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Show ANTI-POLYGAM- 90 Public Meeting of the Woman' s National Anti-Pol- y gamy Society. On Sunday evening, February 13th, according to'announcement, the above Society held a public meeting in the" Methodist Episcopal s Church of this city. Revs. Mr! and McNiece of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches having courteously waived their usual Sabbath evening services, the large auditorium was crowded to its utmost capacity with 'an intelligent and attentive audience. The president, Mrs. Cooke was in the chair, and the exercises commenced with singing by the Church choir, after which the Iiev. Mr. Pierce made a very forcible and eloquent prayer. The object of the meeting ,was briefly announced by Mrs. Froiseth, which was to reply to a certain docuBar-row- ment entitled A Plea for Tolera- STANDARD. Y abroad that it was very masterly way. The old law which diflicult to obtain a divorce in Utah, prevailed for twenty-si- x years, from allowed divorce, not only or that it was uncommon among the 1852-7- 8, Mormon people. Referring to that to residents of the Territory, but portion ' of the document, which ,also to any one who signified their speaks of. the' one conspicuous desire to become a resident. A citicharacteristic of the family '.instiiu; zen who lived in wicked Maine or divorce Massachusetts could say that' he tion in all Puritan States and often consequent iage wished to become a resident of pious which it terms consecutive poly- Utah, make application for a gamy, the speaker went into de- divorce, and have it granted without tails and produced an overwhelming any further trouble. It was not being-sprea- d ; re-ma- n , array of statistical facts which clearly proved that there - not a State or Territory in the Union, where divorces are of so frequent occurrence, or so easily obtained as in Utah. In New York there is only one ground for absolute divorce adultery; in Utah any ground is sufficient. In Massachusetts, Maine and New Jersey, willful desertion for five years is sufficient cauo, in one Utah, absence or desertion year will entitle the deserted party to a divorce. In Pennsylvania, Missouri and Georgia, two years desertion or habitual drunkenness for two years are grounds for dissolving the marriage tie, in Ohio, three years desertion or drunkenm ss Cor same time;1 in Vermont, three years in the penitentiary; in Connectiut, three years desertion, or seven years absence without being head from. Now you can see for yourselves how difficult it is to obtain a divorce in this pure Territory of Utah, and how easy in the wicked Puritan States. In Connecticut, you are obliged to wait seven years without hearing from your husband or wife before, a divorce will be granted you, in Maine, Massachusetts and New Jersey, you must wait five e years, while in New Yoi k, the offspring of New England, desertion is not an adequate cause. But here in Utah, you can absent yourself for one year, and a divorce will be granted immediately. What a shame it would be to introduce this degraded morality of New England into our high toned and pious Territory of Utah? How shocking to think of. importing the shameful institutions of the corrupt Puritan States into this pure and i- fr tion from the persecuted Church of Latter-da- y Saints," that appeared lately in the New York Christian Union. Mrs. Froiseth said that as the letter had obtained considerable publicity by having been copied in other papers, the National Society had decided to answer it, not that it needed any reply in Utah where the facts were well known, but because its specious misstatements were calculated to grossly deceive those who were unacquainted with the social and political status of afAnd whatfairs in this Territory. ever might be its origin, or the reasons for writing it, that did not excuse, its perpetrators for giving a wrong impression in regard to the institutions of Utah. Mrs. Froiseth then read the document which it was proposed to answer. The first speaker was Judge I. S. Boreman, who went through the legal points involved in the letter, and tore its jesuitical statements into tatters. He said it would not be understood by people who knew nothing whatever of the situation in Utah, and he deplored the great ignorance oh this question that preHe vails all 'over the country. warmly approved of the mission of Society in endeavorTo ing to dissipate this ignorance, as irreproachable community well as directing the attention of think of making one of these mild our National Legislators to the and patriarchal polygamists wait needs of this community, and sin- five or seven years for a divorce cerely hoped their efforts' would be when he can get it now in one year! crowned with success. When he Great Heavens, is it any wonder first read the document in the Salt that decent and respectable MorLake Tribune , he thought some one mons should object to be so inhad perpetrated a huge' joke on the sulted ! Mormons. It did not appear to be Referring again to that wondergenuine, it sounded more like Lock ful document, where it insinuates Melone or Mark Twain, and his first that instead of the scanty alimony impressions were to treat it as a allowed by law to the divorced wife joke, but upon closer examination, in Puritan States, the polygamist in he found that it was liable to mis- Utah amply provides for his older interpretation, and do mischief, in wives. when he takes new ones, the as much as it so grossly misrepre- speaker said, that in Utah the wives sented the true state of affairs in did not even get alimony. Did not this Territory, while aiming covert Brigham Young, the prophet of blows at the divorce laws of other God and the head of this immaculate States. No lawyer had penned it, and saintly people, turn off Ann because any lawyer could see that Eliza without one cent to make her its statements could not hold water. living in the world as best she It had the appearance of being jes- might. The idea of introducing the uitical throughout, as if writ- wicked