The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-19
Jhe Messenger.
SOME HISTORY MAKING.

Rev. DIR. S. E. Wishard. of the Pres
byterian church. lives in Utah, and has
been resident there for several years.
In the Northern Herald and Presbyter
he discusses matters of interest to all
good citizens, to all the states, for the
very foundations of civil government,
social life and home life are endan-
gered more or less. He states distinct
" that the amendment to the constitu-
ton of the United States is imperative.
a dead letter on the statute book His
words are that cit is known to the
country that the to the
federal constitution. providing a RENE.
dy for poIygamy, was put to sleep. i
is not the province of this correspon-
dent Just mere. to tell o the consum-
nation was brought about; but every
intelligent person in Utah knows the
process by which that proposed amend
ment went to rest"
4 provision of the organic law of our
ountr without power or enforcement
in polygamous Utah! Think of hat.
DR.. Wishard states that certain peo-
pie entered Upon some advanced legis-
~lation," by passing the bill to which
the Messenger called attention a few
weeks since. The Dr.. copies and then
comments, and his readers can judge
for themselves as to the propriety and
justice of what he says. We give d
part which is ample for our purpose
now. He writes:
ANY citizen may bring a complaint
against a thief for stealing a horse Dc
a watermelon. hut the crime of adul-
terry is to be so protected that only one
of the guilty or disgraced parties Is
permitted to seek legal redress. And
the man guilty of unlawful Cohabita-
ton (Which is the legal term for living
in polygamy) is to be absolutely pro
tected in his crime; for no one can
bring an information except his wife,
or his plural wife. Boil the wife and
plural wife are taught that their a
tation in eaYen depends upon their
living here in that condition. That is
the reason they entered into polyga-
nous relations. You might as readily
expect the polygamist to bring an in
formation against himself"
The advocates of the bill were ar
dent and resolute in behalf of their pet,
.ior they argued that if adopted it would
have the effect so much desired, "toI
stop prosecutions for violations of theI
law against unlawful cohabitation.'
Senator Barnes in his speech in favor
of the bill declared that he supported
it because it would put an end to all
prosecutions 1t would give the poly.
gamous gang full sway and unrestrict-
ed sweep, and the good old days would
be revived. DR.. Wishard writes:
The Mormon majority not only ridi-I
culed the idea that the passage of theI
bill would precipitate more trouble.
but ourted the threatened storm, and
said time and again. Who's afraid of d
constitutional amendment One gen.
tleman offered the astounding argyll
ment that the people directly affected
by the bill favored it, and in view of
this fact he did not see why others
should complain That is. the crimi-
mails who would be protected by this
bill were in favor of it's protection,
therefore let us pass the bill!
The burden of the arguments for the
enactment was, Let us be done with
prosecution, and this is the rOa of es-
cape"
DIR. Wishard quotes from several
leading Mormons as to the effect of the
Dill ana they agreed 1t Was Soou. oIe
member, Representative Sharp, op-
posed. He is "a polygamous son. born
in polygamy. but he IA he was look
ing to the interest of polygamous chill
dren." He declared he had seen and
known enough of the system to want
no more of it." One more q~uOtatiO1
from DR.. WiShard:
president Angus NJ. Cannon, of Salt
Lake state said: L hope the bill will
become a law, and l believe 1t Will.
Certainly he was prosecuted for unlaw-
full cohabitation. more than a year ago.
was proven guilty and fined.
OF all the leading men in thec hurchI
who were interviewed. not one objected
to the provisions of safety for the poly
gamist. Why should he? Of course, II
was class legislation. legislation toI
protect a certain class of la~w-breakers'
and the class did not object
Governor Wells. however, did thel
business and saved us from he bit of
black history that we We're making.