The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-07

the end Of good judgment and states
manship, TO show a willingness TO re-
spect the feelings of our fellow citizens
throughout the Union, in respect OF this
matter? Is it wise even TO appear to
fiaunt, as they believe we are disposed
TO do, an objectionable social feature
AS for myself I believe loyalty and
devotion to the nation can better be
shown by respecting public sentiment
even though prejudiced by means of
erroneous statements, than by defying
it.
A defiant. instead of a conciliatory at
titude, might lead to a repetition of
sorrow and distress. Let us not again,
beseach you, invite by act or word of
ours, the exiting and Imprisonment of
men. the homelessness and anguish of
women. and the suffering of innocent
children-the memory of which still
haunts like a wakeless nightmare. May
heaven prevent the enactment of scenes
that stretched heart strings over the
! keyboard of human misery from the
year 1885 to 1890, in Utah.
If we are to avert similar conditions
in the future we must not only be
brave but prudent Personal ambition
should yield TO the public welfare. Let
| US dlSpaSsionately lay before our great,
just and generous nation. the facts re-
lating to the true condition and feeling
in Utah.
Millions throughout the Union have
been made to believe that we are
treacherous, dishonest, untruthful, de-
fiant covenant breakers" That we
/ deliberately intended an affrOnt TO the
nation by sending to congress, as they
think, "a polygamous Iaw-breaker,
| trampling beneath his feet the inhibi-
tions of the state constitution which
he helped to formulate" and that the
Democratic party and dominant
church in Utah, are in COLLISION to help
the scheme. In face Of public resent
nlent, to this supposed wrong, are we
| to remain Indifferent until Utah's al
legiance and loyalty to the national
! government are questioned? Shall we
| expect justice based or eX parte testi-
mOny?
Shall We defend our cause by adding
more fuel to the rising flame Of public
resentment, until our belated argu-
ments are met with blows?
In the late war with Spain Utah
proved her loyalty abroad; are not her
sons now willing to demonstrate it at
! home? Permit me To join you in the
gracious task Of ailaying public senti-
ment by means of truthful statements
and conciliatory efforts. The people
| throughout the Union and the world
are being deceived as to the motives of
| Utah's inhabitants.
the Hon. B. II. Roberts TO congress be-
cause he was a pOlygamist, nor for the
| purpose Of crowding down the throat of
| Iteration the plural marriage system.
| Among others, I opposed his nominal
| ton for reasons since made manifest.
! But when he was chosen by the Demo-
| cratic state convention my opposition
ceased; and, having aided in his cleo
! ton, l purpose standing by him; and.
! for that reason am unwilling to do or
J say anything that might in the least de
! gree Operate against his permanent
! seating in the national house of repre-
! sentatives.
! The Democrats of Utah are response
! bic for his election, and the party con-
! ferred upon him that great honor be
4 cause its members regarded him as an
| honorable and capable gentleman, an
| earnest and able advocate Of binetal-
lisqn, a student and a loyal American
citizen, emnently qualified to represent
Utah in the national legislature with
honor to US and credit to the nation.
He subscribed, as [ understand, to the
covenants and obligations of the mani
festO, to the enabling act and to those
of the state and national constitutions.
I believe that he has. and intends to
sacredly observe them. If previously
he had entered into other covenants. the
observance Of which are unlawful, but
not viOlatiYe of agreements and consti-
tutiOnal prohibitions respecting future
polygamous marriages. is he not amen
able to the law? And if so. what has
his church TO do with the matter?
What, indeed, has the state to do with
it, except to prosecute?
The enabling ACT as crystallized in our
state constitution contemplates the
prohibition, and expressly inhibits fu-
ture plural marriages, but not even by
/ implication do they contemplate dis
turbing former relations.
Neither did American sentiment con-
template that, pending the enactment
of the Edmunds law. l was east then
! in Washington, New York, Chicago and
other citiee-and l never met any man
having full comprehension OF conditions
here, who did not, when conversing on
that subject, condemn the idea Of sew
Cring marital relations already en-
tered into under sanction OF religious
covenants. l conVersed with many per
sons moving in high financial, social
and political circles, whose thoughts as
expressed did not limit those relations
TO the support of mothers and the eCu-
cation Of children either. but included
all within the meaning of that relation.
The thought that another might pay
addresses TO the mothers of the children
of a pluralist was shocking to every
serse of justice and moral ethics then
and among the masses Of generous,
great-hearted Americans believe it is
now. l think I knew what was re-
quired-what was demanded. It was
complete and unconditional separation
of church and state and future cessa-
ton CT all polygamous marriages.
My position on those matters is IN
derstood in and out of Utah. If men
break state laws imposing penalties, let
them abide the consequences individ-
Tally. Why should anyone, by means
Of soecioUs arguments, seeks to bring
TeprOach upon a church, or a stigma on
the state in attempting TO show q dis
tinction, where there is no difference.
Now, while taking strong ground on
this matter, 1 do not forget that the
I1dmunds law made the Haunting of pO-
lygamous opportunities an element CT
crime. Hence. and in line herewith,
my views as expressed herein.
Believing that wisdom will be justi-
fed of her children. let Us join in re-
spectful attention to public sentiment,
realizing that it may, when unheeded.
find expression in oppressive legal
measures.
l sincerely thank you as individuals.
and as honorable members of the leg
islature, for the support rendered one
SO unworthy. Your generous act has
Cancelled all claims may nave lnouSht
due me from the Democracy OF Utah,
but ] would be unjust, ungrateful and
ungenerous were to pass lightly over
another. and more important phase of
this particular matter. l refer 10 your
vindication, not of myself-for that g
unimportant, but TO your vindication of
those undying principles of human free
dom and personal liberty, for which my
friends have mutually striven, and al
.,,a5r7fafr1pd
To those friends, devoted and true.
under most trying circumstances, and
who have felt themselves under a ban
..-....c... ~ thai-. InH.alrA. Won