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Show j THE HORROR OF IT. Professor James E. Talmae of this city has been selected by the church hierarchy to appear 03 an Authoritative witness in behalf of Senator Smoot at Washington. What he says, unless tho hierarchy shall conclude to repudiate all or part of It, is supposed to bo tho binding declaration. Professor Talmace announces that any woman married as n plural wife slnco October C, 1890, Is no moro a wlfa under the rule of the church than sho is In the eyes of the law. This Is the horrible thing to which Tho Tribune has been directing tho attention at-tention of tho young men and women who have been counseled by leaders of tho church to enter polygamy since tho Issuance of tho manifesto. Tho Tribune Tri-bune has warned them that, If the hierarchy hie-rarchy shall find apparent advantage In such course. It will denounce them and mako outcasts of them. And here Is the official and effectlvo notice of that dreadful fact. Wo havo In mind a caso which common com-mon report seems to substantiate aa being be-ing well known within tho circle of friends of the Interested parties. Within tho past three years a young woman was advised, by high authorities authori-ties in tho church, that it was tho commandment com-mandment of God for her to marry a certain dignitary who already had two, and possibly three or four wives. Sho was reluctant at first. But the promises of celestial glory; the assurances assu-rances of approbation from Almighty God, the urgency of tho men who were lnlluenclnc her; and tho recommendation, recommenda-tion, and probably the example, of some of her close female friends; overcame over-came her scruples. She was made, as she supposed, a plural wife In the sight of God and the church. The prediction had boen mado that at a very early time polygamy would again be recognized by tho community; and that she would only havo to bo patient pa-tient until soon she and her children (If she should bear any) would be publicly pub-licly honored bv tho Latter-day Saints as glorious devotees of tho faith, and entitled to the peculiar blessings which attach to this, the highest law. The Tribune has expressed its fear for these creatures, so conscientious In their faith and so imperilled by Its practice. It renews its warnlnir to them. Their lives, and all who are associated associat-ed with them, are to be made a sacrifice, sacri-fice, if It shall appear that Senator Smoot or the church hierarchy can benefit by such a sacrifice. Tho Tribune makes this prediction: That before three years are over, many cases of plural marriage under sanction of high authority of the church will bo publicly known; and that the church will declJe lo accept these polygamous marriages as part of the community life, or will cast off tho practlcers, according ac-cording to the hierarchy's whim or need of the moment. No more horrible situation exists anywhere than this. Young women and their children nre to be honored by a religious community as having obeyed and having come Into being under a law of God; or are to be outcasts, bcanded as wrong doers and entitled to no rights of recognition; and tho decision de-cision as to which of these two extremes ex-tremes Is to be the fate of the Innocent ones Is not to be by any law or by any rule of Justice, but by the selfish conclusion con-clusion of the bigoted autocrats who rule the Mormon church In the name of God for their own profit and glory! |