Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-12
WHAT THE DENVER posi- SAYS.

WHAT THE DENVER POST SAYS.
We print today an editorial taken
from the Denver Post which will be
found in another column. 1t Is timely
and right to the point on the subject,
which Is now engaging so much public
attention. But there are q few SEN
fences In the article which need ex-
PLANTATION. Speaking Of the compact
with reference TO polysamy entered IN
10 by the state with the United States
the Post mentions the utah under
standing Of the meaning Of polygamy''
Our Denver contemporary VIII ind,
BY examining the subject little closer
that the Utah understanding is that
conveyed and defined by act OF Con-
gress, and that the meaning given TO
1t by the Edmunds Act applies TO the
District OF Columbia, where Congress
is now sitting, and TO every place over
which the United states have exclusive
jurisdiction" SO that the inference
made by the Post that this under
standing" is peculiar to Utah, is great
mistake.
Another error Is the assumption that
the Enabling Act contains provisions
concerning "polysamy.' That term IS
not to be found IN that instrument. II
was Intentionally omitted. The pur-
pose in view N requiring a special pro-
vision In the Utah State Constitution
was the prohibition OF future poly
gamous or plural marriages the
words we have last quoted were those
employed both IN the Enabling Act ana
IN the state Constitution. The con-
fusion OF mind exhibited by some lead
Ing papers Of the country is caused by
a failure to fully understand this I'M
portani distinction.
The Post says There Is little doubt
that several polygamous marriages
have been solemnized since the ad-
mission Of the State That may be
the state Of mind OF the Post and some
other papers and persons outside OF
Utah, but the great body Of the people
here are satisfied that the stories which
have been set afloat, concerning such
marriages in Utah since Statehood are
without foundation and are entirely
false. There is no proof ana no EVIL
dence worthy OF the name TO establish
the charges Of that kind that have been
made. We agree with the Post that
even II those stories were correct, they
would not Justify the branding of the
entire people as persisting In an Of
fence they had foresworn."
Next the Post speaks OF 5000 being
the probable number Of men In Utah
who are now involved IN the practice
Of polygamy. That Is an exaggerated
estimate. Dlllgent inquiries show pos
itlyely that there are less than half that
number in this state; and thus 1t Is
true. as the Post says that "polygamy
is becoming extinct as rapidly as
death could remove those involved In
It,"
But the chief point in the Post aru-
Gle Is that which It regards as tie real
menace" to the country; that Is, the
domination OF the Church in politics
That shows the greatest mistake Of all
in the Post editorial. 1t assumes that
when a single churchman holding
religious office has strong political con-
victions and gives them utterance.' the
people regard him as infalllble and
therefore. the result is that any cleo
ton he is interested in goes as he de-
slres." This assumption and conclu-
sion are failacious in the extreme.
In the first place, there is no person
in the Mormon" Church who is re-
garded as "lnfalllble." In the next
place, the highest authorities In that
Church are divided in their political
convictions" and utterances. So are the
Individual members Of the Church.
Each acts according TO those convlc-
tlons without restraint Of any kind
THE union Of Church and state which
the Post thinks will finally be sew
cred" has no existence in Utah. The
state Constitution has a special provis-
ion against ii. There is no need OF that
so far as It might affect the Church Of
Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. You
cannot sever that which Is not united
The Church does not attempt to domin-
ate the State, nor does Il direct the
people how or for whom they shall vote
at elections.
With these exceptions, the article In
the Denver Post Is admirable, and with
lts general tenor no fault can be found
by those who desire to see the truth set
forth for the consideration OF the Amer
lean people. We fully endorse the CLOS
ing sentence of that editorial win a
cause based In justice and right sueh
as theirs. the Mormons are bound ulu-