The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-12
1T IS TIME TO ACT,

In making its recent declaration to
the world in defense Of its wrong headed
attitude on a large number of ques-
tions, propositions, and practices, the
Mormon conference overlooked num-
Der of very serious points One OF these
was where it confesses that a number
of plural marriages have been effected
since the manifesto Of 1890 Now that
manifesto was accepted by the general
conference of the church in October of
| that year, and was thus made the
church law and obligation, We submit,
therefore, that anyone guilty of violat-
! ing this church law and obligation
! should certainly be punished by the
! church through disfellowship and ex-
communication, and the offender should
be turned over TO the civil authorities
TO be justly dealt with by the criminal
court.
1t has been the practice of the Nor
mon speakers and writers to deny that
any new cases of polygamy have oc-
CURED since that manifesto was adopt
ed President Smith undertook to say
that the church was not responsible for
them No donials however, and no eva
sion of responsibility can count from
henceforth; for the church confesses,
by the adoption of this declaration. that
it has knowledge of such offenses
against the law of God and the statutes
Of the State The church in this re-
spect, therefore, is precisely in the
same condition that any citizen is in
who knows of the commission of
crime and refuses to deliver up the cul-
prit To punishment, making himself an
accessory to the crime after the fact,
by concealing the offender and shield
ing him from punishment; unless 1T
clears Its skirts.
1T will be in vain for the church
to plead innocence with respect TO these
post-manlfesto marriages as long as il
confesses to knowledge of them, to com
plete jurisdiction over the offenders so
far as church discipline is concerned,
and TO the possession of the evidence
which would convict these offenders in
the criminal court. How else can the
church escape guilt in this matter than
by the most drastic discipline upon
those who have departed from the
church rule and law as adopted in the
general conference: and by disciplning
these offenders? And how can 1t es-
cape its responsibility 10 the law and
requirements Of good citizenship as long
as it shields and protects the criminal?
BY its action toward these persons
whom II knows to be transgressors
against the church and tho State, the
church relaYes its own discipline, tells
these guilty ones that it does not mean
what is says when it denounces viola
tions of the manifesto, IS not in car
nest when ii commands that no new
polygamous marriages must be entered
into, and it proClaims to the State that
it despises the law and refuses TO re-
cognizc the common obligation bearing
upon all citizens alike TO see that the
laws arc enforced and that criminals
arc brought to Justice
The duty of the church leaders with
respect TO these new marriages and TO
is perfectly clear on both points There
is no escaping the responsibility one
way or the other Either the church
condones these offenses against it's rule
and defes It's obligation to good citi-
zenship, and it becomes particcps Grim
jnis in the offenscs which il condones
and concenls; or else, il disciplines the
criminals and brings them to Justice.
And this, so far, it has declined TO do.
The fact that the church has taken
no steps toward the punishment of
these persons for their offenses shows
move, and the ingrained hypocrisy
which led to the putting forth of this
uncandid and transparently false de.
fense of its conduct and it's position
before the world Before the church
can be purged of completely and guilt
for repentance, must be vigorous in en-
forcing it's rules and commandments.
and must act the part of the good citi.
zen who refuses TO shield OF to become
partner with any person In rebellion
against his church and guilty Of crimes
against the State.
Let it do the acts that are required
by all moral and civic obligation in this
matter, or forever hold its peace as TO
any claim of earncstness or sincerity in
its present declaration Of good faith, 10y.
alty. and respect for it's own command