The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-05-08
MAY 8. 1895
PROVO CITY.
PoLYGAMOUs MORMONs.

Tuesday evenings Deseret News had
two column and half loaded article
under the heading Present, Past and
Future" dealing with a runor which
most people have heard, regarding an
impending raid OF some mythical per
sonsges upon leading Mormons Of
Utah for alleged violations of the
statute regarding polygamy, and which
is not credited by any, or at least only
by very small per cent. of those who
have heard it, TIE DISPATCH has
heard a good deal of this talk but it is
one Of those whe have doubted the ex-
istence of any such purpose, nor have
we yet heard aught TO confirm the first
rumors. That few persons may haye
INDUCED in that sort Of talk we fully
believe, but that there has been any
ground for it or any, even the slightest
truth in it, we do not belieYe. There
are probably few men who have been
disobliged by the result of the election
last fall who are still very angry. These
have talked indiscreetly and what they
have said is tortured INTO meaning
vast army Of taithless Mormons and
wicked American citizens are still in
defiance of both the church manifesto
and the Edmunds-Tucker law, living
in polygamous relations with their
former plural wives. Unquestionably
there are some few who do this, and
doubtless there will always be some to
defy both church and law, but the num-
ber must be very small indeed. The
men are not numerous who VIII thus
violate the laws ofuboth church and
state in this way, especially where the
penalty is 30 grave, to say nothing of
the breaking of the pledged faith of
the church and its illustriOus leaders.
We can hardly see enough in the situa-
ton to warrant the official paper of
the Mormon church in assembling to it
an Importance which would warrant
this serious and extended treatment.
Neither the News nor the officer who
is SAID to have prepared list OF oyer
200 cases of this species OF. violation
of law will live long enough to see the |
day when there will be no such cases
in existence. In the very nature of |
the case there will be some remaining !
for all time where wicked men and wo-
men too who will live the old life |
in defiance of law but as the days pass,
each succeeding one will see the num-
ber lessensd. OF course the vioIators
of this law must be sought out and
punished, but in thus seeking for Of
Tenders the utmost care and delicacy
will be observed that false accusations
be not made. Even We're there ten
times the number Of 200 cases reported,
yet prosecutions of THIS kind and for
mere revenge or upon conspiracy to
drag down any innocent man or to dis
tress an innocent and un0ffending ex-
polygamous wife, cannot be too Sc
verely or promptly punished. We are
of those who cannot believe that there
is one single man in Utah SO lost to all
sense of right to truth and honor, to
lend himself to purpose as ignoble as
this would be.
Hence we feel that the News
has made an error, quite serious one,
In giving to this matter Of the reports {
an Importance which it is not en-
titled to. We can only regret these in !
1iscretiOns and warn the people against :
being influenced one way or another c
Dy them. This, of all other times. is 9
east appropriate to the indulgence of
uch sentiment Of hate as this would +
Indicate. We are convinced that Utah f
las just entered upon a career Of de- t
-elopment which will induce such pros
'erity as no western state has eyer be- i
ore seen or enjoyed. The stirring up p
4 such strife as this would indicate, L
would be crime against Utah and all :
er dearest interests, of the deepest c
Iye. &
The News, to make good its serious
5atement Of the matter should give
ames, names of officers preparing the =,
SITS Of recalcitrsnts and lists also of V
le suspects as far as obtainable, to W
le end that a searching examination
lay fully set up their innocense, and W
his is the shortest and best way out of tt
be maze, if there is one, and the d.
uickest way to settle the doubts of
II, if there is no grounds for these re-
orts.
All good citizens, church or anti vi
lurch, must take this view of the mat u
II. No other is possible for an hon N, N;
IT man or good citizen who values an
be peace and the prnsnects of IItah liz