The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-06

those who hold the faith to be di-
| vine.
A Loyal People.
Neither In mental attitude nor in
conduct have we been disloyal TO the
government under whose guarantee of
| religious freedom our church, was
founded. The Book Of Mormon pro-
claims America to be the land Of
Zion; land dedicated TO righteous
ness and liberty, a land of promise
to certain branches Of the house of
Israel, and also to the Gentilcs. 1t de
clares that God will fortify this land
against all other nations; and ''he that
tighteth against Zion shall per
ish BY, revelation TO Joseph
SncIar.d SSmish, the ne prophet, the the Lord ,
the Constitution of the United States
through "wise men raised up for this
! very purpose. - 1t is also our belief
that God has blessed and prospered this
nation. and given unto it power to en-
force the divine DEGREES concerning the
land of Zion, that free institutions
might not perish from the earth
CherIshlng such convictions, VIC have
no place in our hearts for disloyal sem
timents, nor is there likelihood of trea-
son IN our conduct. Were We evil-dis-
posed toward American institutions, or
| disloYal to the United States, We
would be recreant to those principles
TO which by interest and education we
are attached. and would repudiate the
revelations of God concerning this
! land.
In reaflirming our belief in the high
destiny of America, our attachment to
American institutions, and our LOYALTY
! to the United States, we declare that
these sentiments, this. loyalty, have
outlived the memory of all the wrongs
inflicted upon our fathers and our
selves
If patriotism and loyalty are quail.
ties manifested in times of peace by
Just, temperate. benevolent, industri-
Gus and virtuous living, in times of
trial, by patience, resistance only by
lawful means to real or fancied
wrongs: and by final submission to the
laws OF the land, though involving dis
tress and sorrow: and in time of war.
by Willingness TO fight the battles of
the Natlon-then, unquestionably. are
the = Mormon people patriotic and
loyal
The Problem of Polygamy.
The only conduct seemingly ineon.
sistcnt with our professions as loyal
citizens, is that involved in our atti.
tude during the controversies that
nave arisen respecting plural mar
by the Prophet Joseph Smith, at Nau-
WOO. III. The practice was con
tinued in Utah, aud published to the
world. as a doctrine of the church,
in 1892, In the face Of these facts,
Brigham Young. whose position in the
matter was well known, was twice ap-
pointed, with the consent of the Sen
ate, first by President Fillmore, and
afterward by President Pierce, to be
the Governor of the Territory II was
not until 1862 that Congress enacted
n law forbiddiug plural marriage This
law the Latter-day Saints conscien-
hously disregarded, in their Observance
Of principle sanctioned by their re-
hgion. Moreover, they believed the
enactment 10 be violative of the Con
stluton. which provides that Con
gress shall make no law prohibiting
the free exercise of religion Not.
withstanding this attitude and conduct
on the part of our people. no decision
of the supreme Court upon this ques.
ton was secured until 1873. more than
thirty years after the settlement of
Utah; nor were determined efforts
made to enforce the law until further
period Of five or six years had elapsed.
Surely this toleration, under which the
practice OF plural marriage became
firmly established. binds the United
States and its people. if indeed they
are not bound by considerations of
mercy and wisdom. to the exercise of
patience and charity in dealing with
this question
" it be charged by those who find
eytenuatiou for ofi.enses committed
prior to the decision of 1878, that our
subsequent duty as good citizens was
clear and unmistakabIc. we reply that
the situation, as viewed by some of our
members. developed a conflict between
l,,,ts .Nl l,,I- - Al n
mcnt. Moreover, II was thought pos
slhle that the decision Of the Supreme
Court might be reversed. If what was
regarded as a constitutional right were
not too easily surrendered What our
people did IN disregard Of the law and
of the decisions of the Supreme Court
affecting plural marriages, was in the
spirit of maintaining religions rights
under constitutional guarantees, and
not in any spirit of defiance or dis
loyalty to the Government.
Respectful Submission
The "Mormon" people havo bowed
in respectful submission to the laws en-
acted against plural marriage. While
If is true that for many years they
contested the constitutionality of the
law Of Congress- and during that time
acted in harmony with their religious
convictions IN uphodIng by practice,
aiS Ntll us ny SIoh'u ultI WIllIcn HOrut
4 principle committed TO them from
God, still, when every means had been
exhausted, the church abandoned the
controversy and announced its inteu-
tion TO be obcdient to tho laws OF the
land. Subsequently, when Statehood
for Utah became Il possibility, on the
condition that her Constitution provide
by ordinance. irrevocablc without the
consent of the United States, that plu-
raj marriages should be forever prohib-
tied, the Mormon people accepted
the condition by voting for the adop.
ton OF tho Constitution, From that
time until now, The church has been
true TO its pledge respecting the aban-
donment Of the practice Of plural mar.
rIage If II be urged that there have
been instances of the violation of the
Grip Quickly Knocked Out.
''Some weeks ago during the severe
winter weather both my wife and my
self confrnptpI saN.ra onldc ,,.I;,l