Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-03
THE ASTI-~MORMoNn POSITION

For at least q quarter Of a cen
tury it was claimed by the active
opponents Of ''MormOnism" that
the sole cause Of their hostility to the
Lstter-day SAINTS was the practice
Of plural marriage. "POlygamy,"
was the b tile cry OF the crusaders,
and it aroused an intensity Of feel
ing among all classes that was
really wonderful, considering the
social condition Of Christendom and
the lSxity Of private morals through
cut the civilized world.
Even that alleged objection to the
"Mormons'' was urged on false
premises. The polygamy pictured
by agitators Of the question was a
highly colored and distorted bur-
lesque of the mormon marriage
system. The anti-polygamy de-
Chalmers seldom, if ever, told the
truth. And when any circumstances
occurred in Utah of a scandalous
character, although it was utterly
foreign to the faith and customs of
the great body Of the people, it was
proclaimed in exaggerated form as a
fair exhibition of polygamous life
ami its tendencies.
II a Mormon boy went TO the
bad, led away by temptations placed
in his path by anti-''AIormon" in
fluences, or n mormon" girl sue
cumbed to the wiles Of a "Gentiie'
libertine, even though the boy and
the girl had been reared in mono
gamoJs households, the lapse from
reclItude was pointed out as proof Of
the evil results Of polygamy. And
people living where such departures
from virtue were common anu mon-
ogamy was the recognized rule, ac-
cepted the illogical aud ridiculous
conclusion as correct, and, unmind-
full of the sights and scents around
their very doors, rolled up their eyes
in pious horror at the terrible fruits
Of polygsmy in Utah.
Friends Of the 'SAiormon'' people
who knew their worth as citizens OF
this great republic, and who
honestly thought this polygamy cry
was genuine, strongly advised the
Lstter-day Saints 10 renounce their
peculiar marriage regulations and
conform to the general sentiment.
They believed that If polygamy
were put in sbeyance all opposition
to the Mormon" people would
cease
But through it all the thinking
men among the Saints knew better.
They said again and again that the !
polygamy cry was but pretext. |
That these who shouted it the loud !
est cared about it the least. That |
the most uuvirtuoas Of men and |
women were among the Interest |
opponents Of plural marriage. That 1
if polygamy were utterly abolished |
among the "AIOTmons'' the opposi- |
ton against them would be ne less
intense. That the power Of the |
Priesthood was the real object OF |
Satanic hatred, aud that the aim Oh |
the devil and his hosts in and out of
the flesh vas 10 destroy that power
and driysit from the earth.
Recent history has demonstrated |
the truth OF their statements. The |
practical polygsmists have been
deprived OF ali political privileges
for several years. They have been
hunted, piundered anu imprisoned,
their family relations have been
ruftured, and their dependent
wives and children harassed, tor
mented and distressed. Stringent
and oppressive laws have been
cruelty and numerically enforced. |
The practice Of polygamy has been
suspended if not suppressed. The
mOnogamic f'Mormous,s number
ing a very large majority of the
population, have taken an oath TO
obsy the laws of the United States
in reference 10 this practice. The
uOctrine is not now taught by the
leaders and ministers Of the Church.
Much more has been accomplished
than was expected or even asked
for when the MATER was so violent
ly agitlted.
But does all this make any differ
ence TO the hostility against the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
Day Saints? is the warfare over?
Are the protested anti-poIygamists
any better satisfied? Not at all.
Satan RACES as before. His agents
and emissaries are as fun Of venom
as ever. What is their present pur-
pose? Its to reward those Nor
nous" who have sworn to obey the
laws, by placing them on a political
level with the unreformeI polyg-
amists.
Will it be claimed now that the
pursuit Of the Mormon people.
still followed, is on account Of poly
gamy? Not by the political wire
pullers among themselves. Not by
the plotters who are working for pelf
and place. Not by the writers for
the press who have passed that
stage OF anti-Monmon ignorance. A
few dull Congressman, purblind phi
losophers and dense pulpiteers may
still echo the old cry, but the rest
give it up.
What will the Acknowledgement
Of m0nogamic 'AlOrmons, accom-
plish toward the extinction Of poly
gamy? What encouragement will 1t
offer for the abandonment of poly
gamy among the 'Asormons?'' The
measures now seriously proposed in ,
Congress are not framed against
and exception the surface
10 not make any pretence Of such a :
purpose. They are simply designed :
% turn over the political affairs of :,
his Territory into the hands Of the :
minority. In order to effect this,
iome show of excuse must be offered.
Bat that which IS spread over these .
is OF the thinnest ana !,
most transparent material. !
This Is the position: The mono