The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-29
OPPOSING AMENDMENT.

IL has been observed of late that
The Deseret News has entered the list
ms against an amendment to the Ma,
tional Constitution inhbitng noIyg
amy. and bringing that crime under The
jurisdiction of the Federal authority
From other cities we also get tidings
that the Mormon church. through means
diverse as the localities differ in make.
up or sentiment. is prosecuting a cam
paisu along that line.
~ rs turning out AS many who had
little faith in Mormon hierarchcaI
promises nIistrusted mt the Time that
Statehood for Utah was being aritatcd
II Is true that the great majority of the
Gentilc people of Utah Joined in the
| movement FOR State sovereignty for
thls commonwealth; but these did 50
only IN the thought that men who had
so seriously bound themselves in word
of honor 10 obey the law, and who had
so Sacredly copVenantcd with the Ma
ton TO abandon plural marriage for
ever, surely would keep their promises
The understanding was complete on
both sides. and there has arisen moth
ing since that time that would Justify
any return TO the old conditions. excopt
as political domi nation by the hierarchs
has been resumed and a rccrudescenco
OF polygamous marriage has occurred
The offending in breach of contract has
occurred wholly on the ono sde-thal
OF the lmpudeDt bogus prophets who.
imagining themselves to be secure be
hind the barrier of Statehood
controlling the politics. the courts, and
the executive forces Of the Statc-have
rebelllously resumed the old practices
that were the cause Of so much trouble
IN Utah in earlier days. II has seemed
that all covenants are cbeaply held by
them, except such as are made in the
temples. The word Of honor given to
Gentle is TO be broken with impu-
nifty, provided that its keeping may in.
tcrferc with the preservation oG the
sanctity of vows undertaken in the
Mormon holy of holies. The policy Of
tic present leadership of the church is
totally repudiative of the acts and
H.
and in behalf Of themselves and their
followers, by President Woodruff and
all the others Of the first presidency
and the twelve. 1t is true that at the
present time there arc in the rcigpina
several men who were per
sonallY parties to the agreement which
freed themselves and the Mormon peo.
pie. They were among the supplicants
for amnesty, and they were signers of
the contract to obey the law. These
men. we arc sorry to say, appear to
have thrown aside all scruple in a vic
ious attempt to undo that to which at
the time it was feared they were un-
willing yet consenting parties. Presi-
dent Smith, it was feared in 1890, |
would break his contract as soon as hc
had the power and the opportunity, He
has done so, upon his own showing.
1t now appears that he not only
shields new polygamists in their crimes,
but that he has instructed the various
agencies at his command to conduct
promotion of his own idea
that he believes in the "principlc'
IF polygamy Just as much now as he
ever did, Encouragement Of that sort
5 only too much for the lecherously in
lined. it was thought to be bad
,nough in him when he allowed to go
lnpunshed the large number Of crimi.
lals who have polygamously defied the
aw and the Woodruff manifesto since
he year 1890; but his latest movement
,oes much further.
1t is barely possible, though, that
ven Joseph +. may go too far; and
re have no doubt that he has reached
lis limit.