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Show CLIPPIXG3 OX THE "DEChAIU-TIONV "DEChAIU-TIONV Wi: sdTivse the comments of the American press on the subject of the Mormon" action concerning plural marriage are interesting to our readers, so wc select a few more out of the many which have came to us containing some approach to a rational view of the question. The Xew York JlsraUlol the Sth Inst, had an editorial which has been widely copied, in which the bearing of the action upon Statehood State-hood is discussed. Tho Herald thus concludes the editorial: Tho Terriuiry may be safely admitted ad-mitted when it appears that a majority I of its people are, and aro likely to l continue to b opposed to polygamy anl m favor of making it a crime. "An additional and safuclsntly secure se-cure safeguard would be a provision in the constitution prohibiting polygamy polyg-amy and another forbidding the repeal re-peal ot this clause except by a very large majority say four-fifths of tho voters of the State." Tho Brooklyn Ctliun closes a long article on the subject with these words: "The action taken forms an epoch ia the Mormon Church. Tho cause of contention it settled, and it only remains re-mains for tba schools and missionaries to transform into nseful ciuxena an element that has hitherto CeSed our laws and threatened ths peace of the Onion." The A'ex York I!lr2tf under the head "The Problem BoHed" discourses dis-courses tin the abandonment of polygamy, po-lygamy, and finishes as follows: "Xovr that it Is abandoned and with it tbo criminal practice of polygamy tho Mormon problem is solved. With what remains of it, the Church as a Church, we havo no National concern. con-cern. It may teach and believe what doctrines it pleases and worship tho Great Panjandrum himself If it sees fit, without let or hindrance." The Xew York Tniunc has a long editorial, from which we clip these two paragraphs: "The new edict applies only to future fu-ture marriagas in Utah, and leaves the stite of thousands of women already polygamously married undetermined. unde-termined. But tne natural enact ot the action of the Mormon leaders will bo to discredit existing plural marriages mar-riages and to involve gradual separations separa-tions and the discontinuance ot for-merrelations. for-merrelations. Polygamy, abandoned as a religious canon, will rpcedlly ccaso to exist in the Mormon paradise. para-dise. "Polycamy is the first sacrifice that is mads to tho progress of Western settlement in the Territory. It wij bo followed speedily by encroachments upon the temporal power of the Mormon Mor-mon Church, and ultimately by the effacementof tho religions denomination." denomin-ation." In a later editorial the New York Tribune says: "It is tbo opinion of tho best informed in-formed Gentile observers .that this acceptance ac-ceptance of tho decree will be general and permanent throughout all Mor-mondom, Mor-mondom, and that it, therefore, marks the end of polygamy.' The Chicago -Vai contrasts "Mor-mon" "Mor-mon" polygamy witli some things that are tolerated iu the United State?, and wo tako these tew sentences sen-tences from its article: "But while the subject of polygamy as practiced by a comparative handful of Mormons has for years been riddled rid-dled by hot shot from the prms and tho pulpit and had been torn to tatters by legislative action, nothing very important im-portant has been accomplished in purifying tho subject of marriage and divorce elsewhere. Wbilo the government govern-ment has been busy in throttling polygamy in Utah (and ngbtly so), what must bo said of a ttate of society which produces such a case as that of the Wilkesbarro (Pa.iwife who has eight living husbands, and so far as can be laamod is now looking for more worlds to conquer?" The Troy, New York, Hudjet thus treats the matter: "This action must be accepted as a sottlement of the vexed question. If the Mormons violate the law in tbo f ature, the law stands to punish them. Until it is violated fall faith should be ac-jordeil tho declaration. Utah has a population of over 230,f1 now, and a great current of Gentile population is beginning to pour into tho territory under the belief that it will soon be-comeabtate,which be-comeabtate,which it will If polygamy is no longer practi cad there. This is from the Scranton, Pennsylvania, Penn-sylvania, JTcpuilican. "The proclamation of President Woodruff of the Mormon Church, abolishing polygamy, has a ring of truthlulneas about it that ought to commend it to fair public consideration. considera-tion. The Mormon president says that as laws have been enacted by Cougress and pronounced valid by tho Supreme Court forbidding polygamy, polyg-amy, he will himself submit to those tans, and use his influence with Mormons Mor-mons to induce them to do likewise. Ho closes the proclamation by exhorting exhort-ing Latter-day Saints to contract no narnaga by law forbidden. A motion to regard the proclamation binding and as authoritative was carried withont with-ont a dissenting voto among the ten thousand people