Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-18
NO rALsE rnErENsEs.

7, NOW apponra that the state of Iinh
,,as ndmitted under false rrricra'H.
The forcsoing appears In tho Helena
Montana. Herald. It Il IN substance the
falsehood which IL being nciivoly cir
cula,od throughout the United states.
II started in this city. II originated
IA an anti. Mormon newspaper II was
taken up by the Fectarinn ministers
who have ceased for the time hcins
their differences ar TO "Chri0tiln' doe
t,,n.. and have once more "ppulcd their
issues" In q now anti-Mormon crusade
The state ~ Utah WAS admitted into
IN. Union under the provisions OF ~
Ar, Of Congress. which had been duy
considered by both houses ~ the Va
tlouai Legislature. and had been under
inspectlon for Year, u contained me
usual requirements FOR Admission NJ tho
state. and the preliminary proceedings
to BE- taken for the formation u stat"
Constitution. There was one condi'
ton. however. that was special In ihis
Instance. The Enabling act had this
clause.
That perfect liberation ~ religioua
sentiment shall be- secured. and that no
lnhabltnnt OF said state rhhll ever be
fuoirrtsd IN person or property, on h'-
count OF his " her mode NJ religious
worship. Provided, that poiyFainous. or
plural. marriages arr forever pfoh'ht
ed.
A constitution WINS framed by com
vention held under the provirlonH u
the Enabling Act. and here 10 the clause
Inserted IN the Instrument In COMPILE
ance with the condition Of the Act Of
congress.
Perfect liberation II religious rcnti.
msnt Il guaranteed. No inhabitnnt OF
this state nhnil ever b. mole.''l " per
son or property On account Of HE or
her mode ~ religious worship hut poo
iygamoun or plural marriages are for-
ever prohibited.
Thus. the requirement by Congress Of
the people ~ Utah no condition pre-
cedent for their admission into the
Union an "a State. WIS fully compiled
with. nut lest n should be- objected
by some Of the enemies 81 the Nor
mon" people that this provision of thu
Constitution might be- imperative with
out further legislation. a section wai
inserted In the schedule Of the ConHtl
tuition. declaring that an act Of th'
Legislative Assembly OF the rcrriior,
Of utah.approvcd BY the Governor, Feb
9TH. 1899. In 20 far as the same dcfnr'
and imposes penalties for polyEamy. Il
hereby declared TO be In force In th'
state OF Utah"
IN. Act OF the Legislature thus de-
oisrcd TO be In force provided that.
Every person who has husband ol
wife living. who hereafter marrica an
other. whether married or single, an,
any tnsn who hereafter simultaneously
or on the same day, mafrica more thar
one woman. " guilty Of ro,yRany AN,
shall BE- punished hy fnc Of not NOR
than ave hundred dollars and by I'm
prironincrt IN the state prison for 3
term Of rot moro than i've years. hu
this section rhan not extend to nni
person by reason OF any former mar
rlaEr whose husband or wife by sucl
marriage shall have been absent fol
nve successive years. and IL not know
10 such perrnn 10 be- living. and ~ be-
lleved BY such pcfaon to be dead, moi
10 any prrnn ~ reason of any formo
marriage which shah have been ans
solved BY y valid decree ~ competen
court. nor 10 any person hy reason -
any former murlluHr which shalt hnN
been rrunouacnl N0ll by valid deere
" y competent court, ON tho ground q
nudity Of the marriage contract
Now. with there confederation. hoy
can II be truthfully asserted that IN
state o. Utah was admitted into N
Union under false pretenrcaG WI
made false pretonseH9" Was Il N
National LeElnlaturog II certainly wa
not the Constitutional Convention, no
the Legislature Of the STATE ~ Utah
Everything that was demanded d
the state was complied with. NOR
than was asked was given, The lnter
ton was. 20 prevent or punish the oi
Tense defined ~ "polygnnyf in N
laws Of Congress, which became de
funct In Utah on the admission OF III
state into the Union, The Edmund
Act provided In section one that
Every porfnu who has husband ,
wife llVing Who In n Territory,
other place over which the Unite
States have exclusive iuriHli'
ton hereafter murrirs anothe
and any man who hcreafti
simultaneously, or on tho same dh
fnarrlea more than one woman, In
Territory, or other place over while
the rnlirh States have exclusive iurl
dlc,ion, II guilty ~ polygamy'
what Congress and the country d
sired OF the people of Utah was thl
That tho system known among u
Mormons as plural marriage. but d
nned ny law as polyEamy, should ato
no more polygamous or plur
marriages were to be solemnized tn
was expressed In the Enabling Act AZ
made OF fun force ana erect IN Il
Constitution and laws ~ Utah. Tn
desire has been fully complied wit
The Church has Joined with the Sta
In prohibiting such unions. They ha'
ceased TO be contracted. No matt
what unprinclpled writer's and pr
varicating preachers mag announce
the public, for purposes OF their ow
u Is well known In Utah that pol
gamoua or plural marriages do n
tuke Mace aud therefore the tao