Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-19


bers of the Mormon Church, when in
truth and fact no such obligatory doc
trine has ever existed. The revelation
concerning polygamy, as originally
made and as always interpreted. Is
permissible and not mandatory. As
matter of fact, only small percent
age of the adherents OF that faith have
ever been polygamists. The vast ma
jority of the adult members from its
foundation to the present have been
monogamists.
PoLYGAMY, HOW REGARDED.
1.-THE Mormon people however, re-
garded this doctrine-although permits
sible in character--as part of their re-
ligious faith, and when the law was
passed denouncing its practise, the en-
forcement OF the law was resisted on
the ground that 1t was unconstitution-
al. as being an Interference with their
religious liberty. Appeals were taker.
to the highest courts of the United
States, every phase of the subject was
tested In the courts, and the law was
upheld. Then the Church adopted the
manifesto against polygamy, which was
ratified by the general conference of
the people, and thereupon the practise
of polygany for the future was aban-
doned.
THE MANIFESTO.
"This manifesto, adopted in 1880, dis
continuing plural marriages, has been
tod II,
ferenoes repeatedly. sent out into the
Church book. 1.-The Articles of Faith"
and in many other publications issued
by the Church, such as text books for
the various quorums, manuals for the
Mutual Improvement associations, Sum
day schools. Primaries. conference pro-
oeedings otc.. and in that way has
been much more widely circulated than
the original revelation on marriage.
Consequently, its text. tenor and pur-
pose in prohibiting marriages violative
of law are known to every member OF
the Church In every part OF the world.
But the practise which had prevailed in
the period previous to 1890 left a hertz
age for the succeeding period that was
grave problem. There were in 1880
about 2,451 male members Of the Nor
mon Church who had polygamous FAM
lilies. That these were placed in q
position of difficulty was recognized by
all who were familiar with the condi-
tons. The present conditions In
reference TO polysamous cohabita-
ton have grown out OF past con-
ditons, and both must be considered
together to fully understand the tolera-
tion exercised by most people OF Utah,
Mormon and non Mormon alike.
STATUS OF PLURAL FAMILIES.
The status OF the men who had en-
before tho issuance of the manifesto
had been fixed before that time. There
WAS no power IN the Church or in the
law 10 change that existing fact. What
had been done had been irrevocably
done. The only question was as TO the
future. What should be the attitude
of the people toward the future rela-
lions OF those, who had entered into the
polygamous status before the manifes-
to? This problem was a serious one.
"At that time all the machinery OF
the courts in the territory was In the
hands OF nom Mormon officials, who had
been vigorous in the prosecution of
polygamous relationships. These rec
ognized the yexed nature OF the stua-
ton ana extended the olive branch. as
It We're As relief in this dilemma
came an exercise OF forbearance on tha
part of the prosecuting officers. The
three assistant United States district
attorneys for that period were r. b.
critchloW. Frank q. Stephens and
William NJ. McCarty. Judge McCarty
was inclined 70 continue prosecutions
in some cases, bur the United states
district attorney refused 10 allow his
accounts therefor, and he ceased. Mr.
critchlow wrote the princlpel protest
In this case, and was one Of It's slgners,
All these and other government prose-
cutting officers testified before the COM
mittee TO the cessation OF prosecutions
against demonstrating polygamOus re-
iallons and OF the general sentiment
among the n0n-Mormon people that
mat MAS the best and en,icLast .,,a., s,.