The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1894-09-29
COMPLETE AMNESTY.


We make the Herald no apology Tor
esbbaging It's leader on the above SUB
iact and our readers will thank us for
having done 80. =.
"Goyernor West has performed a SELL
imposed task which does him erediV
and which will bring him honor anu
renown. Realizing the inpoteney oi
the Harrison sham called an amnesty
he studied out plan to obtain sfme-
thing substantial and complete, which
would cover the ground left exposed
by the pretended pardon of January
4. 1894. and open the way for large
number of citizens, otherwise debarred
from the franchise, to register and vote
of the next election. Obtaining the
support and endorsement of the secre
retary and the judges, he left quietly
for Washington. after obtaining the
nroner leave of absence, interviewed
Secretary Carlisle and other prominent
members of the administration, and
with tnelr help was able to lay the
matter before the president IN SUCH a
,nanner as to meet with his cordial
onnrohation. The governor vert to
GRAY Gables and succeeded in accom-
nlisbiug the object of his visit. Presl'
dent Cleveland has granted full and
l.
complete amnesty to MoTmons who have
been under disabilities for violations OF
the acts of 1862, 1882 and 1887 in refer
ence to polygamous practices. OF
course he could not annul or repeal
law. but he has exercised 80 the fullest
lawful exent the powers of amnesty
and pardon vested in him by the Ed
munds act of 1882.
aObserye the difference IN the long
detained amnesty with string to 1t,
issued by President Harrison after the
urgent and humble appeal by the pres
idency and apostles of the Mormon
cnurch. and the immediate act OF
President Cleveland on the request OF
the Governor of Utah. This was
Harrison's small and niggardly re-
sponse:
Now. therefore. Benjamin Harri-
son. President of the United States, by
virtue of the power in me vested, 90
hereby declare and grant full amnesty
and pardon to all persons liable TO the
penalties OF said act by reason OF un-
lawful cohabitation. under the color OF
polvgamous or plural marriage, who,
since November /, 1890. 0.abstained from
Euch cohahitatiou; but upon the ex-
nress condition that they shalI IN the
tuture faithfully obey the laws OF the
United States hereinbefOre named, and
not otherwise. Those who shall tall to
avail themselves of the clemencY here
by offered will be vigorously prosecu-
ted.
Following is President CleYeland's
msrnanimous and broad measure of re-
lief covering all that could be con-
condoned:
"Now, therefore. Grover Cleveland,
preeident of the United States, by vlr-
tue of the power in me vested, do
hereby declare and grant, a full am
nesty and pardon to all persons who
have in violation OF said acts Ianti-
polygamy laws of 1862, 1882, 1887, COM
nitted either of the Cffenses of polyg-
amy. bigamy, adultery, or unlawful
c,habitation under the color CT polyg-
amous or plural marriage, or whc haV
inc heen convicted of the violation OF
said acts, are now suffering deprivation
of civil rights in consequence OF the
same. excepting all persons who have
not complied with the condition con-
tanned in said executive proclamation
of January 4. 1888
mOn receiving word of this executive |
action, the Utah commission expunged |
from the registration oath everything
that would hinder persons who had
formerly abstained from taking it be-
cause of cor srientious scruples. The |
oath now stands the same TO all cit1
zens of the territory, irrespective of
former conditions and whether thev
have been convicted or not of the Of
fenses named in the amnesty. Persons
who have been guilty of violating the
laws since the date of Harrison's am
nesty are the only exceptions. Every
lawful facility will oe afforded to all
citizens to register.
"For this great boon the people have
occasion to feel grateful to President
Grover Cleveland and Governor Caleb
W. West, with all those broad-minded
gentlemen in office who have aided in
this complete amnesty. 1t
shows how the administration feels to.
wards the people of Utah and the con.
laaass yeposed In their sincerity and