The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-03
THE WAR ON THE M0RMoNS.

The report of the secretary OF the in
terror, Mr.. NOBLE, in speaking OF Otah,
contains the following from the report OF
the Utah commission to the secretary: IF
the Mormon church would declare against
polygamy there is little doubt but that the
people would generally accept the declara-
ton as binding upon them, but instead of
doing this, every effort of the government
to suppress the crime is denounced as per
secution."
This was written by the Utah commits
sion Just before the issuance of the anti
polygamy manifesto, and was accompanied
by recommendation for additional legisla-
ton. The commission based their claim
for the necessity of additional legislation
Oh .heir belief THAT forty one male per
sons have contracted plural marriages since
June, 1881
The Mormon church has declared against
polygamy, and there has been no evidence
Forthcoming as to the forty one male per-
sons whom the commissioners said they be-
lieved had contracted plural marriages.
Secretary NOBLE has this to say of Utah
affairs: 1.-THE present laws should not,
however, be changed on these professions
alone. These can be unmade by the same
body that has made them. The 'revela-
tom sanctioning polygamy remains I'M
changed. The Mormons by their works
must prove their declarations to be made in
good faith.''
The Mormons would not ask more
than this They desire chance to prove
their sincerity. Polygamy included, there
mons than among any other western com
munity Of the same size. But the government
has decreed that polygamy should cease;
and the Mormons, after the prosecutions
for polygamy had almost ceased for sheer
want of material TO work upon. came for
ward in very unambiguous manner and
declared their intention TO obey the law
They did not do this in the first place, be
cause they thought they should show then
loyalty to principle of their religion anC
suffer for it if necessary. After practic
ally all violators of the law had been pun
ished for their acts, then, and not till then
did the Mormons pronounce against poly
gamy. To have yielded earlier than they
did, would have looked like cowardice il
refusing TO take the consequences of THEN
acts. To have held out longer would have
shown that they were not good citizens, anC
not willing to obey any law that di(
not suit them. In no other way
could the Mormons have been absolutel,
loyal to their religion, and at the sam,
time absolutely loyal to the government.
The government has seen fit to requirt
of the Mormons that they be better il
hon bo or
section. The Mormons agree to the condi
tions imposed, and ask leave to be per
mitted to attempt the gauntlet. The,
agree and will endeavor to live up to tina
agreement that in the future they will no
only, as they have IN the past, live bette
lives on the whole than those not of thei
faith, but they agree further to do ava
with the only conspicuous species of law
breaking that has ever characterized ther
the practice of polygamy. This, W
think, should be all that need be require
of them. We say to the nation: IF yc
viii require that the Mormons live stricte
ton on the continent, at leas
give them a chance to carry out your be
hests. Do not now punish them for wha
you imagine they may do. They ask tina
they be judged by their actions
1t is with only a natural surprise an
pain, therefore, that many of the peopl
here detect in the Presidents message
suggestion that the people of Utah be sti
further afflicted by some sort of degradi
ton that will punish them in advance fo
actions it is supposed they may be guilt
Of in the future.