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Show POLYGAMY IS LAWBREAKING. Heretofore wc have made mention of the fact that the Mormon people entertain many different i'deas as to what was tho intent of the Woodruff manifesto of 3S90, incidentally stating that out of the entire lot of opinions come but two practices monogamy and polygamy, and always polygamy when any question concerning the plain intent cntors tho Mormon mind. It is well known lo The Tribune, and could be an equally familiar fact to a 113' one honestly caring to make investigation, in-vestigation, that the man who issuod that manifesto was sincere in tho hope that it would put an end to polygamy in tho Mormon church. President Wil-ford Wil-ford Woodruff had no other idea in his mind than that his. peoplo would ac cept it as being the will of the Lord, delivered through him. that they abandon aban-don polygamy and polygamous living. Before the master in chancery in tho escheat cases President Woodruff so construed that docuninot, as did Lo-ronzo Lo-ronzo Snow (his successor in tho presidency) presi-dency) and Joseph F. Smith, who succeeded suc-ceeded Snow in that office. In his official day there was perhaps no greater authority in tho Mormon church upon matters of policy, belief, or practice, than the late Hon. George Q. Cannon. While there was wide discussion dis-cussion of the merits of tho Roberts case in 1S9S (when Mr. Roberts's right to recognition in tho National Houso of Representatives on account of his polygamy was largely in the public mind and mouth), Tho Tribuno had a brief interview with President Cannon. Can-non. Upon the general subject, Mr. Cannon said to Tho Tribune that "Any man who cohabits with his plural wives violates the law. It is not necessnry for mc to comment on the law. It is against cohabitation and it is not necessary ne-cessary for mo to explain it." The Woodruff manifesto expressly advises obedience to the law, and tho statement state-ment of Mr. Cannon therefore fixes tho odium of Iawbroaking upou any person, per-son, man or womnn, who engages in polygamy or polygamous living. It is upon such high authorities within with-in the Mormon church ns The Tribune has frequently quoted that tho Mormon Mor-mon people have boon appealed to to do their share in the suppression oi polygamy. It is a well known fact that most of them grant higher value to the words of their leaders than thev do to the commands of the law, but it seems to be tho polygamous idea and desire to so pnrnlyzo tho moral sense that tho willing adherent to the doctrine will accept neither the supposod word of God nor the law of man if cither shall interfere with his unwholesome-ness. unwholesome-ness. Or is it that by nature they are simply irredeemable perverts who should be forcibly confined in t lie interest in-terest of cleanliness in the home? |
