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

faleehood, which are almost dnily WOW
On BY the Salt Lake Tribune.
WHAT THE DENVER POST SAYS.
we print today an editorial taken
from the Denver Post which will be
found In another column. II Ia timely
and right to the point on the subject
which IL now engaging 10 much public
attention. But there are a few sem
fences In the article which need cx-
PLANTATION Speaking Of the compact
with reference to polygamy entered In
TO by the State with the United states.
the Post mentions the utah under
standing OF the meaning OF polygamy''
Our Denver contemporary VIII nnd'
BY examining the subject a little closer,
that the Utah understanding IN that
conveyed and defined by act OF Con-
grens. and that the meaning given TO
It by the Edmunds Act applies TO the
District OF Columbia. where Congress
Ia now sitting. and TO every place over
which the United states have exclusive
Jurisdiction" so that the Inference
made by the Pos, that this under
standing" ls peculiar to Utah. Is a great
miHtakc.
Another error IL the assumption that
the Enabling Act contains provisions
concerning "polysamy.' That term j.
not to be found In that instrument II
was Intentionally omitted. The pur-
pose In view ~ requiring a special pro-
vision In ,hc Utah state Constitu'lon'
was tho prohibition Of future poly
enmous or plural marriages." The
words we have last quoted were those
employed both IN the Enabling Act ana
IN che state Constitution. The con-
fusion Of mind exhibited By some lead
Ing papers OF the country IL caused BY
n failure 20 fully understand this I'm
portant distinction.
The Post says. "Thcrc Ia little doubt
that several polygamous marriages
have been solcmniEed since the adj
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 anoat. concerning such
marriages In Utah since statehood. are
without foundation and are entirely
| false. There IL no proof and 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 MS persia,ing In an Of
fence they had forcsworn."
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. Dlligent Inquiries show pos
ltiyely that there are less than half that
number In this State; and thus II Is
true. as the Post says that ''polygamy
IL becoming extinct as rapidly as
death could remove those Involved In
H."
hut the chief point In the Post atti-
Gle IL that which It regards as ihc real
menace to the country; that II. the
domination Of the Church In politics"
That shows the greatest mistake OF all
In the Post editorial. II assumes that
when a single churchman holding a
religious office has strong political con-
victiona and gives them utterance," the
people regard him aH infalllble and
therefore. the result Ia that any cleo
tlon he Is interested In goes Us he de-
slrca." This assumption and conclu'
sion are fallacious In the extreme.
In the nrst place. there Is no person
In the Mormon" Church who Is re
garded M 'lnfaillble" In the mex
place. the highest authorities In tina
Church are divided In their "politica
convictions" and utterances. So are tn
Individual members OF the Church
Each ncta according TO those convlc
lions without restraint Of any kind
''rhc union OF Church and State" whlcl
the Post thinks win finally be uev
cred" has no existence in Utah. Tn
State Constitution has special provis
> ion against II. There Is no need OF that
, 70 far as Il might affect the Church q
Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints. Yo
cannot fever that which 10 not united
. The Church does not attempt to doinln
ate the State, nor does II direct IA
/ people how OF for whom they shall vot
o at elections.
A with these exceptions. the article
! the Denver Post IL admirable, and wit
y Ito general tenor no fault can be toun
Z by those who desire TO see the truth ~
b. forth for the consideration OF the Amcl
. lean people. We fully endorse the clio
Ing sentence of that editorial. with
Il cause based In justice and right sue
J. us theirs. the Mormons are bound III,
y mately TO triumph"
MASTERS IN BLACK ART.