Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-31


been discountenanoei by the Church,
aud, In fact, only one conviction Of O
MOun01 L.s taken pinca since that
time. The authority Of the Church
/ promptly disclaimei responsibility for
violation u the law"
lie next quotes at length from the
sto,emsr made by Mr.. +. 5. Richards
before the Senate territorial commit.
tee on ;hc 18Th Of February regarding
the fruits Of the labors Of that c1nvon.
ton, and he follows this with brief
! quotation from the last report Of the
Governor OF Utah, who, reforming to
the manifesto Of President Woodruff,
saysi
"a have no doubt that, o. they have
| been led to believe II was put forth hy
| divine sanction, IL viii be received by
tho members Of the Mormon Church
NJ an authoritative rule 81 conduct,
and that In effect She practice Of poly.
gamy !. formally ronounced by tho
| people,"
Commenting upon this, Chairman
Washington says:
ain the face OF such evidence Ms
this, aud from all classes of Gontilcs
and Mofm0ns, both official aud un.
! oiilcinl, there eau be no longer a qucg.
lion ~ to the sntus Of pniygamy In
the Territory. That institution has
/ been abolished forever, and the laws
relating 60 II are a. strictly obeyed In
Ulhh a. Ia any other Territory OF any
State In the Union.
AsuTiiER OBJECTION REMOVED.
"rhe second aud most serious objec.
ton, ~ far a. the government Of the
Territory was involved, was that the
\ church assumed e. control not only
[ the religious but the political ac.iOn
VI the people Of Uteh, aud that for
/ the purpose Of political cOutrul 10 or
gained aud managed political party,
/ composed Ia the main, " not entirely,
Of IL people Ths-ihe Peoples par.
/ ly--was by nll persons not belonging
10 II NJ least regarded NJ the patty Of
the Mormon Church, though u was NJ.
ways asserted by the party aud church
I that there was no connection between
/ the two. 10 was admitted that the
Peoples party was party Of tire Nor.
mon people, Orgauikri to protect that
people against tbs aggrcssions Of the
uOu-NiOnnons, organized into the Lib.
oral Iarty, hut II was insisted that the
church, NJ church, had no authority
over Il, that IT, priest. did not dictate
to the party.
TN MERITS or the CoNTH1vrRsY,
occasioncd by the existence Of the
Peoples party, arc not material TO the
subject now under consideration, for
that party ceased TO exist nearly year
ago. P0lygamy having been abolished,
and the People,. party having hecu
dissolved, a large number Ut the lead
ing Democrats aud Republicans who
had been associated ia the Liberal
party abandoned the Organization and
have Since acted with the parties IN
which they respectively belonged.
The governor says, In his report for
1901, ~ to the division " the people Of
Utah upon the usual party lines:
at was to be expected that the de-
terminei policy Of the general gov
eminent ia furnishing the practice Of
polygamy, and in Withdrawing from
the people political privileges usually
enjoyed by the people OF other Tern.
tories, with the influence VI our civil.
ilation, would gradually force the pco-
pie TO make a change, and that when
ever tho change should come 1t
would lend 20 the organization
Of political parties. There Is no
doubt the mass Of the Mormon peonlc
have been silently hoping Tor such
change for many year,, and have been
waiting for tho opportunity to step out
from under tho shadow which has 20
long darkoned their homes. Thatthcy
have remained passive 30 long IL a
testimony TO the force Of the influence
which religious belief has upon tho
minds aud actions OF men. | believe
the mass Of people have gone into the
party movement in perfect sympathy,
aud that II IL their present determine.
ton not to retmct their steps.'"
MIR. Washington then says.
THE MORNoSs DIVIDED POLITICALLY.
"The Mormon people have divided
upon political issues, many Of them go
Ing into each OF the parties anu many
prominent members OF the Liberal
party have likewise returned tD their
original allegiance, the last election In
the Territory having been conducted
along the linoB which divide tho Demo.
cratic and Republican parties, though |
the Liberal party maintained IT, organ.
iZation and had ticket before the |
people. The ground upon which this |
Organization was ami IS maintained IA
a doubt rs to tile good faith Of the peo- |
Pile relative to polygamy and the disso. |
luton OF the Peoples party, both Of |
which matters seem 10 be- too well |
settled to Justify any doubt whatso.
ever.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL.
"rhe purpose Of the hill IL a simple |
one. II Ii to give 10 u large part OF the |
American people n limited power OF |
Under II the Con. |
gress, wiz retain all It's existing author. |
lty over Utah. IL does not seek to vest |
power Ia the people, but mere.
~ to afford them an opportunity 10 |
demonstrate their sincerity aud their /
10 manage their local affairs. |
Congress may at any time alter or an
null any act Of the Territorial auihori.
lies. The bill In no wise affects the |
against polygsmy. These re-
main In full force, and the duty Of their
enforcement is left where II now rests, |
save that tho Territory Is made Unit
I'D States judicial district, with dis.
lrlct c0urt, the Judge " which II 10 he
H. a. l.. ~. Il