The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-10
FALSE IDEA OF coNDoN1NG.

Since the admission OF the State there
| has been sentiment existing and prcva =
| lent In Utah that these old marriages
would be In measure condoned. They
really riolat!ve Of law: they were I'm
other words, regarded as an existing fact,
ana II they saw any wrong in II they
simply winked at It. In other words, Mr..
Chairman, the people OF Utah, as n rule.
| are broad minded and liberal minded
people. and they have rather condoncd
/ against the law.-Testimony of Joseph j.
| smith In Smoot case, volume |. page 1870.
The Chairman.-Do you think that 1t Is
wholesome for the head OF the church to
| live in polygamy and boast that he has ?
Mr., Frank B. Stephens.-I do not, sir.
to continue?
Mr. Frank B. Stephens,--I do not want
II think the head OF the church should
set n different example. ] am no, sur
pFlsed that the lay members should con-
tinue In those relations. but | regret cx
ceedingly that the head Of the church
page 800.
There is no limit TO the Smith COW
ardice when the Smith person is in
danger of suffering the consequences
of the Smith acts Not only did the
president Of the Mormon church pur.
poscly misrepresent the church itself
while he was testifying at Washington
but he went out of his way TO insult
tho Gentiles of this State by saying
that they condoncd and winkcd at his
lawlessness.
While it is true that few Jack Nor
mons, out OF a desire to procure no.
htical favors at the hands of Smith and
his coadiutors, have closed their eyes
and cars to the offendings of the chief
priests, 1t is not true that the majority
of outsiders look upon these immorali.
ties with any degree Of allowance. 1t
was the understanding that the Wood
ruff manifesto was intended TO inhlbit
unlawful cohabitation as we'll as new
polygamous marriages. This under
standing was gained from official in
terpretatlon of that document by lead
ing men in the church, among whom the
present head Of the organization was
numbered. Joseph T. Smith knows that
1t was never intended that he should
be permitted TO bring into the world
twelve illegitimates after the manifesto.
II was recognized that such course
would be in direct defiance Of the law,
and tho additional disapproval Of the
church was fixed upon it when Presi-
dents Woodruff. Snow, and Smith and
other leading authorities. declared in the
chancery court that il was the intention
of the Mormon church to discontinue
unlawful cohabitation. SO there is no
70 the assertion Of Smith
that the majority Of the GENTLE people
here condone his crimes-much less
wink at them. This is clearly shown
in the testimony of Hon. Frank r.
Stephens, wherein he states that he.
wants no such thing TO oc
cur, and expresses his regret that the
head of the church should set such an
evil example before his people And
Smith knows full we'll that in this par
tlcular portion of his testimony Mr..
Stephens voiced the prevailing senti-
nent among the mass of GeDtiles here
They oppose the practices OF Smith and
ois likes because they do not want the
filled with unfortunate il.
egitlmates, who are innocent of wrong
long themselves, but who must newt
lbly visit the effects of the evil lives
" their fathers upon the future genera
ions of this community,
But it should he known that at Wash !
ngton 1t was Smith condoning Smith |
'or the protection Of Smith, and that |
his cowardly lecher would besmear the !
people of the whole State-Geutiles and |
Iormons alike-with the slime of his |
'wn shame in order to preserve his |
hide from the scourging it
deserves.