Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-12-29
sTA1EMEaT TO THE "WoRLD."
pcere, sclemnly That There Have Been No
Such Unions Since 1890.
LANGUAGE STRONG AND USsIsraSAsll


TO ITS unworthy source -Ef"lHs y"
wait for sober second Thought
of the American People.
Anent thc Congressional cpl
ale, the New York Word. wh,ch an
touncss lts desire to be absolutely fair
and 20 hear both sides % ihc qut slion.
/ has selegrarhod its local representative.
asking him 20 sccure. II possible. from
| P,sldeB: Snow. signed statement. to
b, published by shat paper In answer
60 the charge officially circulated by the
| Presbyterian board Of Missions 30 The
ensc: that the Mormon Church OF 90
DAY. c0uR.rnlnccs. excuses and en-
courlgss pOlygamy. The World further
| all. 20 that the Presbyterian church n
circulating hundreds OF showands of
| letters and petitions against conErcsn-
mhn.eieci Roberts. with the hope OF
having him unseatsd. Therefore. shr
| World applied direc; to Prestlcnt
Snow FOR his Views q che case.
RESIDENT LORENZO SHOWS
STATEMENT.
Prcrldcn, Shows reply. which was
wlrcd to the World today IL ~ follows;
In answer TO your Inquiries ! declare
most so.sTnnly and cmpAaiicaily ina;
the statements which are being pub
Aihrd 90 the effect sha; she Mormon
Church Ia encouraging and ,clchinE
polyEimy are utterly untrue. Ever
slnc, the Issuance Of the manifesto on
this subject by resident wllford
woodruff. my predecessor In Office.
poygamous or plural marriages have
entirely ceased sn u<ah. Since my ac-
esAslon TO .'he Presidency OF she Church
" Jcsus Chris. Of I.atter-day Saints /
have repeatedly asserted my intention
TO stand by thas manifesto. and my de-
termination not 20 pernl. any marriage
to take place under the sanction Of The
Church which Ia contrary 90 the law of
The stats. and l now rc-aiirm that
sie.cmen.. Holdlng the keys Of this
authority In the Church over which
am called 90 preside. no such ceremony
can be performed and recognized with
on, my consent. wish this 81 be clear
~ understood. make this declaration
uncqulvocaily and wlihou, any msnai
retoryaHsn. polySnm,vs mafrlsscS IN
the Mormon Church have entirely
ceased The implied understanding
w.h the nation when Utah entered the
Union a. u state has been aacredly oh.
served. There IL no Intention VT dlspo-
N.ion on the par. of the Church 20 yio-
late or depart from Il In ehe future.
The enabling act required a provision In
she Constitution Of che state of Utah
shat poiygamOua or plural marriages.
should be forever prohibited. In accord
ance WIKI tina. provision. the state Con-
Sii,ution contains this clause; Perfect
tJsera,lon Of religious sentiment IL
guaranteed. No inh,bnan; OF this state
shall ever be moles,ed In person OF
pr.perty On accpls ID ,b,s - her mode
OF religious worship; bun poiygamous
or plural marriages are forever
prohibited" Laws have been
fnme1 In suppar, OF this con
Hlltutlonal enactment. Heavy penalties
are provided for In case Of their viola
ton. Thus "the church and the state
are against the further contracting OF
polygamous associations. and there Is
absolutely no ground for the position
taken by those who are attempting 10
infame public opinion against the Lat
tor-day Saints.
The election Of Mr.. II. II. Roberts to
the Office u Representative In Congress
from Utah was an entirely secular ar
fair. The Church had nothing to do with
H.. Church and State In Utah are en-
ilrely distinct and separate. Nom
Mormons participated In his nominal
ton In the regular convention OF his
party. Mormona also aided In his
election. Many Mormons not being Of
his party. vsstd fee his oppouen,. lie
was not n Church candidate In any sense
OF the word. The church had no can
dldate. lie was elected as an American
citizen by American citizens and the
question OF religion did not enter Into
the purely political contest The
Church has Iilgh.ns 10 do wbsh she ac-
tion Of Congress In relation TO his seat.
II. however. notice Is to be taken OF the
wild statements and aDg-Mormon ful-
limitations from the pulpit and the press
TO the effect that Mr.. Roberts, has vlo-
lated the state Constitution NPnd the
requirement OF the enabling act, II Is
proper for me 10 state as do most pos
lively that the charge which inolden-
tally Affects the Church OF which we
both are members. Is entirely without
foundation In fact. And further. " Mr..
Roberts takes the seat 10 which he has
been elected. Il will not In any sease
affect the question OF pulysamy' II he
should be unseated, the result ms Ia
polygamy would be no dlnerent-
Polygamoas marriages having ceased
tho action Of Congress In reference 20