The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-07
NOBLE And MILLER.
The Secretary of the Interior and
II the Attorney General
INTERVIEWED ON THE MANIFESTO.
They Do Not Question its Sincerity, but They
Want to See Works as well as Words
Their Comments.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.--TSpecial telegram
to TIE HERALD. The Washington cores
pondent of the New York Herald, sent the
following interviews with the secretary of
the interior and the Encouragement to-
night:
''Thls is, indeed, important news" said
General Noble, when informed him of the
action of the general Mormon conference.
81 am glad to hear of this and hope the ac-
ton is taken in all sincerity. The Mormon
delegate in Congress, Mr.. Game, called
upon me last Saturday and left statement
in which he protested against the recent
report of the Utah commission and the re-
portsof the territorial governor. He as
sured me that polygamy was no longer
pracused in Utah. ! told him that in the
face of the statement of my officers, l
could not accept his mere denial of the
facts as evidence in rebuttal. l must have
proof. told him the reports had received
declared that forty cases of polygamy had
come to the knowledge of the federal Of
fcials and l suggested that he investigate
each case and disprove it impossible. He
discover the Identity of the accused. l told
him would aid him TO get the names by
instructing the authorities to give him the
needed information and he assured me he
would investigate the truth of the papers
and would report on them. further in
formed Mr.. Game that the simple declaration
of President Woodruff that the Mormon
church no longer countenanced polygamy,
was not sufficient TO convince the govern
ment that the practice had been given up
for the head of the church had no authority
TO change its tenents, that action should be
taken by the supreme council on this sub
iect. 1t is rather singular that it should
have been taken so soon after our CONVEX
sation. However, it is by proofs of re-
pentance that their sincerity will be
measured; 1t is so easy to pass resolutions
Man is always resolving and yet failing tc
keep his resolutions. If the action of the
Mormon conference brings forth the
proper fruits, naturally it will tend to relax
the rigor of the law. 1t is polygamy,that
1t is desired to extermlnate.
81 confess the recent landing of large
number of families of immigrants at New
York does not, to my mind, tally very wei
with this official act on the partof the Nor
mon church, nor does.it indicate reform
However, let us accept it in the spirit O.
sincerity and trust that they really propos,
to conform to the laws of the land 1t wa
much more preferable to have them re
linquish polygamy voluntarily than to b
compelled to crush it out by the strong arm
of the law"
Attorney General Miller, upon whom de
wolves the duty of prosecuting thos
charged with polygamous practices, re
\ ceived the news with his usual impertur
bility, and when L asked him what signif
Lcance he attached to this seemingly officis
suppression of polygamy by the Mormo
church dignitaries, he replied: II will ex
press no opinion, for neither care as a
officer of this government to impeac
their sincerity nor to accept thei
act as conclusive evidence G
good faith. Let the futur
decide this. My province is to enforce tn
law. As understand it, the statutes ar
not aimed at the Mormon church establish
ment, but against one of their practice
which is an absolute violation of the law,
Polygamy is bigamy and that we punish 8
crime throughout the land. If the MOI
mon leaders will cease teaching and advoca
ing polyamy as a tenet of their religion, tt
practice must necessarily die out and the,
the crime ceases. The significance of thi
proceeding on the part Of the general Mo
mon council will have to be developed b
circumstances. Whether a set of mel
who in the past have been as wise as Sc
pent are suddenly going to become {
harmless as doves is question which tim
alone can determine.