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Show ANTI-POLYGAM- WORST FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM, I I j 1 , . , f 1 ; And whose judgement is drawn from a comparison of all that, with what her later experience and observations have taught her of the higher civilization, is the one best entitled to a hearing on that score. It is soon apparent, too, that the lady has improved all of her opportuni-- I ties She presents her case with striking force and felicity. In ap-- f pearance Mrs. Young is highly at-- ! tractive a decidedly handsome woman, indeed. She is slightly above the medium height, and of graceful figure. Her black hair is a trifle wavy, and is brushed away( from the part more in consonance with the shapeliness of her head than in keeping with the requirements of fashion. Her expression is pleasant, though very earnest, and when her face lights up with a smile it is one to be remembered. Mrs. Young ap-- ; peared last evening dressed in black, with lace at her throat, and a knot of flowers caught upon her bosom. She speaks rapidly, though composedly aud distinctly, and though having her manuscript at hand has it well mastered. She uses no gest-- ures. Mrs. Urie, the president of the White Ribbon Club, introduced Mrs.Young. taught nothing else, she knew noth- How, then, was she to ing else. rise superior to it all unaided? How natural, indeed, was it for her to pursue the course she did, until time and opportunity .rendered it possible for a newer light to break in on her. When that came, she had seized the occasion t break the bonds, and now had the right to claim the respect and attention of all who were capable of considering the justice of a cause. Mrs. Young then traced the estab- lishment and the rise of the Mormon Power in Utah how under the j J in peace. The same was true, too, of his followers. She would, thered fore, reply to those people who were urging that in the overthrow of polygamy so many families would be broken up, that no family life, properly so called, existed there to be broken up. Proceeding with the suggestions of this branch of the subject, Mrs. Young would urge that an organization be effected to carry enlighten-- ' ment into the territory, by means of public schools, and by aiding such as desired to half-hearte- ESCAPE THE BONDAGE, To do so. There are many such, she said, and gave accounts of the fruitless efforts of several women who had tried to escape. And, when once they were free of it, let them be taken by the hand and lifted up not treated like unclean things not worthy to be touched, but like human beings who had found the light in a dark place and followed it. . Mrs. Young spoke thus in conclusion: Will you not do something? Year by year this evil is growing great and strong and dangerous. Year after year it is producing more baleful fruits. Will you not from this time. forth be known as the active enemies of this monster, and do MRS. YOUNG what you can to destroy it? For the Began by referring to the injustice sake of the thousands of women done by the indiscriminate censuring whose lives it is spoiling for the of all Mormons, ft was not true sake of the children whom it leads that they were all equally bad, or into evil ways for the sake of your of condemnation. equally worthy whose fair fame is dear to There were those who had never country, for the sake of humanity known aught but that taught by the you for the sake of Him who gave His Mormon precepts. How, then, were life for the sorrowful, the deluded, they to know their exact condition, and the wayward children of men, or how censurable that condition do what you can to help and save. was judged by better and purer When you do this,- - when vqu ever standards? That, indeed, had once to do what you can, and all been her own condition. She was begin that you can the day will have beraised from infancy to learn Mormon gun to dawn which shall see Utah lessons, to adopt Mormon manners, freed from its curse, and the Nation and to devoutly believe in the full cleansed from its shame. text of the Mormon faith. She was 5 STAND A RD. Y The above entirely too briefly summarizes a lecture which, throughout, was replete with many strong and telling points, and delivered in a manner which won for the lady the closest attention and the most cordial and frequent applause from her hearers. The audience was large, and composed of the cultivation and intelligence of the city. The triumph of Mrs. Young, indeed, was so complete that a strong desire was expressed to have her return at an early day, and deliver another of her inturesting lectures. Evsnsville, (Ind ) Journal guidance of Brigham Young it thriv-- . An Earnest Appeal ed and spread how the United States Government was now cajoled and now bullied, and always outWriting to the Deseret News, under date Oct. 17th 1879, Eliza R. witted how Snow says: THE PEOPLE WERE GROUND DOWN It may be asked, Why defend And kept in ignorance and subjecplurality of wives since the United tion until now, what at the start States Government forbids its pracmight have been easily controled tice? The action of the executors and destroyed, had grown to be of this Government can neither strong enough to defy the National change nor annihilate a fundamental authority itself. truth; and this action, in preventing Of the social customs and condi-- j the practice of plural marriage, tions of Utah, Mrs.Young spoke at shoulders a heavier responsibility length and with knowledge not less than any nation has ever assumed, thorough than pointed. Brigham with one exception that of the Young, she said, was a brutal man ancient Jews. If the Government towards women. He had no sym- can afford it, we can. The conpathy for their feelings or troubles, troversy is with God, not us. and thought they had but to submit This is signed Eliza