The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-11
now 1T STRIKES THEM.


in regard to polygamy has furnished Amer
lean editors subject, and they are all tax
ing advantage of it to write articles of more
or less length and displaying more or less
Ignorance. No two of the ''moulders of
public opinion" read the manifesto in the
same way; no two find the same motive
back of it: no two see the same results to
come from the declaration. 1t would fur
nish interesting reading if all these edito-
rails were preeented in a single collec-
ton. 1t might have the effect of lowering
the confidence of the public in the inteli-
gence and foresight of the journalistic fra
ternity.
Here is the Chicago l.. ter Ocean, which
knows less and says more concerning the
Mormons than any of the big papers
in the country, saying that proclamation
by President WOODRUFF against polyga-
nous marriages, would not be worth con-
sidering," for it would be easy for him to
say lone thing for publication only and
another when in the secrecy Of the temple
he instructs his devotees as to what really
he makes binding upon them" Such ignor-
ance Of Mormons and of their church is so
rank that one who displays it simply makes
guy of himself And here is more ignor-
ance which does not help the editor:
But the reat1ir nation hy the general confer
ence of the church OF this article OF faith: I'VE
believe IN being subject to kings, pres, DENTS
rulers, aad magistrates; in honoring and sus-
tanning the law wond seem to have some
meaning The passage quoted is understood to
be part of the original c-eed OF the church
founded by JOSEPH SMITH, but OIL terated or
obscured by the policy and eaicts CT BRIGHAM
Young and his successors II honestly reai-
frmed by the general conference it must be &C
cepted as u formal remuneration not only of
polygumy but also of the theocratic pre-
tensions OF the hea Is of the church
1t so happens that this particular article
of faith has been in the creed from the first
1t appears in the books. is circulated in the
tracts and is reaffirmed now as it has been
year after year for half century. The
editor of the Intcr-0cedn never saw a CODY
of the Articles of F'ath'' in which the
above did not appear. But read this
twaodle which appears in the article from
which we are quoting:
1t will be well. however, to wait and see what
becomes. for instance, OF that cargo Of several
hundred women and girls who landed a few
days ago at New York en- route for Utah.
whose members made oten avcwal of the pur-
pose Of their coming hither as supernumerary
wives Of The YotaTics of Mormonis,a. 1t may
be wise to wait and sec ii the Mormon mis-
sionaries 10 Europe keep on sending carcoes of
women and girls 10 Utah. The profession made
by The general conference is admirable The
Mormons must pardon us if we feel a little
doubtful as to its practical observance.
That cargo OF several hundred women
and girls who landed IN New York a few
days ago en- route for Utah, exists only in
the imagination of the Inter-Ocean editor.
and the avowal of those women and girls
that they were coming hither as super
numerary wives Of Mornons is the inven
ton OF the same journalistic gentleman. The
Mormons will certainly pardon the editor
for his doubts, though they can hardly for
give his ignorance. The Inter ocean man
concludes, while he has no faith in the man.
ifesto, that it is the beginning of the end
OF Mormonisn, either as system of polyg-
amy or as system Of theocracy.n They
are peculiar lines which some men follow
when they undertake to reason, and thew
are equally peculiar conclusions at which |
they arrive.
Now here is the editor of the Denver
Neics who takes a practical, intelligent and
common sense view of the matter. He |
treats the Mormons as if they were sane |
beings, who knew what they were about. |
and gives them credit for the honesty and |
sincerity which have characterized them
from the first. His comment is not much
like that Of the Inter-0cean mans:
The Nescs special from Salt Lake Yesterday
ray q W f1f @l-n
church on Sunday on the manifesto of President
WOODRUFF against polygamy The declaration
OF Mr.. WOODRUFF against plural marriages was
accepted by the church as authoritative and
binding. II was resolved as a declaration from
on nigh by the Mornons, and GEORGE O. CAN
NON one OF The apostles and an ex-Deiepate TO
Congress, said in the meeting of 10000 people in
the tabernacle on Sunday night NOW TINT this
manifesto has become a law, let every Saint
obey 1t religiously." In this mornings Mems
will be found telegram in which Judge ZANE
accepts the declaration of the church as truth
full. and admitted to citizenship yesterday a
member Of the Mormon church
Before issuing the manifesto Pres;da,,
WOODRUFF said that he had PRAYED dilipentlr
and through his prayers had gained the AZ
mighty's ear. and finally, after an interview
was commanded by Him 10 issue the manifesto
against plural marriages. He, like Mr.. CAN
NON, he said had been sincere heretofore in
obeying the commands Of the Lord in falling
unto himself more than one wife: now they were
released from these obligations. and he er-
pressed the hope that every member of the
church would obey the command.
The news that the conference hal Endorsed
tie manifesto against polygany ere a ed great
surprise throughout Utah, and the Gentiles ara
Inclined TO attribute it to a desire On tie rart
of the Mormons TO reta n political ontrol of the
territory.
This official declaration on The part of the
Mormon church against polye anlous practices
is entitled TO the highest consider a.ion- TIE,
simply bow to the mandates Of the law The
leaders do this through what is claimed r. ha
m injunction nom the Great Master alcna
Without calling this in question the fact sta,es
US boldly In the face that the Mormors tbrcuuh
their highest church authority. have reclaimed
ncainst polygamy. If any are guilty of s,cb
practices they are and should be arnenab,e IN
the laws OF the country. With the religions be-
lief or practices OF the Mormors. outside Of no.
lygamy the goyernne 1t has no more to do than
i has with the relig:o-s tenets OF any other de.
nomination
And here is the fowery way in which
the editor of the Chicago Times treats the
manifesto, how he traces the causes lead
ing up to the declaration and the conclu-