The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-12
FAVOR A CHANGE
Conditions Demanded by all the
Leaders.
WHO ARE THE TURNCOATs NOW ?
Renounce Polygamy and Disband the People'l
Party, They said. and the Mormon
Question Will be Settled.


Utah should NOT be admitted to the union
until such q time as the Mormon people
shall manifest by their future acts that
they have abandoned polygsmy in good
faith, and not until an amendment shall
have been made to the constitution OF the
United States prohibiting the practice of
polygamy."
Extract from Ex-Governor Caleb w.
VESTS report to the secretary Of the in
terror made In 1887:
That the majority OF this (Mormon)
people have pu blicly proclaimed the aban-
donment OF practices that put them a. vari-
ance with the country at large is a matter
OF congratulation. A faithful adherence to
the declarations now made by them means
a settlement OF the long vexed question
here, and can but inure TO the prosperity
and happiness OF this people"
Extract from q letter by j. B. Rosbor-
ough, chairman Democratic territorial COM
mittee, TO John K. Winder, chairman Peo-
ple's central committee, written on June "a.
1857:
The movement for state government is
premature. II your organization will first
prove Dy their conduct and acts that they
recognize the supremacy and binding force
or national laws, confirmed by judicial
scrutiny, without further evasions or OBJ
structions, and end this state Of chronic
y
mesn peace under state), you can show
10 Congress convincing evidence of good
faith and fair claim to the boon Of state
hood, without which your proposed appli-
cation should meet the fate OF several of
its predecessors"
Extracts from letter by the Republican
territorial committee, dated June "a, 1851.
addressed to John X. Winder, chairman OF
the Peoples party territorial COMMITTEES:
"a a N say har ~,
Utah becoming state are still untouched.
These objections, simply stated, are: The
masses OF the people OF U tah are adherenis
OF an ecclesiastical system which forbids all
harmonious relations with any system of
civil government founded on the right of
man 10 govern himself. The central idea
OF our system il, that all lawful govern
ment eIoanates by revelation from God TO
His priesthood, and that il is the duty of
its followers TO be advised by that priest
hood on all subjects Of O governmental as
well as spiritual character. Adhesion to
this theory, winch negatives ali faithful
allegiance TO any authority which ii does
not control, has been the main cause of ali
the hostility which the system has ever en-
couhtered among Just and fair minded peo-
pie who are not Mormons.
When your Mormon church, shall have
abandoned It's pretensions as a temporal
power, when its people snail render that
obedience to the laws of the land which is
yielded by all other citizens OF every shade
of religious belief, in fine, become support
ers OF the lawful civil government then we
will consider whether Utah, though Nor
mon in population, may lot DC safely
trusted with statehood Certainly for the
present We cannot consent to making the
experiment Regretting again that our diff
ferences are TOO radical 10 admit of CO.
operation, and hoping that the time may
come when we SHALL recognize q common
allegiance to the government OF our country,
and that each mans faith in religion may
be such as to harmonic with his duty as
citizen, we are, most respectfully"
Extract from Governor Caleb w. Vests
message TO the Twenty-eighth session of
the Utah legislature, dated January 9, 1883:
Following upon the heels of this under
call OF their territorial committee the
representatives of the Mormon people
assembled in convention, adopted q consu-
tuition for state government, proclaiming
the divorce and separation Of church and
state. The Mormon people publicly at the
polls ratified the action OF their repre-
sentatives, signifying their approval Of
the announcement sun1erIng the ties be-
tween church and state and the Ge-
thronement of the supremacy OF tee
former over the latter. Brave, wise
words these are, and the keeping of
thei- promise TO the hope, will bring much
prosperity and happiness to this people.
Upon US devolves the initiative of realizing
TO the country the promises made, the obIi-
cations taken to pus our territory into lius
and harmony with our sister states aud ter
ritories. thereby securing TO our people the
benefits and blessings 10 be derived from
our announced new departure. To accom-
plish il we must cut loose from old tradi-
tons aud methods, inaugurate new meth
ode yc-S nd eli
legislation. To this, you and tie people
you represent are pledged by oaths most
solemn. To this l am committed by sincere
conviction and official duty"
Extract from Governor Caleb w. We SITS
annual report to the secretary OF the inte-
rior, made in 1855:
at is with much satisfaction that am
enabled to state that marked and decided
changes for the benefit and advancement
OF the people and the prosperity OF the ter
ritory have taken place. To some extent,
there has been a bridging of the cnasm
that has separated the Mormon and nom
Mormon people since the settlement OF the
territory. The Mormon people have in
some measure relaxed the old rule of re-
ligious exclusiveneSs, which has heretofore
kept them separate and entirely apart from
their non Mormon fellow-citizens. They
have exhibited spirit of liberality and en-
ed charitable and educational institutions.
Without having the control, they have
united with nom Mormons in public organ
izations for the protection Of and
increase Of trade; they have
united with them also in the
celebration OF the national anniversary up
on the last two occasions OF Its observance;
and they have united with them also for
Of our advantages and re-
sources as means OF securing new popu
lation and capital for their development.
With Folygamy out, /
make the statement, and challenge success
full contradiction that there is no tenet.
ceremony, practice, observance, or right
inculcated or taught of religious nature
by the Mormon church that the law has
been or is invoked against. The Mormon
c church rs q religious fcctor is, under the
law, upon the same footing as every other
religious body or denomination in the land.
with equal rights and priviieges-no more,
no less-and it should be so left without
Extract from the 1890 report Of Governor
Arthur l.. Thomas to the secretary of the
"Of course there are some (Mormons)
who are cropping their way out Of the at
mosphere Of bigotry and darkness There
is no doubt but that the number Of those
who question the doctrine OF blind submits
sion to priestly authority and claim the
right to criticise and exercise reason 10
yearly increasing. This 10 especially so in
the districts which have the largest COM
mercial relations and where there is q
more extensive contact with those Of other
Dects. % There IL no reason to