The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-16
AMNESTY.

The announcement in our Washington
dispatches last week that q petition for
amnesty to those members of the Mormon
church who had violated the anti-polygamy
laws had been discovered on file in the de-
partment of justice at Washington Gre
Rted something of a sensation in this city.
TIE finding of the document also seems to
have occasioned more or less of a sensation
at the capital where, Tor some reason not
yet developed, there has been an effort to
keep the matter quiet. The date attached
to the paper indicates that the petition was
forwarded to Washington on December 10.
two months ago, but not until the
middle of last week does it ap-
pear that any official had information
of its existence. Then for a day or two it
was the subject Of actively ana CORES
pondence on the part of officials and these
interested in the case. We cannot under
stand why there should be any secrecy or
any desire for secrecy. The appeal is
meritorious and just. 1t is also manly and
brave. The Mormon church authorities,
with frankness which is highly commend
able, and with courage which will call forth
the plaudits Of fair and just men, set forth
the facts with plainness and precision.
They recount their struggle for what they
sincerely believed to be right, tell of their
sufferings and sacrifices for principle, ad-
NIT their defeat, and proclaim their loyalty
to the government, to which they give
cheerful aud patriotic allegiance; and then
they ask that they be not made to suffer
from vindictiveness, but be permitted to
enjoy those rights and privileges which
good and law abiding citizens are allowed
to exercise. But read the petition:
We, the first presidency and apostles of the
Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints
beg respectfully to represent to your excel
lency the following facts:
We formerly taught to our people that poly.
gamy or celestial marriage, as commanded by
God through JOSEPH SMITH was right; that 1,
was necessity to mans highest exaltatcn in
the life to come.
That doctrine was publicly promulgated BY
our president, the late Brigham Young forty
years ago, and was steadily taught and i'm
pressed upon the Latter-day Saints up to
short time before September, 1890. Our people
are devout and sincere, and they accepted the
doctrine, and many personally embraced anC
practiced polygamy.
When the government sought to stamp the
| practice out, our people almost without excep
ton, remained firm, for they, while having NJ
desire TO oppose the government In anything
still felt that their lives and their honor as mel
were pledged TO a vindication of their faith
and that their duty towards those whose live.
were part OF their own was paramount one
/ to fulfill which they had no right to count any
/ u11 -lafr
the way. Following this conviction hundreds
endured arrest, trial, tine and imprisonment
and the Unreasonable suffering borne by thu
faithful people. no language can describe. Thai
suffering, in abatsd form. still continues
More, the government added dIsfranchise
ment to its other punishments for those VIII,
chung 10 their faith and fulfilled its covenants
According to our faith the head of ouri churcl
receives. from time to time, revelations for tn,
religious guidance of his people.
In September 1880, the present head OF thu
church, IN anguish and prayer, cried to God 70
help for his flock, and received the permission
TO advise The members of the church Of Jesu
Christ OF Latter day Saints, that the law com
handing polygamy was bencsforth suspended
AT The great semi annual conference which
was held few days later this was submitted t
| the people, numbering many thousands, an
representing every community of the people @
Utah, and was by them IN the most solemn mar
ner accepted as the future rule OF their lives
They have since been faithful to the coyenan
made that day.
AT the late October conference, after a yea
had passed by, the matter was once more sub
mitted TO the thousands Of people gathered to
gether, and they again in the most potentia
manner, ratified the solemn covenant
This being the true situation and believin
that the object OF the government was simpl
the vindication Of its own authority and to CON
pei obedience TO its laws. and that it takes n
pleasure in persecution, we respectfully pra
that fuii amnesty may be extended to all VIII
are under disabilities because OF the operatio
of the so-called Edmunds and Edmunds- Tucke
laws. Our people are scattered homes ar
made desolate; many are still imprisoned
others are banished or in hiding Our hear,
bleed for these. In the past they followed OF
counsels and while they are thus afflicted OF
souls are in sackcloth and ashes.
We believe there are nowhere in the Unio
a more loyal people than the Latter-dsy Saint
They know no other country except this. The
expect to live and die on this soil.
When the men Of the south, who were In r