New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
IN DEFENCE OF UTAH.
Governor Cutler Replies to attacks
on HIS Commonwealth.
To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.

miliar with fits history Utah is very dear to
have lived here since boyhood. For more than
forty years I have been closely associated with
Its people. MY interests have always been here;
my friends live here: I have raised my family.
followed my vocation and made my homo in Utah.
BY the citizens Of the state l have been honored,
perhaps beyond deserving. But whatever may be
the verdict to the way in which the duties OF
the high Office to which I was elected dis
charged, hope never to be- justly accused OF be-
ing unfaithful to my home and my friends.
feel that it would be a species OF unfathful-
ness for me to sit idly by and allow my state and
It's people to be maligned and vilihed. whether by
disappointed politicians ambitious plutocrats or
recreant sons OF the coil While It may not have
been polite for me TO speak against this food OF
vituperation at earlier time I feel that 1t is
imperative that the voice OF state official shall
be raised in its behalf at the present time. I
therefore submit to candid world brief state
ment OF conditions they in Utah, for people
are naturally honest truthful and lovers Of truth
Fasehood is unovely and repulsive the normal
man and woman. II is only morbid taste that
feeds on falsehood and enjoys the diet To the
normal. and therefore honest, people Of the coun-
try this treatise is directed.
Utah admitted the Union Just eleven
years ago. For nearly fifty years the people had
been asking for statehood. But certain social and
religious conditions prevailed here which, when
caricatured and exaggerated in the East, seemed an
lnsurmountable obstacle to the recognition of
Utah's sovereign right. Even at that early time
there were those whom 1t profted to rnisrepresent
and malIgn Utah, for they made merchandise out
OF territorial vassalage. Their constant ISLANDERS
delayed, though they could not prevent, the estab-
lishment of the peoples rights At length peace
seemed to be secured. A manifesto was issued
1880 by the then president of the Mormon Church
declaring that polygamous marriages would
longer be sanctioned by him or his associates and
advising his followers to obey the anti-pOlygamyus
laws. Soon afterward amnesty was extended TO
those who had married plural wives before enact
mentS stood against the practice on condition that
the law he obeyed. No then doubted the sin
certify OF the Mormon people and their leaders.
When the new condition had been tested FOR
five years statehood granted to Utah and
scarcely a dissenting voice was heard.
NEW PHASE OF THE OLD FIGHT.
few disappointed politicians. and some others
who are filled with luminosity for certain Of our
citizenship have recently inaugurated a new pha Sc
OF the ola hight and may be pardoned for making
brief reference thereto. They claim two causes OF
grievance against the leaders OF the Mormon
church and base their appeal 10 the public senti-
ment OF the nation and the world on these two
grounds Therefore frank and fair statement
OF these two complaints will serve 10 show whether
or not the appeal they make should be Needed
ne Two causes the alleged continuance OF
US p'"c1''e OF po!ygamy and the asserted inter
i"Te''oo ~ the Church leaders IN political affairs
connected with the first OF these Is the matter
OF the promise made TO the government by the
oHuFch leaders In their own behalf and that OF
ueF followers. on which first amnesty and then
statehood was secured. The claim, ia made and
heraldNd 20 :he world that these promises are ba,,
broken IN two Ways: By the solemnizinE Of new,
plural marriages and by the continuation Of the
Old polyEhmDCs relations
Regarding these charges - can be said that ~
a TEX cases OF plural marriage have occurred since
tho adoption Of the manifesto they have been pure
ly sporadic and not only without the sanction hut
against the public protest OF the leaders OF the
.huFch- These marriages are deprecated more
by hoh-members than by almost the entire Church
membership. The old rela lions have been continued
IN some cases. rot so much by sanction AZ ~, si,f
ferance. 1t has been simply question "a 10 which
would entail the greater hardship 10 forc.bl-
sever these relationships and throw helpless women
and children on the world. allow "Old Mortal
lty 10 step In and make gradual severance
Generous public sentiment has leaned toward the
latter course But the law Is in force against the
continuance OF these relationships ard II Is ana
may be appealed 10 IN punishment OF such cases
AS to Church influence IN politics 7 wish 10 Ike
the broad ground that the marshalIIng OF he lead
erS OF the Church side Of a political olIos-
ton Is thing unheard or Among those leaders
are lifelong Democrats and lifelong RcpublI ans
They have so stood in one contest after another
ana they have never varied. What then is meant
by the or Church influence II merely r,eans
the charge that some leader, uhued with the lde,
that certain should be elected TO Office mr. a
certain measure prevail has used with his FELLOW,
members the influence his position gives MIN n
induce them to he wishes It is charcoal
FOR example, that leader Of the Mormon Church
so Influenced the election OF Thomas Kearns 10
the United States Senate.
presume such n use or Church Influence could
scarcely be prevented In any community no matter
what its religious belief. The extent II = would
be measured by tho number NJ voters such n Leader
could persuade and his willingness to use his in
nuence The minister OF little church might in /
Huehce his mock or the head OF 4 small parish his
parishoners or the leader of a small circle bis |
limited followers. But TO say that bv the rod 90 -
head or the wink OF an eye by a whisper an |
entire community. hundreds of thousands In mum,
Der and covering country Of imperial extent. can
be turned from one side OF a vital question 70 an
other is 10 state an absurdity Yet TINT &c ~. |
the world at largo is given understand ny, Nor
mon Church influence. II is not only absprd Z, g.
Impossible II is the old story Of tho wolf and tho
lamb this charge OF Church influence Tho u,o,s |
merely wants the lamb ANY excuse will do Tho |
cry OF Church influence is good as anv other
P0LYGAMY DYING OUT IN UTAH
To sum up the negative of my proposition. po,,
gamy Is not increasing even persistng in I-t,b
1t is dying out. 1t is doomed and time 10 tic o, |
ecutioner The old relationships are being grad |
ually severed and new are not being forne, |
with the sanction Of priest or layman Reed smoot |
was sent to the Senate OF the United Statcs ~. |
by the Mormon Church. but by the Republicor |
party, with the fun sanction OF ex-senator Thomas
kearns and his organ THE Tribune" Church in |
huence, in the common acceptance of the term is |
not used In Utah. Whatever influence may bo ,,saa
is Of the same kind and probably the same amount
as In other religious communities Certainiy no |
more. Utah is not a community of priest ridden
criminals II stands on high level I'm purit,, |
and honesty any other Commonwealth Tb.r
is no insecurity OF property or person on accoup+
Of religion the lack OF IT, Perfect religious free
dom Is accorded every one. Documentary proof OF |
every of these assertions can be furnished
evidence every day in the fact that they live ana
their business thrives in Utah.