Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-11
WHAT WAS nrouinED OF UTAH


Utah was admitted into the Union
Of sovereign States with a Constitution
In which "polygamous or plural mar
riages were forever prohibited" That
was required by the Enabling Act II
the Constitution had not fully complied
with the provisions ~ the Enabling Act.
the President 81 tho United states
would not have issued his proclamation
for the admission OF the state. The
fact TINT he dld 90 proves that the
requirement was satisfactorily met BY
the people Of Utah.
Every now and again tho assertion IL
made by nm anti-"Mormon' paper.
that the provision "forbida polygamy
In Utah" with On argument that this
means much more than anybody
claimed ut tho time u its adoption
and ratification. II Ia Just a. well 10
be- accurate when arguing a con-tltu-
tionsi question. The exact language Of
a legal provision should be- quoted, not
pervcrslon ~ u. In order 20 arrive
AZ proper conclusion.
Tho purpose ~ the ioaioian 90 that
uses tho term "polygamy' instead Of
tho words "poiyRnmouH or plural mar
rlages. (which arc those of the Enabling
Act and ~ the Constitution. n to prove
that no poiygamist can be constitution
ally elected to hiEi public pfilcr. and
that n he IL ~ chosen by the people
they break their promise tn the nation.
H..
through aud disposed " now NJ at any
future time. II should be understood
that In tho cessation u 'polyEamous
or plural MARRIAGES" In Utah. the terms
of tho Enabling Act and " the Constl-
tuition arr fully complied with. Every
lawyer In Utah percolvca that. Even the
mlrty-mlnded pcryertcr ~ the language
Of ,hnsc Instruments conprehendr H.
and that IL why he changes Its Lam
Ruagc.
There was no such intent ~ that
pretended. either In the minds Of the
congressman who passed the Enabling
Act. or the delegates who framed the
Constitution. Many Of the latter. with
the President Of the Convention. would
have been barred from once by those
instruments, II their meaning was that
now ATTEMPTED To- be attached to them.
The people of Utah never promised
anybody that they would not elect
man TO office who had married plural
wives before the state Constitution war
framed. They We're not asked to do
40. They did all ana more than that
which WINS demanded OF them. They
have kept faith with the nation. n
II could be proved. which We by no
means admit. tina, the stories Of al
legged violation OF the marriage laws
u the state were true. they would
prove by their very exceptional charac.
ter that they were not the rule. but that
Utah IL frccr from such offcnscn than
any other State In the Union. Every
story which has been started. how
ever. 10 show that the Constitution has
Teen violated or ignored. when traced
To It's source, establishes the very ~.
verse OF what was charged In the first
place.
The Deacrot News makes no apology
or excuse for any violation OF law.
State or National Tho argument II
simply on the hackncycd charge u
breaking faith with the nation" by
the alleged violation Of the state Con-
aiitution. IL IN false In fact. II n
faiFc In the intent that prompted II. II
IL False In every particular and respect
Ia letter and In spirit. II IL made to
deceive ana Incense the American pub
lie. II ~ repeated by concern that
prctcnds 10 be a friend to the people
Of thcistaie. II IN Illuminated In mat
liRnity aud reiterated In malice. II
should be seen aa II IL by every think
Ing Tdson. and the seal OF condcmna-
ton should b. Het On Il by tho people
OF this state, and by every one who
admircs truth and hates deception and
ftaul