The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-01
LET THE INQUIRY BE MADE,

When Senator Rawlins proposed an
official investigation of the wholesale
charges of immortality and lawlessness
made by the Salt Lake Tribune, and
circulated by crusaders TO the injury
of the Mormon people and the detri-
i..ent OF the state Of Utah, it was the
inst rational attempt made to get al
the facts. the first move made to dispel
the fog of ignorance which prevails in
congress as TO actual conditions here.
Many attempts have been made to
inflame the minds of congressman, 10
arouse their. preiudices and to take ad-
vantage of this Ignorance of congress
of the true status of the case" Sen
sational stories have been sent out;
indiscriminate attacks have been made
upon the members and officials of the
dominant church; they have been called
breakers and pledge breakers (;
they have been compared to Mussel-
mans. denounced as "Asiatics. and
referred to as aliens who were taught
treason at their mothers knees" But
now there is a demand for the truth.
If the charges be true congress should
know it; if false the people of Utah
and the members of the dominant
church deserve a vindication.
An official inquiry into 1.-The true
status of the case" will be a pleasing
diversion from the methods hitherto
employed by those who are opposed to
the growth of polygamy or the prac-
tice of plural marriages, and can surely
meet with no objection except from
those who have reasons to fear the
truth.
The annoyance of the Tribune at the
resolutions proposed by Senator Raw
Inns demanding a rigid and thorough
investigation of the practice of polyg-
amy in the United States and in all
places subject to the jurisdiction of
this government, and the practice of
nominating, electing and appointing
polygamists to state and federal posi-
tons was in marked and amusing con-
trast to the way in which President
Snow viewed the matter.
The Tribune was simply furious when
the resolutions appeared. 1t abused
Senator Rawlins, declared that he had
descended to the level of a Dettifog-
ser''-a libel it would not have uttered
except in a paroxysm of rage-referred
to his resolutions as too silly TO no.
tice," and accused him of trying de-
liberately TO deceive the congress of
the United States"
And what was the secret of all this
impotent rage and resentment? What
are these resolutions which the organ
OF the crusade considers too silly to
notice? Read them again:
Be it resolved by the senate of the
United States. that the committee on
Judiciary is hereby instructed to inquire
into and report TO the senate:
First.-To what extent polygamy is
practiced or pclygamous marriages en-
tered into IN the United States, or in
places over which they have jurisdic-
ton.
Second.-Have polygamists. or per-
sons reputed TO have more than enc
wife. been elected to Office by the peo-
pie of Utah, and If so. was such election
for the purpose Of encouraging polyg-
amy or n violation of any compact be-
tween said state and the United States?
Third.-Have polygamists, or per-
SoIls reputed TO have more than one
wife been appointed to office by the
president. by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, or in cases where
the concurrence of the senate is not
required and if so, have such appoint
ments been made in aid of polygamy
or in violation of the COMPACT between
the United States and the state of
Utah. with reference TO that subject.
Fourth.-What steps. if any, should
be taken or measures enacted for the
prevention of pOlygamy in the United
States and in places over which they
have jurisdiction?
While the Tribune is frothing over
these resolutions and abusing their au-
thor. the Deseret News, on the other
hand. voices the sentiments of the en-
tire Mormon people. including Young
Utah. in the following excerpts from
its editorial:
The resolutions which Senator Raw
Inns says he intends to introduce strike
at the root of the rumors which have
been sent out TO al the nation. and. if
adopted, viii demonstrate that the
charges against the Mormon church
in reference to unlawful marriages
since Utah entered the Union, are false
and founded in malice
The position taken by Senator Raw
Inns on the present agitation against
Dtan and ITS representative in con-
gress, will be sustained and approved
by 4 very large majority of his con-
stitusnts.
Salacious stories and religious or DO
litical romances will not answer as evil
dence, and the gueSses and flights of
fancy. in which certain scribes indulge
viii not answer for proofs. The whole
matter viii be probed to the bottom.
The stand taken by the senator is OPP
perfume and viii be appreciated not
only by the people of Utah. but by
every lover of fair play in the country
Shame upon the Storm Starter. for
taking a stand in opposition to an Of
fetal investigation of the charges IT
has made repeatedly and tried TO sus-
tain by rumor in the court OF preju-
dice. It is anything but an American
journal
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The Nephi Republic explains the
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