citations OF defiance
Of the Government he will stand
accused OF wilful falsehood. We
charge him with it, here and now.
We say nothing OF his motives.
We merely deny his words and de-
mand that he produce his proofs.
1t is by just such means as this
interview" that the country Is de-
eeived in regard to the "Mormon"
question. There are no words too
strong that can be uttered in con-
demnation Of such a course. Only
politicians, using the term in its
lowest Specification, hireiings Of the
pulpit and harpies OF tine press
would be guilty Of such proceedings.
When the tone Of society is raised
they will very soon disappear or be
utterly eontemued.
Against the interested utterances
Of the Utah Commissioner We ap-
pend the following. This is from
the Sacramento Record Union:
president Woodruff Of the Mormon
Church has issued an address in
which he advises the Church member
ship TO obey the law and cease from
plural marriage. He denies warmly
that since the affirmation Of the con-
stitutionaliiy OF the Ruti-polyEamy
law by the supreme Court he and his
church have advocated plural mar
rage, or defiance Of the law. We be-
lieve Woodruff to be sincere n ihe ad-
vice he gives his followers. He Is
wise enough to understand that It IS
useless to attempt 10 defy the United
States Of America, aud that submission
only is left to the Mormons. He pre-
fers that it como with peace rather
than with force and arms"
And this from the Denver NelcS
president Woodruff in the most
solemn manner declares tina. tho
charges of the Utah Commission that
forty plural marriages have been con-
tracted since June last, and that in
public discourse the leaders OF the
Church have taught, encouraged and
urged the continuance OF polygamy, Is
false. we arc not teaching PolyEamy
or plural marriage he says, nor per-
hitting any person 70 enter into it,
practice II they were. and IL such
marriages were solemnized. the law
makes it the duty Of the ofii,ers Of the
United states IN arrest and bring such
parties to trial, and il found guilty to
punish them. 4 declaration o, inno-
csnce on the part OF the President OF
the Church Is sufficient until the con-
trary is established. The burden OF
proof i on the government II the
latter canno: establish its charges they
must fall 10 the ground. No parry
can be adjndged guilty until after a
fair and imnarfIal frial.n