The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-09-24
NEW PoLYoAMoUs MARRIAGES.

NGW pOlyRomoue marriages are not
entered into 70 openly ~ In the daya
before the manifesto, and a different
character Of men are now entering
into the pOiygamous relations. For
merly the poor and the ignorant took
plural wives the same as those better
OF and Of q higher order Of intel
ligenee. Nov young men Of ability
are selected 70 enter into these reIa-
tions. The braiDy young men Of the
church are tied lrrevocably 10 the
church, and made subseFvieut to it
through the polyeamous relation.
/ Whenever they contract poIygamous
marriages they are without the pale
Of the Law, and thsir only hope Of
protection is through this powerful
church organization. II l. a wonder.
full fact, and has stood forth plainly
throughout all the history Of the
church, that the polygamists occupy
the high ecclesiastical and political
positions, and are the Eealthiest and
most powerful members Of the organ
ization in ali respects. Under the
+ present system poIygamous marriages
are celebrated secretly, and fer the
most part in foreign countries or be-
yoDd the jurisdiction Of the United
States. For instance, young man
/ ID to take = plural wife, be gets the
4 consent Of the authorities through the
bishop, goes With bis prospective
wife TO British Columbia, New Mexico
or 10 some place on the ocean three
- four miles beyond the United
States coast, where the marriage il
celebrated By some authorized ofTicer
Of the church. Instead. as ia the
old days, when polygamy was entered
into indiscriminateiy. nov the poly
gamists are selected. aud In this way
the practice is mere insidions aud
( dangerous than formerly, because a
cult and aristocraey Of polygsmists Is
being built up within the church.
Those 10 polyEaEny are 10 complete
ceattol Of the organization nov. and
have ever been, aud ii IL evident that
under the system, which they are
building up DOW, they iUteDd alsays
to remain in complete control.
Il is much more difficult in these
days TO prove polygamy or polygA-
nous cobabitation than formerly,
because now every means il resorted
to TO keep the fact concealed that
any one has gone into polygamy.
There is nO record Kept anywhere Of
the plural marriages which any one
not member Of the governing body
OF the church has access 20. II i
impossible 10 prove polyqamous mar
Tiage, because OF the lack on power
70 prove by the records that a p0lyaa
nous marriage has been celebrated.
When children come as result of
the plural mariiages the neiahbors
readily understand that the polyea-
NOUS relation Is being maintained.
aud IL the power vas ia the state to
punish, convictions could De had for
unlawful rehabilitation 1t auuld Do
impossible, however, to prove polye.
amy. la fact, when the Einunds law
vas rigidly enforced. while quite
namber II convictions in Utah aud
Idaho were secured under the provis-
ions Of that act, for unlawful co
ha6itatioA, no convictions for polyg-
amy cOnld be prosecuted successful
ly, because Of the inability on the
part Of the officers TO prove the
plural marriage.
A national law. passed by congress
and approved by the president. giving
to the United States authorities
power to prosecute for polygauy,
would be ineffective, because there
would be no possible way by which a
plural marriage could be proved to
the satisfaction Of any judge or jury.
One pOlygamous marriage entered
into now under the system adopted
Of selecting those who should SO into
polygamy, with great care. is more
dangerous and more inimicai, more
subversive OF Law aud more degrading
to womanhood than 40 sueh marriages
entered into indiscrimiuately In the
past
CHURCH welded TO PoLYGAMY.
II is apparent to all close observers
that the church does not intend 20
give up pOlygamy. Il is plain, on
the contrary. that they intend to
establish 1t more firmly, and that
they will openly proclaim It again as
a divine institution, so soon a. they
think they are In position 20 do 80.
Their every endeayur Is TO strenP-
then their position by extending
their political coatroi They are
all powerful In Utah nov, aud can
elect all the political officers. iuelud.
ing senator's and members Of congress.
sHH.ass 49,, -. 49,.