The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1899-08-02
WHAT WAS THE UNDERSTANDS
lNG7 III.


Considerable controversy has been
and is being INDUCED 10 between the
Salt Lake dailies as to the mutual UNI
derstanding between the people Of
Utah and the nation on the question
OF polygamy at the time Of The granting
OF Statehood. The Tribune leads 10
the assertion that the Mormon people
, have Violated the spirit and the Intent
Of this understanding. Let us look at
q little. history and facts Ia regard TO
This matter. In an address before the
Territorial Bar Association OF Utah In
January, 1895. Hon q s, Yarian. then
Repu blicsn. r. Liberal. and member
Of the Constitutional Convention, said,
referring to Statehood for Utah:
"In accordance with the general con.
yictlons Of civilized men aud tho spiriC
OF free institutions. religious liberty
will be fully secured by the organic law
and a prohibition against plural or po-
lygamOus marriages adopted IN defer
rnce 10 the suggestion by Congress.
Whether II shall ever be stricken from
the Cor stitution will depend solely up
Cd the future temper and will OF the
people. IL will be observed that the
actual polypamous status, or living
with two or more women as wives,
known In Utnh as a criminal offense
termed unlawful cohabllation', is not
referred to in the prOvisO OF the enab-
ling act. Whether the constitution
builders will content themselves With
prohibiting polygamous marriages or
will go further and prescribe the polyg'
amous association also will be deyel-
oped in time"
1t will be noted 10y Mr.. Vunan's
statement that polygamous relations
we're not referred 10 In the enabling
net. Ii will also be noted that the con-
stliutioD Of Utah while prohibiting fu-
tnre polygamous marriages, docs not
refer to relations with former polyga-
nous wives. married before the mani
festo and Statehood. The venerable
editor Of the Salt Lake Tribune was n
member Of that State Constitutional
Convention aud supported this provl.
SION, and eloquently defended the peo-
pie OF Utah against the insinuation
that polygnmeus marriages would be
celebrated In Utah II Statehood was
grained. No evidence has ever been
produced To show that any polygamous
marriages have been celebrated IN
Utah since Statehood. and we can
maintain that the people
OF Utah are living up to our State CON
In that respect and doing all
that was implied In misunderstanding
with the nation. A change has come
over the Tribune however, A Demo-
crat has been elected 10 Congress, and
because II Is asserted that before State
hood he married more than une wife
the Tribune Is busy charging the Nor
mon people with a breach OF faith. IL
is politics with the Tribune aud not
principle. The proof Is easy when we
recOllect that the great Salt Lake
daily has ardently supported Republi-
cans against whom the same allega.
lions was made. Now as to another
phase Of this understanding with the
nation" AT the time OF Statehood no
one believed that members of he Nor
mon church who had heretofore mar
risd plural wives aud beguiteu children
would desert those wives and children.
The man who would do so 10 worse
than brute. We do not believe in
neither do we believe IN the
1esertion Of a family taken at the time
n a general religions belief In this
State OF that principle. The question
Is lighting itself as rapidly rs possible.
No polygamous marriages are being
celebrated and with the passing Of the
elder generation all Will be fully set.
tied. The character Of the 7Tribune's
fight is not helping to right II however.
We'feel no hesitancy In saying that
Utah has kept faith with the nation.
both M To contract and implied under.
stanulng. -. e.... q Az. s.a...