The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-12

light vi dSSaSSlUHtlOn WAS a religious De-
lief: but their thinking did not make
II so. The practice OF suttee by the Hin
doo widows may have sprung from sup
posed religious conviction. The Offering
of human sacrifices by our own ancestors
In Britain was, doubt. sanctioned by
an equally conscientious impulse But no
one on that account would hesitate TO
brand these practices now as crimes
against society, and obnoxious TO con-
demnation and punishment by the ciVii
Then. looking at the case as the find
Ing OF facts presents 1t, we have before
us-Congress had before it-a contu-
macious organization welding by iJs re-
sources an immense power in the Terri
tory of Utah and employing those re-
sources and that power In constantly at
tempting to oppose. thwart, and subvert
OF the Government of the United States
Notwithstanding the stringent laws
which have been passed by Congress,
Notwithstanding all the efforts made 10
suppress this barbarous practice, the sect
or community composing the Church of
Jesus Christ OF Latter Day Saints per
severes in defiance OF law, in preaching.
upholdng, promoting and defending IL.
II Is n matter OF public notorlety that
It's enissaries are engaged In many coun-
tries In propagating this nefarious doc
trine and urging It's converts to join the
community I'm Utah. The existence OF
such propaganda is blot on our civil
zatlon. The Organization OF a community
for the spread and practice of polygamy
Is. In measure. a return to barbarism.
II Is contrary to the spirit OF Christianity
and to the civilization which Christianity
has produced in the western world. The
question. therefore, is whether the pro-
motion of such a nefarious system and
practice, so repugnant 10 our laws and
TO the principles OF our civilization. Is
10 be allowed TO continue by the sane
tion OF the Government Itself.
Manifesto of Woodruff.
rTl
have referred following each other in
quick succession, each more drastic than
the preceding, and all admdged consti
tutional by the Supreme Court of the
United States, brought the hierarchy to
realizing sense of its impotency to
longer contend against the authority of
the United States, and it, therefore,
made haste to find some way to save its
members from imprisonment, and their
property from confiscation. To this end,
the head OF the church bowed at last
ment, and in 1890 promulgated what is
known as the 90 manifesto advising
his followers 10 submit to the laws and
refrain from further violation. the ma
terial portion of which is as follows:
To whom 1t may concern: Inasmuch
as laws have been enacted by Congress
forbdding plural marriage. which laws
have been pronounced constitutional by
the court of last resort, ! hereby declare
my Intention TO submit to those laws
bers of the church over which ! pre-
side TO have them do likewise.
And ] now publicly declare that my ad-
vice to the latter-day Saints is TO re-
frain from contracting any marriages
forbidden by the law OF the land
This manifesto was signed by evil
ford Woodruff, president of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This proclamation. emanating from
so commanding a source and eommuni-
their prophet was the inspired mouth
piece of God. - was expected to com
mand prompt and implicit obedience
by the entire Mormon community,
and the hope was indulged, and be
lief engendered in the public mind,
that at last the Utah hierarchy and its
adherents would abandon the Infamous
practice of polygamy and polygamous
cohabitation and conform to the man
dates of the law and the spirit of the
manifesto, and that this foul blot upon
our civilization was about to be for
ever removed.
This gratifying expectation was
greatly strengthened by the prompt ac
tion of the first presidency and the
President Of the United States e in
1891, the year following the mani.
festo, a petition humbly imploring am
nesty for themselves and their fol
lowers and restoration TO all their
rights and privileges as citizens. This
petition, asking immunity for the past
and plighting their honor and faith for
the future, was couched in such humble
terms as to inspire confidence In
their sincerity and measure of sym
pathy for their misguided followers
The material part of the manifesto is as
follows:
We. the first presidency and apostles
or the Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter
day Saints. beg. respectfully. TO present
We formerly taught our people that po-
lygamy. or celestial marriage was right,
that IL was a necessity to mans highest
eNaltation in the life 10 come. That doc
trine was publicly promulgated by our
president. the late Brigham Young. forty
years ago. and was steadily taught and
TO a short time before September, 1880
They accepted the doctrine, and muuy
personally embraced and pTacticed poyg-
amy. When the Government sought TO
most without exception remained firm.
for they still felt that their lives
and their honor as men were pledged TO
vlndication OF their faith.
Following this conviction hundreds en-
dured arrest, trial fine. and imprison-
ment; More, the Government added dis
those who clunE to their faith and full
filled IT'S covenants. This being the true !
situation. and believing that the object !
Of the Government was simply the yindl- |
cation OF its own authority and to compel
obedience to its laws, we re- |
spcctfully pray that full amnesty may |
be extended to all who are under disabn- !
tiles because of the operation of the So /
called Edmunds and Edmunds-T Tucker |
law, our people are scattered. homes are |
made desoare. many are stil imprisoned, |
others are hanished or in hiding.
AS shepherds OF a patient and suffering |
people. we ask amnesty for them and |
pledge our faith and honor for their fu- /
ture. and your petitioners will ever pray |
This petition was signed by the first
presidency, composed of Wilford Wood
ruff rs president, and his two counsel
ors, George Q. Cannon and Joseph T.
Smith, the present head of the church,
and ten of the twelve apostles.
Harrison Amnesty Proclamation,
This cry for amnesty appealed to the
generous impulses of President Harri-
son, who. on the 9TH of January, 1898,
issued the following proclamation;
Whereas Congress. by n statute ap-
proved March 90. 1882 and by statutes
in furtnerancc and amendment thereof
81