Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-01
Storm Started Against Utah Con-
gresham vas by Politicians
AUGMENTED BY MINISTER'S.
The People of Utah VIII be True 90
Promises rfnde the Government
Against Polygamy.

me newark, New jersey AuNtIusNl
contains the following contribution
from f. d. Whiting OF Brooklyn, New
York. who signs himself q Mormon
Elder"
There seems to be disposition at the
present time on the part Of many people
TO mallgn and falsify the Mormons in a
shameful manner. Even ministers Of the
Gospel are overstepping the bounds Of
truth in heir zeal to say something on
the Mormon question. offer some notes
on the famous Roberts case from a
Mormon standpoint. Nobody should be
willing TO decide a case until evidence
Is presented on both sides Of the ques-
ton. As a matter of justice to yourself
and to the Mormon people, we ask you
TO suspend your prejudice and former
Ideas OF this peculiar people until you
have given us hearing. We seek only
justice and ask no fayors.
Many fabricatlons have been set
aioat by sensational papers Of the
East. / wish TO correct some OF these
statements. The reader will please note
this fact: the Mormons aid not practice
polygauy because the Bible told OF
many 4 the ancient prophets having
more than one wife. The Bible TO us
Is a sacred history OF Gods laws and
dealings with his ancient covenant peo-
pie II does not give authority 10 man
today any more than the law books OF
the State OF New Jersey give a common
citizen the right 10 assume any position
In this State. We firmly believe that
revelation Is the life and spirit Of the
Church Of God, Most sincerely do We
believe that Joseph Smith received a
revelation from God commanding the
practice OF this principle, and hence the
earnestness OF the Mormon people In
obeyng Il. The principle was surround
ed with the strongest safeguards so
that the vicious could not enter. II was
taught as a sanctiiylng principle at
tainable only by those who had proved
themselves pure and righteous No par
ties We're cOerced into the practices. and
the number who entered into such mar
rlages was less than per cent Of the
marrlageable males Of the Church,
Mr. Roberts believed the principle and
obeyed Il. The marriage ceremonies Of
the Latter-day Saints are performed In
sacred temples and are believed to en-
dure in eternity, therefore Mr. Roberts
regards his VOWS as eternal and says
that he cannot cast his wives from him
without dlshonoring them and the sa-
cred covenants Of matrmony.
The general government passed q law
prohibiting plural marriages IN the
Territories Of the Union and the District
Of Columbia. Heavy penalties were az
fixed for breaking the law. The Mormon
Church regarded the law as unconstl-
tutional Finally the Supreme Court OF
the nation decided tia, the act was in
harmony with the fundamental law.
President Woodruff approached the
Lord In the anguish OF his soul for his
people. An answer came, and was en-
bodied In the manifesto OF September
a. 1890. The Church. In general confer
ence assembled, October 6, 1890 accept
ed the manifesto as the word OF the
Lord to them This ended plural mar
rlages. The President OF the Church
alone held the power ~ sanction such
a union. and, IN tbs most iOrcible lam
guat E, he stated last pecemhor ihrppgh
a New York daily t.. plural mar
riage has t2ci performed stree the
naiiiesto was Issued, nor has any proof
whatever OF such been produced. The
same power which gave the command
ment also accepted the sacrifice Of the
people, and. through their prophet, said
that plural marriage was no longer re-
CURED Of them. and that the authorities
Of the Church were forbidden to per-
form any more plural marriage cere-
monies"
The condition existing then was this
There were parties then living In
polygamy The Mormons claim that the
understanding with the general govern.
ment was that those marriages already
entered into should mol be interfered
with, but further pOlygamous marriages
should cease
The constitution OF the State OF Utah
contains this clause: Perfect liberation
Of religious sentiment Is guaranteed
No inhabitant OF this State shall ever
be mOlested In person or property on
account Of his or her mode Of religious
worship. but polygamous or plural mar
rlages are forever prohibited. Severe
penalties are provided for offenders.
The arrests made recently in Utah are
not for pOlygamy, which Is defined as
marrying another wife while the first
one is living and undivorced. The
charges are brought against parties
married before october, 1890, still liy-
ing In the marriage relation.
Any reasonable person can see that
those now living IN that state Of mar
riage who are mldde-aged or old
people. will soon pass away, and with
them the practices so Objectionable 70
many. No man contracting such mar
riage now would be held In fellowship
by the Church. The Mormon Church
would be the last one to wish a re-es-
Enlistment Of the practice. The peo-
pie were sincere IN their belief in It.
They viii be true 10 their agreement 10
abandon H.
The election " 3. II. Roberts was
purely and only a political matter. The
Mormon Church had no more to do
with II than the Baptists had, and for
this reason the Church utters her sol
omn protest against being charged with
any connection whatever with the az
fair. Many Of the leading Mormons OBJ
posed him because they were OF differ
ent political persuasion from him. Sew
eral large districts almost wholly nom
Mormon voted Tor him. Women have
the elective franchise In Utah and are
eligible 20 any Office In the State.
The storm against Mr. Roberts was
started by his political opponents and
was taken up by ministers opposed 10
his creed. II a maL's religion viii keep
him from a seat 10 which he has been
elected by the legal voters Of a soyer-
eIgn State, what church shall be the
standard?
The Mormon people are loyal. peace
able and God-fearlng They were |
planted in a desert flfty-two years ago, |
and today that once desolate waste, |
which Daniel Webster styled utterly |
useless, and Colonel Bridger declared |
would not produce food for settlers, |
stands forth a living monument TO the |
energy purity and culture OF the Nor |
mons. The State Of Utah has only FIVE |
people In a hundred above the age OF |
10 who cannot read. The United States
at large has thirteen. The schools are |
the equal OF those In States many times
older than Utah. The facilities for |
higher instruction are excellent Sew |
nrgl 0radnmlge and colleges ara we'll at.