Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-21
STATUS OF POLYGAMISTS.

STATUS OF POLYGAMISTs.
"But the practice which had prevailed
in the period previous to 1880 left
heritage FOR the remaining period that
was q grave problem. There were in
1870 about o.i51 male members Of the
Norman Church who had poyamonus
families.
The status OF the men who had en-
tered into the plural marriage relation
before the issuance Of the manifesto had
been fixed before that time What had
been done had been rrvQcably done.
Tho only question was as to the future.
What should be the attitude of the peo-
pie toward the future relations of those
who had entered into the polygamous
state before the manifesto
AT that time all the machinery of the
courts in the territory was in the hands
Of the Norman officials, who had been
victims in the prosecution Of polyGa-
minists relationships. These recognized
the nature of tho situation and ex-
tended the olive branch, ns it We're. The
third assistant United States district
attorneys for that period were +. f.
Critchlaw, Frank p. Stevens and Will
liam W. McCartY. All of these and
other government prosecuting officers
testified before the courts to the cossa-
tion OF prosecution against the existing
polYgamOus relations, ana Of the gen
eral sentiment among the nom Mormon
population that was tho best and quick
est way to get rid of the whole question
to 10: the old time relations naturally
end in death. There was n general &C
ouespnce by the people in this method
Of solving the problem and this method
Is working out complete final solution.
At the time the manifesto was adopt
cd there were 2.451 polygamist house
holds in the church. Careful statistics
have been taken and procured and will
he found in the testimony which show
that the number has gradually decreas-
cd until there was at the time the tcsti-
mony closed not to exceed i've hundred
such useholders in existence"
Senator Smoot here gave figures to
show that the general authorities OF
the church number far fewer polygam-
lists and far more monogamists than in
in 1870. He resumed:
BUT" Mr. President. II is claimed
that there have been new cases Of poly
Eamist marriages since the manifesto,
and this presents altogether a different
question. | have no hesitation in de-
claring in the Senate and to the Amer
lean people that in my opinion, any
man who has married polygamous
wife since the manifesto should be
prosecuted. and II convicted, should
suffer the penalties Of the law and |
/ care not who the man might be, or
what position he might hold In the
church. he should receive the punish
rcnt pronounced by the law against
his crime"
''rhe Mormon Church has stopped
plural marriages and no polygamous
relation assumed subsequent to 1890 is
with the permission. sanction or APP
proval Of the church, that is final and
fixed Every such violation of the law
has the express condemnation of the
! church.
| NO TREASONABLE OBLIGATION.
reference has been made to an alleged
trea soma BILE obligation which it Is sough,
to claim is a part OF the Mormon endow-
ment ceremonies.
There does not exist in the endowmen,
ceremonies OF the Mormon Church the
rerotest suggestion Of hostility or of an
4
other nation. They are of a purely reltg
| iOus nature, wholly between the person
taking them and his God and, as with
the ritual of various fraternal organiza-
tons rega rded as sacred and secret, there
is not a solitary instance where that influ-
ence in the endowment ceremonies has
been displayed in an act of hostility tc
the government. If any effect has beer
tAi
| loyalty TO our own nation.
1.-The State OF Utah came into the Unior
| II years ago. Scare two years had passed
when there appeared on our national nor
lion the cloud of war with Spain. Side
by side. shoulder to shoulder. with every
other State in the Union. Utah furnished
her full quota OF American soldiers and
offered more
There was no religious distinction OF
dispute then. The Utah light artiller,
was composed OF mon of differing relig
ious beliefs. including orthodox Mormons
who had partaken Of their church rite
known as the endowment ceremonies
Major Richard w. Young, the command
Ing officer of the Utah light infantry, wa'
one OF these Sergeant Harry A. Youn,