The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-10-31

be deceived 1t cannot he denied that in
The last fifty years there have been
thousands OF polysamous marriages SOL
Tmnizod and conSummated In Utah, and
yet the public prosecutors have not been
able To prove more than five or six cases
OF polygamy committed within the period
OF the statute Of limitations. Under such
conditions, TO wager us that we cannot
prove cases OF polygamy sanctioned by
the church is TO insult our intelligence
and to mock at public justice, but when
they thus laugh at the futility of the
laws they prove nothing more nor less
than that thev constitute IN odlous and
furtivc conspiracy against honor. de-
cency, and civilization.
Priestly Usurpatlons.
The forbidding doctrine that religious
belief is the only test and standard OF
human association is OF Mormon ecclesi-
asticll origin and application I'm the So
ciai and political polity of Utah. This
repellaut doctrine when carried into prnc-
nce has enSendercd strife among the pco-
pie, and was one of the chief causes
which in other days brought upon the
people their dark experiences in Ohio
In Missouri and Illinois. Ennity to hu-
man laws, and to all people who do not
join their association. or connive at their
unlawful practices is the very breath
ot life of this disloyal priesthood. The
Fictitious revelation by which the Nor
mon people were directed TO settle in
Missouri reads;
And thus. even as I have said. II ye
are faithtul. we shall assemble yourselves
together TO rejoice upon the land of
Missouri. which is the land OF your in
-heritance. which is now the land Of your
enemies"
This spurious revelation purports to
have been given June I. 1891, Whilst the
saints were still at Kirkland. o., and
before tney had removed to Missouri
What decent American in all this world
imagincs that in going TO Missouri he
Is going in the midst of his enemies?
Surely the man who does must mediate
course of conduct which shall make
him enemies. He must contemplate the
doing Of something which shall be in
violation Of the principles of American
political and social life; ne must OF his
own free will elect 10 be an IShmnclite, or
social outcast or a violator Of public
law. or an impossible neighbor. The
principle OF tbis sO-callcd revelation was.
| am told. reaSserted and rearllrmed at
the last semi annual conference and the
people were Instructed that II were bet
ter for them TO follow their sons to the
grave than that they should marry un-
not sell their lands to unbelievers, in the
divine mission Of this ilegltimate priest
hood.
What is the occasion for all this
studied, this fundamental. this spuriously
divlne-sanctioned hostility TO Ameri-
cans? Why. nothing in the world except
that Americans demand that American
methods and American laws shall rule in
they shall he bound by the same laws as
other people.
The man who thinks and acts upon the
principle that ne owes higher alcgiencc
To the rules OF amy church or priesthood
than he does TO the mild and just laws
OF this republic, Is an unworthy psrtiCi-
pant in this great heritage OF law and
freedom. l do not in this speak for the
American party, but ] speak for myself.
and | declare it nv belief. that II
ought TO be written In every statute
book of the land, and declared as the
voice of the nation. that such men are
unfit To exercise the elective franchise.
The Cry for Peace.
But our opponents tell us that our as
scrtiou OF American principles and the
doctrines OF tho American platform, is
incompatible with the maintenance Of
peace i'm Utah. That may bc admitted.
Harmony, peace and concord. my friends,
are conditions which all reasonable pco-
pic desire. But better Il is for an in
community or Il nation. to
have war and discoTd with honor. than
peace and concord without honor, and
without integrity
1t WAS my fortune 10 have lived i'm
Great Rebellion days, and 10 have carried
arms in the great struggle for lh. pre-
servatiun OF tho Union, In those days
| found no man OF II thoughtful and con-
Sldristtc temper who did not regret the
hard necessity which embarked uGr