The sun., 1898-11-09
THE LATTER DAY SAINTS
Elders Of the Mormon Church
Have Again Appeared in
This State.
The SPREAD OF POLYGAMY
Every Political Party In Utah Has One
or More Representatives Of the
Church on the Ticket.-A
Convert Secured
Here.
THE SPREAD OF POLYGAMY

The fact that polygamy is again sane
toned by the Mormon church and that
this evil is also on the increase, recalls
the appearance Of the four elders Of Lat
ter Day Saints in this State not less than
Q year ago.
These descendants OF Brigham Young
and Joseph Smith first made their ap.
pearance at New Castle, this county.
II was on November II that four meek.
looking men made their appearance at
that place.
The actions Of the quartette led to an
investigation, and when it became
known that they had been endeavoring
10 gain a numbeKof converts in the vicin-
ity amongst the feminine portion Of the
population. committee pf angry citizens
awaited on them, and the result was that
the precious Quartette GGadenly left the
town under threats of being subjected to
. coat of tar and feathers
They concluded to shake the dust Of
New Castle from their feet, and later ap-
peared at Armstrong; gCorner, near Mid
diet0wn. Here they were not found out
unsil they had converted their boarding
mistress, a Mrs. Thomas Handy.
They later attended the Armstrong
church, OF which Rev. DR.. Moore is pas
tor, and as their object was known they
were informed that their presence was
not required IN the vicinity.
2 It was learned this week that num-
Der OF the followers of the Latter Day
Saints have again appeared in different
parts Of this State, and the indications
are that il they try to gain any converts.
they will be summarily dealt with.
Il is a well-known fact that polygamy
has not been stamped out of Utah.
II still exists in that State, and there
is abundant evidence that it has the
sanction. practically open, of the Nor
mon Church. There is evidence, too,
that the managers Of the church are
quietly seeking to obtain full political
control of the State. Polygamists are
candidates for Office on each of the
tickets now in the field.
The Utah Presbytery asserts its knowl.
edge that polygamy still tlonrishes in
Utah, and that there thousand or more
children have been born of polygamous
marriages in the last two and one-half
years, since Statehood was granted.
The present candidate for Congress on
the Democratic ticket, B. H. Roberts, Is
openly charged with having three wives.
His friends retort that the Republicans
who are so loudly denouncing him are
not consistent, in that they have had no
word of condemnation for Republican
candidates who are well-known to be as
persistent and active polyga,nists as the
Democratic candidates.
These charges led to close scrutiny of
the Populist ticket, and it carried the
name of at least one polygamist.
The unanimity with which this class
is represented on the three tickets has
that the managers of the par
ties had been making strong bids for the
poIygamist vote.
When the Mormons are charged with
persisting in their obnoxious practices
they demur to the charge, but do not
deny the allegation. They say that since
October 6, 1890, no polygamous mar
riages have been solemnized under
church sanction, and this statement is
probably incapable Of successful contra
1iction, but when asked if members of
The church who We're polygamists prior
20 the public remuneration of the doctrine
oy President Woodruff in September,
1890, are still living unlawfully with
heir plural wives they evade the ques-
ion and declare that a mans private
amily affairs are his own business.
In December, 1890, the First Presi-
nf ho OF pf
ord Woodruff, George 0. Cannon and
'oseph Smith, together with the full
uorum of the Twelve Apostles, ad-
lressed an humble petition for amnesty
0 the President OF the United States, in
which they recited that President Wood
uff had, in September, 1880, ''in an
ulsh and prayer to God, received per-
Mission to advise the members that the
aw commanding polygamy was hence.
orth suspended" that this was ratified
the semi-annual conference, held Oc-
ober 6 of the same year, and that the
formons desired to be at peace with the
and in harmony with their
,llow-citizens not of their religious
lith." Then the signers pledged their
nth and honor for the future good con-
uct Of the members.
So strong an impression did this plea
,r relief from disabilities imposed ap-
ear to non-Mormons, and so contrite
as the spirit seemingly expressed by
le language, that the then Governor
nd Chief Justice of the Territory and
umerous other Gentiles Endorsed it.
President Harrison issued proclama-
on of full amnesty on January 4, 1898
,nditioned upon ''the faithful observ-
ice of the laws of the United States
,alnst unlawful cohabitation, to all per-
ms liable to the penalties who since
ovember l, 1890, have abstained from
lch unlawful cohabitation, but upon
e express condition that they shall in !
ture obey the laws of the United !
ates, hereinbefore named, and not !
herwise." !
President Cleveland supplemented the I
xecutive clemency of Harrison with a I
milar proclamation on September %,
94, based on evidence furnished him c
at the members of the Church were g
"from plural marriages and I
,lygamous cohabitation, and are now a
,ing IN obedience to the laws" a
Nothing can be more free from ambig- v
ty than the language of the conditions a
,plied in the plea for amnesty and the G
nditions imposed in the pr oclamations s
sued by two Presidents Of the United "
IL