Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-10-15

% we are NOT leaCnlnB loiEg1tD.
I or plural marriage, nor oermittiny
any person 10 enter into is practice
One case has been reported in which
the parties alleged that tln marriagS
vas performed in the Endowment
House in Salt Lake City in thu
spring OF lSS9. but / have not been
able 70 learn who performed the
ceremony. Whatever was done in
this matter was done without ms
knowledge. In Consequence Of this
alleged occurrence the Endowment
House was, by my Instructions,
taken down without delaT.
''lna-much as laws hrs been en-
acted by Congress fOroidting plural
marriages, which laws have been
pronounced constitutional bF the
court Of last resnrt, do hereby de-
clare my intention 10 submit 10
those laws, and 10 use all my in
huence with the memoers OF the
Church over which | preside 10
have them do likewise There Is
nothing in my teachings TO the
Church, or in those OF my assOci-
| 49, ANAAA1 AAAI AAlllt eltGAuGl
which can reasonably be construed
70 inculCate or encourage Polygamy,
and when any Elder OF tie Church
has used language which appeared
to convey such teaching he has
been promptly reproved; aud ! now
publicly declare that my advice 10
the Lltter-day Saints i o refrain
from contracting any marriage for
hidden by the laws Of the land"
WHAT DELEGATE CAISE SAYS.
This morning called lpon Mr..
Caine and hal an Interesting cod
versation with him. Among otter
questions suggested by the latter l
asked him II /: was tnl- that the
Congressional enactments prohibit
ing polyg1my were being accepted
and obeyed by the Mormons In good
faith.
Absolutely 50, /" said yIr. Game.
The practice Of polygamy has en-
tirely ceased in Utah, and believe
II is safe 20 say that il viii never be
revived. | do not personally know
OF 4 single case in which a man Is
now living with more than one wife.
have no doubt that Il will take n
long time = make the people Of the
country believe this. We all know
that there Is an almost universal
AMI deep-seated feeling against the
MOrmons, which TO my mind Is
largely prejudice. We feel that il is
unjust, but We Recognize the fact
that IL must take years % overcome
it. All the prosecutions now being
had are for polygamous living with
and supporting plural wives married
years ago, before the passage Of the
Edmunds las.
''Let me sag TO you that our Book
OF Mormon does not take the place
Of the Protestant Bible. We use the
standard King James Translation,
just as do all Protestant denOmina-
tiOus- The Book Of Mormon il
only supplementary TO It.
The impression Is very general
that the Mormon religion not only
authorized but enjoined plural mar.
rage. This is 4 mistake. Polyg-
amy vas simply permitted under
certain conditions AMI restrictions.
No man was allowed to contract a
plural marriage unless he had a high /
religious character and had the
ability TO support two or more wives |
and the children that might be bonn
TO them. Unless these requirements /
we're fulfilled plural marriages were
absolutely forbidden and were
UNDER no cIRcUNsrAEcEs SOL
EAfSIzED.
"What proportion OF the Nor |
mons have, in years past, praeticed |
pOlygamy?"
"a very much less number.
probably, than you imagine. II did 1
not exceed two per cent-twenty /
persons In every one thousand Of |
the Mormon population. The popu-
lation OF the Territory, according 10
the new census, Is about 90. 900. of |
which about $4,000 are MOrmons.
The number Of males living in
polygamous marriage did not, at
the time the Edmunds law
was passed, exceed $500. II
Is true that there were some 10000
persons disfranchised under that
law on account Of polygsmous prac-
tices, but this number Included al
The plural wives-for women voted
widows, and all who had ever
lived in polygamy. l remember
lne case OF a mau who in early life
lived IN plural marriage. but has
not done 80 for more than thirty
Years Under = strict construction
n the law he was held 10 be dis
qualified for citizenship, anu was
'efused registration. You will see
hat mOnoyamy has always been
he rule among our people, ami
,olygamy the exception. Now, as
have told you, Polygamous mar
i7ges have been entirely discon-
inued."
"What Is the condition now exist
ne between those who formerly
ield n polygamous relation-that is,
'etween n man and the women who
Fere his wives?"
Gust such as you might suppose.
man must live with his legal
rife, that is, the first one to whom
e was married. The o.hers-though
wing wholly separate and apart {
ON them--he Is morally required
, and does support, furnishing them
nd their children with the means
for them to live comfort
bly,. Public opinion condemns 10
ie stronges. manner any man who
ills 10 do this. But / car tell you {
icy are kept rf.
SDER TIE srRICrEsF ESPIONAGE =
, the United States rnarshals and a
cir deputies. A man Is not per- !
lifted 10 visit his former plural I
ives He eannot even 20 upon her n
emises TO cut a supply OF firewood \
: her without rendering himself n
.ble 10 arrest. You will readily see 81
ut the extreme rigor with which Il
E law Is enforced works much a
rsiship. There are many men o.
10 have n natural aud sincere az b
'tion for their former wives and oil
Fir children. They would be glad