The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-23
TN A VAST CONVENTION
Never Has the City Witnessed Such a
Momentous Gathering.

With increased immigration there
came those who disagreed with the
Mormon people upon religion, and the
conditions then changed to the extent
that there was organized what was
known as the Peoples Party" or the
Church Party" and the Liberal
Party" or the "Anti-Church Party
The Harrnsing Contention.
Then began the long and harrasslng
contention between men of different
religious views. As might have been
expected. the contest was waged with
great bitterness. resulting in sorrow,
antagonism, and much distress to both
sides. and which at times eliminated
in 'bloodshed.
With increased facilities for commu-
nication with the outer world, new
questions gradually forced themselves
to the front. The people became more
HARMONIOUS, and the time finally ar
rived when it was thought that the old
issues should be dropped, and that the
bitterness of the past should be bur
led, never again to be revived. The
local parties disbanded, and a new
alignment of the. people was made
along the lines of policy advocated by
the Republican and the Democratic
parties. The Mormon church in a
most authoritative manner issued its
manifesto abandoning one of the dear
est tenets of the Mormon faith, and it
thereby acknowledged the supremacy
OF the national government in all af-
fairs pertaining to the political well
fare of the people.
Referring to this manifesto on the
18th day of December, 1891, the First
Presidency and the apostles of the
Mormon church directed to the presi-
dent of the United States a petition
for amnesty. saying that:
pledge of the Presidency.
I'm September. 1890, the present head
of the church. in anguish and prayer.
cried to God for help for his flock, and
received the permission to advise the
members of the Church Of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints that the law COM
manding polygamy was henceforth
suspended.
AT the great semi-annual conference,
which was held a few days later, this
was submitted to the people. number
ing many thousands and representing
every community of the people in
Utah. and was by them in the most
solemn manner accepted as the future
rule of their lives.
They have since been faithful to
the covenant made that day.
"At the late October conference, af-
ter a year had passed by, the matter
was once more submitted to the thou
sands of people gathered together, and
they again in the most potential man.
ner ratified the solemn covenant"
The action of the church with regard
to politics was stated in a public man
ner by the members of the first presi-
dency.
An interview was framed fora news
paper. Certain questions were asked
and the answers written out by Presi-
dent Woodruff. Among other things,
speaking for the Mormon church. he
said that the Mormon church claims
no right 20 dictate to its members in
political matters. He also said: Per
sonally we have felt that the time
would come when the two great parties
would be organized in this territory,
and we have felt that if an attempt
of This kind should be made, each
would have the fullest opportunity to
lay its principles before the people. so
that they might have a clear under
standing of the issues and be able to
decide in the light of facts presented
to them, to which party they would be-
long"
Q.-Does the church claim the right
10 dictate to its members in political
matter? A-The church does not
claim any such right. Q.-That being
true are we to understand that the
church will not assert any right to
control the political action of its men,
bers in the future? A.-That is what
we wish to convey and have you under
stand. As officers of the church we
the right to control the politi-
cal action of the members of our body.
The Conference Resolution.
At the general conference of the
church held at Salt Lake city.
in October, 1891. the following resolu-
ton was adopted:
Whereas. the Utah commission.
with one exception. in their report to