The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-02
FOR TIE COCO OF UTAH.

In 1890 there were over $500 pOlyga-
mists in the dominant church Of this
state. At present there are fewer than
], 400 according to statistics gathered
by she church authorities. This is a
satisfactory decline in the plural mar
riage system and indicates that it wiz
have ceased to exist. practically, at the
end OF another decade.
The contracting Of plural marriages
is forbidden by the church, says Pres
ident Snow, who asserts that no such
marriages have taken place in the
church since 1896 If the advice of the
church organ. given last evening, is
followed, as it should be, the change
win amount 10 an immediate transfer
nation:
IF the laws are honored and obeyed
according to their spirit and intent.
says the News, there VIII be 10 ac-
tual ground for charges Of Iawlessness.
There have been mighty concessions to
the supremacy Cf the law in Utah. re-
quiring greater sacrifices than have
been fully con1Brehended by the public.
They have accomplished great good TO
the majority even If they entsTed much
trouble and suffering upon a few. More
may yet be necessary to bring the
greatest good TO the greatest number
While it is not required That any
honest conviction should be surrendered
OF any right abandoned. these rights
and convictions should not be insisted
upon beyond lawful limits, says our
evening contemporary, which adds:
One thing should be understood and
e.eaElE made manifest Defiance Of The
laW Is not 10 be encouraged by any class
or fraction Of the community. Tt cannot
be permitted long without legal action
Laws are enacted % DO QbfyeG. II they
are obnoxious TO the pOular sense or in
furious 20 society they should be repeal
ed AT any rate, t-elr infraction should
not be Haunted in the face Of the pubic
The only possible construction to be
placed upon this paragraph is that
those who DO not intend to obey the
spirit as well as the letter Of the law
should keep out Of the public eyre
frain from accepting % holding civil
positions 10 which they have been an
pointed or elected. 1t may be 50. Ger
tainly if all political parties would
agree upon this point-and the church
organ intimates that their action would
not be misconsuued in 50 doihg-the
suggestions Of the News could be fol-
lowed.
But where one party raises the issue
while supporting candidates on its own
ticket to whom the same objections can
be raised, no understanding is reached.
no problem is solved. no law is upheld.
no principle is established. no lesson is
taught. to the people.
The News says further.
The changed conditions in Utah ana the
peculiaf situation IN which a portion of
It's older citizens are placcd-ought 10 be
viewed with Gue regard % the best inter
ests OF the state and with as little harG-
snip as possible &c the individuals who are
The most directly affected by those cIr-
cumslances. But the Willful violation of
oNls1lng laws must. in the nature OF
things. bring trouble upon fragrant trans
EresSors. and a. least they VIII be placed
at a great disadvantage.
This seems to be a fair concession. The
Herald believes that every one inter
ested in the welfare and development
Of the state wiz regard It in that light.
More is to be accomplished by the ex-
ercise Of common sense, by patience,
tolerance and "a due regard for the