Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-10-03
BOTH DEFINITE AND AUTHORI-
TATIYE.

BOTH DEFINITE AND AUTH0RI-
TATIYE.
For long time the press Of the
country aud many influential per.
sons have repestedIy stated, that If in
some authoritative way il should be
announced that the solemnization Of
plural marriages by the ''Mormon"
Church should he discontinued,
there would be no further issue be-
tween the Government and the Lat J
ter-day Saints. In this announce
ment the ''LiberaP' organ in this
city has been the most prominent
and pronounced, repeating the state
ment over ami over again for years.
Compliance with the laws was
said 10 be the object to be effected.
Federal officials, great and small,
echoed this cry, and while many OF
them showed but little reverence for
such laws rs came in contact with
their appetites or ambitions, they
strutted rs the champions and en-
bOdimeut OF national authority, and
in word. were the most devOut
adorers Of the Ietterof United States
statutes. They placed this above
the commands Of Deity and main
tSined that the edicts Of the Govern
ment were Superior to the fiat Of the
Most High.
But their desire for this demanded
submission has been, all along, n de-
ception aud n pretence. What has
been sought for Is the en- 3lete de-
struction Of the Mormon Church
and the entire Acknowledgement OF
the "MOrmon' people 50 that this
Territory might be controlled by
persons Of their ON IN kind.
The declaration made by Presi-
dent Woodruff has proven this be-
yoni question. They never wanted
any such announcement as he has
made. ami all their pretended pleas
for its publication were made for
show and were mere sham. Nothing
could be more direct and unambig-
uous than the language Of President
Woodruff, nor could anything bee
more authoritative. But it does not
satisfy those who have been the
loUdest 10 clan0r for il. They nov
say itis''indehnite'' but cannot show
in it single indefinite sentence.
Tney object that 1t does not come in
the usual manner. but fail to explain
wherein It is unusual.
We nave commented upon the
shifting sni pIltEy objections made
bv Govern EThomas ami the sophist-
ical Snd untruthful earnings Of
Comnissioner Rnfa.risnr. -l-,l.l.ly
defend them ami misrepreseat the
declaration. This was 10 be-
expected. No oae supposed
tha. anything the President
Of the Church COULD 10 or say would
please or satisfy the kind Of persons
who daily SANDER good men. and
for Argument heap vile abus. upon
their opponents no matter what NAV
be the subject in dispute. The dec.
larati5n WAS n9l published 70 please
them or wi;h any Consideration con.
corning them.
But We viii notice one or two
Of their pretended objections which
are sufficiently respectable to be
quoted in our columns. Here Is
one:
Governor Thomas had a right to
say tina. the language Of the manifesto
was inisinite, because il was. II The
editor Of the News WAS put under oath
te explain thai language, he would h,
forced to say that il WAS the advice OF
President Woodruff As man."
There is not the slightest need for
any explanation Of that language.
II Is definite enough for any persou /
that can reat. And he who on |
reading il declares that it is s.simuly 1
the advice o. President WooiruT a. /
q man, F" proclaims his own inability 1
to understand ordinary words, or his /
utter disregard Of honor and truth.
The language o. the declaration is
81, therefore, as President Of n.
Church Of Jesus Chris d L1tter-,fgy
SaiHts." tits in his official position
as PneSideu; Of the Church. the oa,.
mau who can speak with authority
to and for The Church on sacb a
matter as this, that President WOOD
Huf makes five definite announce.
ments. They are these:
First, he slys tn statement teIa- !
sraphed as being in the Commission
ers' Re. OFT, that forty or more plural
marriages have ba-n contracted in
Utah within a certain period. is
Talse.
Second, he declares that the lead.
srs Of the Church are not teaching
plural marriage or permitting anv
'erson to enter into its practice.
Third, hedenies that any number !,
4 plural marriages have been sol. =
in the period mentioned. r
ither in our Temples or in anv
ther place in the Territory. :
Fourth, ne decll-es his inteptio,
D submit 70 the laws forbidding 81,
lurI marriage ani 10 use his in II
uence to have the members OF the
'hurch over which he presiies do II
kewise.
Fiith, he publicly promulges his :"
dvice to the Latter-day Saints to
sfrain from contracting any mar
age forbidden by the law Of the ID
Ind.
The document is signed by Wi. =
ri Woodruff As ''President Of the y
hurch Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
~ Saints" ID
With any person who cannot un- 81
'rstand this language aud IFS pur- hi
'rt it is useless 10 dispute. And co
ie dishonesty Of one who declarss in
lis to De only the advice Of MILFORD
'ooirah ''as a man" there is no frc
eed to denounce. IA,
The Tribune writer says, in rela-
IN to the denial mentioned in the "a
iird announcement above: M;
'ouT recollection is that he saw, he de-