The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-23
Declares That the Chief Offenders
Are the High Ecclesiastics
of the Church.

cially recognized as ono OF the plural
Not only did Joseph Smith and his inti-
mates refrain from publicly teaching THIS
doctrine but they publicly denied IT,
From the year 1899 to 1916 the headquar-
ters OF the Mormon community were in
Nauvoo III. II was here that the prophet
reached his greatest splendor. IL was
here likewise. that tho Identification OF
the Mormon religion with polyeamy first
became a public scandal. Everybody
knew that the most irregular relations
between men and women prevailed In
his sacred city. but no one quite knew
tho explanation. In 1872 one j. G.. Ben
nett, man OF notoriousy bad character.
who had been one OF Joseph Smith =
with The prophet, published book at
taoking viciously the whole Mormon or.
ganiaation. Bennett portrayed the moral
conditions prevailing in Nauyoo in shock
ing detail and declared that the Mormon
prophet was secretly teaching and prac-
ticing polygamy.
John Taylor Denied Polygamy.
In the course of debate on Mormon
ism IN Bouogne. France. In July, 1850:
John Taylor. who many years afterward
Of the church, defended the Latter-day
Saints from the charge OF polygamy. He
said:
I'VE are accused here of polygamy. and
disgusting, such as none but corrupt
heart could have contrivcd. These things
are too outrageous to admit of belief.
Therefore | shall content myself by read
Ing cur views of chastity and marriage
from a work ISIhished by us. containing
some articles OF our faith
John Taylor made this statement seven
years after the revelation on polygamy
had been received. At the very moment
when he rcpudiated the doctrine he HIM
self had five wives living in Salt Lake
City.
Not Exconlmunicate Offenders,
1t would be possible TO trace the his
tory OF polygamy for several decades, and
TO show how. at nearly every stage the
ofncial attitude has been one of decep-
tion, 1t Is perhaps not strange. therefore,
that in Salt Lake city, few GentiIes be-
lleve in the sincerity Of the present
declarations against this practice. The
Mormon church. they say. never changes
and history is simply repeating itself
II President Smith wished to end .polyg
amy, they declare, he could very easily
do So His first logical move would be
TO cease living in polysamous relations
hlnsen-to stop "defying the laws Of God
that he is doing Again. IL the church
really disapproves OF new polygamists
why does IT not summari)y punish them?
NO religious organization has such per-
rect machinery for keeping in immediate
contact with its followers Is II not, then,
folly 10 pretend that the church does not
know that these MARRIAGES are
going on? In 1891, President Woodruff.
when asked what penalties would be
visited upon Mormons who violated the
replied; "They would be liable
to be turned from the church-excom-
nunicated from the church" In only
three or four cases has the church ex-
communicated any Of its members for
this offense.
Constitutional Amendment
The Mormons have the same reason for
keeping the system under cover now that
they had then-the fear OF the law. The
misfortune of the Mormon church has
always been that the chief article OF its |
Lajth is n crime under the statutes OF all |
Christian countries. 1t is simply a great |
secret society existing very largely for |
criminal purposes. That the great ma
lority OF Its members, especially the wom- |
IN, are entirely sincere and consclen-
.ious, does not alter this fundamental !
act. And there is only one way in which |
he American people can control the |
In the old days. when Utah |
vas territory, congress could pass anti |
oolygamy laws. and the federal govern
nent could send its officers into Utah TO
enforce them. II cannot do this now
because Utah is a state, and the states
lnder our system of government have |
Exclusive Jurisdiction over the marriage |
,elaton. The only way in which the |
american people can reach polygamy is
or them to pass constitutional amend
nent giving congress power to leglslate
en'IN' u. NiI' SucH an ailendWenl the
ederal government could again send It's
'fncers into Utah and the other Mormon
communities and punish the offenders
I this amendment is adopted, one Of
wo things Will happen; either the Nor
non church viii abandon polygamy, not
My ostensibly. but actually, or II Will
Migrate bodily into some other country
eobably Mexico. Many observers believe
hat the church has established its COL
mics in the latter country because IL has
oreseen that the day will inevitably come
when 1t VIII have TO leave the United
states.
Blu, the church is not prepared TO make
his radical change yet. All its energies
re. therefore. devoted TO the sitting OF a
institutional amendment. That is why
| is going to such extremes To quiet
noIlc feeling on the subject Of its pres
mt polygamous practices.