The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-01
MORM0NS IN ARIZONA.

The Republicans in Arizona are doing
their utmost to make the Norm on a party
question in that territory, and their papers
are teeming with scandalous abuse OF the
Saints and the Democrats The Phoenix
Gazette does not champion the Mormon
religion, but it speaks of the Mormons as il
has found them. In the latest issue re-.
ceived it dresses down its local Republican
contemporary as follows:
The organ has been exercising itself upon the
subject of polygamy. 1t antagonizes the state
ment made by Judge WRIGHT that the Nor
mons of Arizona are monogamists that they
are among the best of our citizens, peaceful. in
dustrious and law-abiding, all of which is true.
The only trouble with the organ is, and for that
matter the Republican party of the TERRITORY is
troubled the same way, the Mormons are very
generally Democrats. Since the pass
age of the Idaho test oath bill, nv
the Thirteenth Legislature controlled by
the Republicans, and it's repeal by the
Democrats Of the Fourteenth Mormons have
Identified themselves with the party that on
poses persecution for conscience sake, that asks
OF them obedience to the laws and refuses to
deprive them of their dearest rights of citizen
snip on accout OF any belief they may hold.
Democrats say that man may believe in
polygamy, but that he has committed no crime
until he puts that belief into practice. But the
organ says, among this peculiar people polyg-
amy is still practiced, that few
years ago several Mormons were con.
victed of it. If any Mormon has taken In
himself a second wife or is living IN
polygamous relations he should be punished
and Democrats would go as far as any pure and
honest Republican to cause the arrest convic.
tion and punishment of the wrong doer. If the
organ or any of its correspondents know OF anv
infractions of the law it is their duty tn bring
the criminals into court But VIC ask where has
there been conviction in Arizona for thecrime nj
polygamy. In the northern judicial district in
the winter of 1884 indictments wer, found
against members of the Mormon church fin. III n
crime of poygamy They were placed upon
trial, found guilty of unlawful cohabitation. and
sentenced for the crime OF polygar1iy. The
punishment for unlawful cohabitation is fine
and six months imprisonment. These men
were found guilty of unlawful cohabitation. but
strange Interpretation Of the law by Repub-
hcaR lawyer, sentenced them to three years in
the national prison at Detroit. Judge HOWARD
ABOUT year afterwards acknowledged his err
TOT ana asked the President to pardon them.
Iresiuent CLEVELAND, after review of the
trial ana the evidence taken upon the trial. ex-
tended to them the executive clemency. In the
iau OF 1885 an indictment was found against a
Mormon in Cochise county for unlawful
computation, but the evidence was so
slim that the case was never brought to trial
IL was quashed upon the motion of the Repuh.
can assistant United States attorney if orr
memory serve us right. Until we have evidence
other than those who desire the dsfranchi, @.
ment OF the Mormons we shall believe with
1uoge WRIGHT that the Mormons of Arizona
are peaceful and law abiding, that they obey
Inc EDMuNDs-TucKER act in both letter and
spirit They do not live isolated and alone
tnelr doors, and especially those of their lead
ihs men. are always open to Gentle neigh
oois Whlch would not be the case were they
livin ain open violation of the law.