R. Snow, A 19 wife of Joseph Smith the Prophet. On the occasion of a womens meeting at the Theatre, in this city, likewise, we think, in the fall of 1879, Mrs. Zina D. Jacobs (generally known as Mrs. Zina Young) proclaimed herself as one of the widows more clearly than she seems clined to do, in what this awful inre- sponsibility consists. And first, that E. R. Snow mav learn where we stand, and where we claim the country stands upon this matter, we hold there can in reality be no such of the Prophet Smith. thing under our Government as E. R. Snow says, the controversy plural marriage. Marriage is the union of one man with one woman. is with God not us. Any arrangement aside from this Be that as it may, we of the y is not of the nature of marriage at cause, on behalf of ourall, And if, leaving our country selves, and in the interest of the Anti-Polygam- innocent women yes, innocent or guilty, in the interest of all women and girls of this Territory, with charity to all and with malice toward none, we have a controversy with E. R. Snow and with Mrs. Jacobs, and with any other polygamous person who publicly proclaims her or his adherence to and belief in polygamy. We desire to know fully and explicitly upon what such belief and adherence are based. Come, and let us reason awhile together upon this subject. If polygamy is good for you, it is good for us; if a benetit and blessing for one, it is a benefit and blessing for us all. If there be any obligation to accept or any condemnation in rejecting polygamy, we stand ready, in desire at least, to share in your glory, present and prospective, through accepting polygamy; as, on the other hand, to be made partakers of the condemnation which you tell us and tell all-import- your non-polygamo- ns ant Mormon sis- and time, Eliza R. Snow insists upon fundamental truth upon the fundamental basis of marriage we need only cite her attention to our first parents. They certainly were one pair one man and one woman, that was Gods original ordaining. That, then, may fairly be esteemed fundamental. Now if E. R. Snow, or any other person man or woman comes along and claims a union of the sexes upon any other basis, they must make it clear beyond all controversy, or dubiety, that that basis, which is to supersede the original and fundamental ordaining of the sexual relation, is not of men and his lusts, but of God and his love. Although man changes, God is the same yesAland forever. terday, though our views of truth change and enlarge, truth itself is forever What unchangeable the same. seemed a truth yesterday may not God is God seem a truth truth, truth, for all that. Eliza R. Snow, Mrs. Jacobs, we mildly and in all sincerity and charity of soul suggest to you that, before leaving this chequered scene of mortal life and your time, our time, may be short you could not possibly do a better or a nobler thing than to come out boldly and frankly and tell us, and especially Mormon sisyour ters, just what influences and agencies were brought to bear upon your minds to induce you to accept polygamy as having the sanction of God. You must wander far backintodays and years long past and gone, but let us know if you were not flattered and cajoled, or possibly intimidated (through your fear and dread of going contrary to a supposed divine injunction) into the acceptance of that from which vour natural clear sense and all your womanly feelings and instincts most surely have revolted. And may the Father sustain your very souls to make this crowning sacrifice for the to-da- y to-da- y. ters must follow the rejection of If polygamy is right, polygamy. and especially if it be a commandment of God, we wish to regard it in that light and to yield obedience to it. If polygamy is wrong, and especially if, upon full and fair canvassing of the whole matter, it becomes evident that it can establish no valid claim to be regarded as a commandment of God, then we wish you and all others to regard it accordingly, and to turn away from it. Is there anything to prevent our see-in- g eye to eve in this matter? Is there a beam in our eye, and but a mote in yours, or vice versa ? Let us pluck out from our own eyes every beam and every mote, and then we shall see with clearness. We have reflected long, written much, conversed and corresponded with many on this vexed question. Peaceably or forcibly it must be settled and it will be settled. But harsh measures force cannoteradi cate an idea, when once that idea has taken root in the mind of man or Truths sake. Women. woman. The Divine Spirit, with human reason and conscience, only has power to do that. The Christian Woman , published E. R. Snow says and we are at Philadelphia, and edited by Mrs. quite pleased to agree with her in Annie Wittenmyer, assisted by a this the action of the Govern- large corps of able writers, is a paper ment cannot annihilate, it cannot that should be in every Christian change a fundamental truth. That household. It is a monthly, price proposition is so plain, indeed, as to me dollar per annum, and we have require no argument, no defense. made arrangements to furnish it, in But when E. It. Snow adds that connection with the Standard for this nation, in preventing the $1.50 a year, only 50 cents more practice of plural marriage, shoulders than the regular subscription price a responsibility heavier than any of our paper. This offer holds good other nation has ever assumed, with to our old suhscibers, who ought to one exception that of the ancient renew at once. Send us $2.00, and Jews as Christian wives and you will get the Standard, the mothers, as lovers of our sex and Christain Woman, and Our Union , as good lovers of our country, too, the three best missionary journals we call upon E. R. Snow to indicate in the country, for one year. non-polygamo- all-lovi- -- Non-Morm- co-operati- ng on ng |