The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-07
PROTEST 0E GLERGYMEK
Continued from Page II

the Mormon ranks who give encOur-
agement for the future Of Utah. From
the splendid speech OF the governor Of
the state the following extracts are
taken:
L realize that this is a subject that
ought not to belong to politics; that it
has no part in national politics; but. in
view of the pledges which the people
have made here, and which the nas5on
understands. and in view Of the pledges
which 1 have made myself cannot
shut my eyes te the consequences that
\ A,ill come if Mr.. Roberts shah be elect
4 ed to congress. 1t is unnecessary to
refer to the solemn assurances of the
people on this quesuon-we all under
stand that they were made, ana that
Mr.. Roberts, as much as any other
public speaker has frequently ex-
pressed himself as appalled, and aston
ished that the sincerity of the people
of Utah should be questioned in regard
TO the abandonment of old conditions
and their acceptance of the new eondi-
tions imposed by statehood.
IN my inaugural address, as we'll as
at various other times in public aud
private, l have given my PERSONAL as
surance that the question OF poiEeany
as affecting the people of Utah was
dead issue, and tnaIrE believed thar il
would not return again as pQOllc
question TO NeX MS, having faith as l
had and still have. in the manifesto Of
President Woodruff. and its suisse
quent adoption By the people
Now, ii is not alleged that the peo-
pie have receded from their position in
this matter but a man who does not
deny that he is living in violation OF
the laws of the state has accented q
nomination for Office, and very great
publicity has been siven TO his domes-
tic relations, and, II elected, all these
facts VIII be known by congress when
he presents his credentials TO the house.
I am unable to tell what congress may
do in The matter, as to whether he VIII
be seated or nOt; but ] feel sure that
the agitation OF the question viii be
very great detriment to the state OF
Utah, and to every interest Of the PEG
pie. Every financial interest here VIII
suffer: every industrial enterprise OK
the stale VIII be more or less retarded5
the interests of the dominant church
itself win be injured, and the liberties
of the very class to which Mr.. Roberts
belongs VIII be placed in jeopardy.
Were every other objection TO his
caud-dacv removed. / could not, there
fore, cast my ballot for Mr.. Roberts,
ana whether his supporters realize 1t
or NOT a vote Tor the Democratic can
didate IS a VOTE against Utah, against
her progress. against her vital inter-
e51s. q vote TO invite further Dersecu-
tion OF the Mormon People Now i nope
I am understood upon this matter. 10
vote for the Democratic candidate vim
dicates no principle. subserVes no S0od
or worthy purpose. but invites disaster,
because it is an open invitation 10 con-
gress and the nation to renew the war;
fare against the Mormon people, Whlcn
we all hoped and prayed was ended
forever
:. But the crowning fact is that the
election to congress of this notorious
Dolygamist was a violation of the most
solemn pledges it is possible for u state
II make.
Utah had been trying for many years
To secure statehood, out congress ae-
nieG the request, because Of the con-
tinued practice of polygamy against
the laws of the nation. Pledges OF the
most binding character that poly sainy
should be abolished were given by the
ofIicial representatives OF the Mormon
people to the people and government
OF the United States. 1t was soleInnly
affirm ed that polygamy in AL Its forms
should be abandoned, not only lurther
plural marriages should be forbidden,
but unlawful cOha.5itation should cease
wherever the polygamous relation then
existed. and the people would give loyal
obedience TO the laws or the land
against the crime.
First came the manifesto of Presl-
dent W DNNA Ulis winch - do Av4A1f'A'.
To Whom tt May Concern:
Press dispatches having been seat,
for political purposes, from SAT- Lake
CITY, which have been widely publish
ed. to the effect that The Utah COM
mission in their recent report 20 the
secretary Of the interior. alleges that
plural marriages are stih beng SOL
Aennized. and that forty or more sucn
Tfnarriages have been contracted IN
f11VinEr the
past year; also that in public dis
courses the leaders Of the church nave
taught encouraged and urged the con-
tinuance OF the practice OF polygalny, /
therefore. as president Of the Church
of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, do
hereby, in most solemn manner, &C.
clare that these charges are false We
are not teaching polygamy, or plural
marriage, nor permitting any person 10
enter into its practice, and 1 deny that
either forty or any other number OF
F. plural marriages have. during that per
iod been solemuized in our temples, or
in any other place in the territory.
one case has been reported. in which
the parties alleged that the marriage
tool, place in the Endowment House.
in Salt Lake City, in the spring of 1883.
but 1 have not been able to learn VINO
performed the ceremony; whatever was
done in this matter Was without my
knowledge. In consequence OF TINS al
legad occurrence, The Endowment
House was by my instructions, taken
down without delay.
Tnasuuch as laws have been enacted
by congress forbidding plural mar
riaces. which laws have been gro
MONACO constitutional by the court of
last resort, / hereby declare my IN
tention to submit to those laws, and
10 use my influence with the members
of the church over which l preside, TO
have them DO likewise.
There is nothing in my teachings to
the church. or in those of my asso-
GATES. during the time specified, which
can be reasonably construed TO incul-
cate or encourage polygamy, and when
any elder of the church has used lam
lgu2ge which appeared to convey any
ANQch teaching, he has been promptly
3roved. And ! now publicly declare
that nv advice 10 the Latter-day
Saints is to refrain from contracting
any MARRIAGE forbidden by the law Of
the land. MILFORD WOODRUFF.
President of the Church Of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints.
At a later date President Woodruff
and his official associates declared. that
it was the intention Of the manifesto
to not only put stop to ali future
poIvea1nCus marriages, but also to al
present relations and combinations. An
of which the following documents
clearly show:
PETITION FOR AMNESTY.
The following is the petition through
which universal amnesty was obtained
for offenses under the Eumunds law.
It was signed by the first presidency Of
the Mormon church, and an the apes
ties. Then it was submitted TO Cover
nor Thomas. Judge zane, and other
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