Puritan custom of giving ten for the purpose of de- alimony into the land of promise. the The No wonder that we should wax inceiving ignorant. ladies, of the Society dignant at the mere mention of makdid not sanction lax or imperfect ing these Babylonian innovations ! divorce laws in any place, but they ' The Judge then reviewed the strongly objected to the impression former divorce laws of Utah in a - legiti-timat- ' the-Nationa- i ! i Anti-Polyga- , my , cut out, or very severe remedies applied, or the chances were that it would kill the patient He drew a vivid picture of. the immorality of this community, said that the standard of female purity was so low as to be entirely sunken out of sight. He also spoke of the consanguin-ou- s alliances that are a component part of their polygamy, and wondered however the next generations . could be identified, they were benecessary when a divorce was asked coming so mixed up. In what other on ground of absence to serve any community would it be tolerated for summons on the. opposite party as a man to marry his wifes mother, or the law required in all othej' States. his wifes sisters and daughters, or It also allowed a judgment in case the children of his own brothers and Would Puritan New Engof default, an impossibility in any sisters. other part of the country. Every land tolerate a man who had. for his where else the party praying for a wives a grandmother, mother and divorce has had to prove his case daughter ? And then talk of forcing except herein Utah. And yet those corrupt Puritan institutions on this demoralized Puritans would force virtuous and enlightened people! their degraded institutions on this In regard to the remedy for this ! immaculate people foul disease, the speaker was in That law also permitted absolute favor of strong measures. This peodivorce, where the parties could not ple should be compelled to obey the live in peace or harmony together, laws of tlie country. Let polygamy and where their welfare seemed to be treated in Utah as it was in New There is not England. If some of these polyrequire a separation. a single court in any State or Terri- gamies were sent to the penitentitory where a divorce will be granted ary, and determinedly kept there, if the parties have mutually agreed there would soon be a new revelato separate, except in the Probate tion commanding the Saints to adopt Courts of Utah. In heathen Rome, another order of marriage. Let the the Emperor Augustus tried to stop United States laws be rigidly enthe divorce by mutual consent, forced as are in every other they , wThich raged unchecked for 2G years State and Territory, and Heaven in the latter part of this enlightened would soon reveal to these pious nineteenth century on the sacred Saints that it was Gods will they soil of Utah Territory. It may be should abandon polygamy. People remarked here that a storm of in- talk of the Mormon problem, it is dignation swept' over the entire no problem at all.. It is simply a country on account of disclosures matter of requiring the national made in regard to the wholesale laws to be obeyed in all parts of the manufacture of divorces which had country alike. been going on in Utah, and it forced Boremans extremely able the Territorial Legislature to adopt andJudge eloquent remarks which were a new divorce law, which was done listened to with rapt attention by in 1878. This new law is much the large audience, were closed by better, its provisions being about the a warm tribute to the labors of the same as in other States. National Society, and 'hoped that Boreman then took up the they would continue to agitate this Judge blessed institution- of polygamy, subject until the indignation of the and exhibited some of its divine entire country would be thoroughly characteristics. A legislature of aroused, and the public sentiment of have thrown every pos- the nation would compel our legislapolygamists sible safeguard around it by abolish- tors to provide a quick and sure all laws seducing against adultery, remedy for this loath esome disease. tion and lascivious cohabitation. In Mrs. Paddock, the Chairman of this pure Territory of Utah, it is the committee for preparing an animpossible to prosecute these crimes. swer to the Plea, 'then delivered in What a holy and blessed thing this a very impressive manner the folsystem of polygamy must be, to re- lowing: quire all these kindred crimes and immoralities to shield and bolster it PROTEST OF THE COMMITTEE DELIVERED BY THE CHAIRMAN, MRS. PADDOCK. up! In the wicked Puritan States it is possible to convict and punish Ladies and Gentlemen: On behalf all these crimes which are ranged of the Committee appointed to draft as a bulwark around the blessed in- a reply to that wonderful document stitution of polygamy! Then again, which has lately been sent forth unin this immaculate Territory there der title of A Flea for Toleration," is absolutely no marriage law. There I would state that it would take is no way of getting any proof of more time than you would be willing marriage, especially of polygamous perhaps to give us this evening to alliances, as the contracting parties answer in detail all the queries conof, and witnesses to these unlawful tained in that marvellous producacts are always sworn to secrecy. tion. If it is such a holy and blessed sysWe will, however, do our best to does tem, why it need all this answer the principal questions and secrecy and all this immorality to amend some of the statements made protect it. therein; but first allow us to say we After tearing away these disguises, are astonished beyond ineasurethat the speaker showed polygamy in its any one should plead for toleration, true hideousness. He said poly- for the Latter-daSaints. Is not the Kingdom of Deseret gamy was not an institution, it was simply a crime. It was a festering the stone cut out of the a sore, putried spot in the heart of mountain without hands, that this nation, that would have to be is to destroy and break in pieces all - y ii. - ' I ( f ' ' ,r ! t ; I ' i, i |