The St. Johns herald., 1890-10-23
The Mormon Manifesto.

man of this city who has large buSl- ness interests in Utah when as ked what would be the effect of the proc lamation of Milford Woodruff, the recognized head of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, in which not on- ly the practice of plural marriage, but the teachable doctrine of polyg- amy is renounced in the most di- rect and explicit way.
 "It is the most important declar- ation," continued the gentleman, that has come from the head of the Mormon Church during the past twenty-five years. It is going to settle, and settle most efectually, the question of polygamy, and is something which should have been done years ago. Why, don't you know that the practice of plural marriage is almost extinct in Utah? There are comparatively few follow CTS of polygamy there now, not ] per cent of the population, and it only needed this proclamation from the head of the church to settle it forever.
 "And why should not polygamy be done away with? It has long been the only obstacle which has prevented the admission of Utah into the sisterhood of States. Itis a doctrine that the great majority of Mormons do not personally put in practice-a doctrine which has always caused them 10 be looked upon as outlaws, and which they can find no hardship in renounc- ing"
 "Do you think that President Woodruff is sincere iu his procla- mation-that he really means what he says when he calls upon his fcl- lowers to renounce polygamy, and forbidding in future any violation of the laws of the land?'
 "Certainly-I believe he meant what he said" was the reply. He could not afford to do otherwise. If he did motif marriages in viola tion of the laws of the land are re- cognized by the church after this proclamation from the head of that church-what would be the natural result? Why, his followers would become disgusted at his admins tration, would they not? It would weaken him in the eyes of all Nor mons. He cannot afford to public ly announce one thing and mean another"
 "And what will be the commer- cial effect. of this manifesto on Utah?"
 11It will boom that country as it has never been boomed before, and the next ten years will show more development of the naturalresources of Utah than has occurred during the past twenty years. Everybody knows that the Mormons, as a rule, are a most thrifty class of people and now that they have been prac- tically put on the same political plane with other citizens of the United States, they will redOuble their efforts to make the most oi the opportunity offered them"
 "Do you believe that the Nor. mons, that is the followers of DO. lygamy. will live up to the require ments of the proclamation?'
 "Of course they will. They vii have to, or else suffer as those il the past have suffered who have dared to disobey an edict of the head of the church. Yes, sir you can rest assured that the manifesto will be recognized by all Mormons and that when President Woodruff says, Inasmuch as laws have beer enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional bl the court of last resort, Ido hereby declare my intention to submit tC these laws and use all my influence