present. The public is bound to accept the act as of good faith." The Stale Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, Ne-braska, argues: "If this change of front is made in good faith, and time will try ils genuineness, genu-ineness, the church of the Latter-day Saints has placed itsolf on tho plane of law-abiding ecclesiastical organization, organiza-tion, and will bo respected accordingly." according-ly." "Tho faith of the Mormons is, polygamy polyg-amy aside, entitled to the same protection pro-tection that is accorded evsry other mode or form of religion in the United Stales." Taking up the statement of the Salt Lake Tribune that the action was a trick, the Stale Journal In another article says: "On the who's the situation bears evidence that ths leaders ot tho Saints are honest and sincere in their declaration. declara-tion. If they arc,tu9 long fight against MormonUm in the United States is virtually over." The Iranian' Tr&une takes up the President's declaration and eays: ,"The TtUiuui gladly gives space for this official declaration, which should settle the matter. "Everybody who knows anything about the Mormons .knows that the very keystono of their system is tho confidence they place In the heads of tha Church as religious guides. If this statement wero untrue every Mormon would know it and it would bo a severer blow to their faith than anything their enemies have done. Polygamy is today as much under control among tho Mormons Mor-mons as other crimes are in the States, and the only way to rerl ve it would be disfranchise the Mormons. Now they have their ballot to keep, which they know is their only protection, and they will not endanger this by1 breaking the truce by which they hold is." Tho Butte, Montana, Mjivt Is much surprised 'at the manifesto, but no more surprised than wo are to find In so pronounced an auti-"Monrton" auti-"Monrton" paper thesa fair remarks: re-marks: "Ills msnlf est u wise, conjerraUre and well considered. It commands for him the retpectot the people of the entire United States, and C he succeeds ia bringing to an end the polygamous c&rse, bo wilt sria an ennahle place in the history of the coaa try. The ttlnzr olns alia the press and people ot Montaaa ia applauding the action ac-tion of Mr. tVoodruS, and bidding Cod-speed Cod-speed to the reformation that appears to tare taken root In tho land of the mlsgald. cd Saints." , The Dubuque, Iowa, 7Tun;i calls the act of the Canference"A New Departure," and concludes its comments com-ments In this way: "By the abandomnrt of tats peculiar doctrine, they placs tbem'elTes In hue with other religious denominations, an they will be guaranteed eual pratecUon. Llko the government of ancient Home this gov ernnertaliaiu all relit Ions an4 impartial ly permit all forms of worship. The Indian In-dian can hold powosrs in honor ot tho Great Spirit, the Mohammedan can sound from his minaret the pralsos of Allah; tho Chlnamaa can erect his Josh house; the Fare Worshiper can loak to tho sun as the supreme lord ot life; the Hindoo can ap-peal ap-peal to Tuhtrans jsna the inlUcl can scornfully scorn-fully reject all and every form ot religious belief, and alt will bo protected solooga each and aU conform to the lair ot the landv If the Monnlas are sincere In this new stand taken by thorn they hare disarmed dis-armed bath the 1st and pasile orio ion " The Savannah (Georgia) JCexi states: There if, of coarse, no desire to interfere witn the Mormon religion it polygamy is not a part of It. The Mormons aro welcome to profess any religion they p'ease so long aa they do not tiolate the laws. They mast, however, rerpect the laws, and as long as they to that they wftl not be interfered with. The Washington correspondent of the Columbu, Ohio State, Journaf treaU the subject as it will probably tuTect the Utah Commission, and we will close the clippings fortoday with his pungent sayings, which furni'h some reasons why some member of that body affect to treat lightly the important announce-tneut; announce-tneut; they do not relish it or its probable consequences to them: "The declaration of tho Mormon Cnarch on the scbsc ot plural marriages will likely hare the eeet ot throwing the meu bera ot the Utah Commission out of nice sort berths. The members ot this com-muftoa com-muftoa each draw a salary ot SSOTO and trarellag expenses. The position is mncb betur from a financial standpoint than that of a United states f-enator or mexber of Congress, for the reason that there is but liulo time derated to the duUes ot tho oSce. The governor aad other oraeers of the Territory practically prepare all the reports, re-ports, and all the Commissioners hare to do Is to take a jsunt oot there once every year and.after looking about and having a good Ume, atSx their signatures to the oCciat document, vtuch Is submitted to Congress. The oracial action ot the Mormon Mor-mon Church ia agreeing to abandon plaral marriages and sntitnit to the laws of the United Slates renders Uai Commission n'eless and the members wiU soon find their occupations gone. |