Show for the evening news OF woman WOMAX IN the degradation of woman in utah is a common phrase it is common commo n with our inveterate enemies those who would annihilate e us as a people and it is repeated by many who politically are our friends that it degrades woman is admitted as a plea against the doctrine of plurality of wives and no doubt is ls is 19 a just conclusion drawn from the nature of things as social and domestic life is exhibited in la the world there nothing is known of the pure puro priesthood of god and ita its influences on society in its organization according to the order and pattern of heavenly things neither do they understand the true position of women our dur sisters abroad who are now earnestly advocating comans womans rights and claiming equality with man realize that with them society ia is subject to abuses much is wrong and with noble purpose they are struggling to effect a beneficial change but they will 9 ill iii find to their sorrow that their very wishes give them not their wish having reached their aim they will not have accomplished the desired object the measures they adopt will be instrumental in creating more evil than they cure nothing short of the priesthood of god can correct exi exl existing stino evils god loves purity andee has introduced introduced the principle of plurality of wives nivea to restore and preserve the chastity of woman and for this reason corrupt men and women hate it it is true that through ignorance of its origin and tendencies den cies many moral minded persons speak and write against it who if they better understood would atwould it be numbered with wite its strongest advocates every woman w who bo is wor worthy thy of being called such should defend it it ia is truly wo mans cause a cause which deeply involves not only her present but her eternal interests which will eventually bring her back to the position from which she has fallen through the disobedience bedi ence of our first parents and crown her with eternal majesty this is a voluptuous age and in spite of all the efforts exerted by high aiming philanthropists to check its pestilential spread the social evil abroad is increasing to a fearful extent mans maus wisdom is not sunni sufficient clent god alone can prescribe the remedy here in utah through his servants and hand maidens he re Is establishing a nucleus of domestic and social purity confidence and happiness which far as its ita influence extends eradicate and prevent in future all those blighting evils which are not only destructive to virtue and innocenc cebot which threaten the extinction of human existence Is it possible that principles and practices productive of such noble and magnanimous nani results can be degrading to woman no verily no they have the opposite tendency they elevate her from the common level of womankind to a noble and lofty standard they constitute her a worker coworker co with god in the moral work of salvation and in the redemption of the world they place her in a most responsible position where she is fully authorized to accomplish all the good of which her nature ia Is capable let those who question the morally elevating results of plural marriage care carefully fully tally and candidly compare the present condition of women in utah with her condition elsewhere not like anna dickinson who having her forthcoming lecture on the mormons cormons previously concocted in her brain came here stayed a few hours and was careful to go away as ignorant as she came and by doing so she served serve berve her financial interests for falsehood has more ready sale than truth in the worlds market anna reminded me of a country squire who having a suit before him heard the witnesses on one side but when those on the opposite side were called cried out hold my mind is clear on the subject now but if I 1 should hear the other side I 1 fear I 1 might be puzzled this is a specimen of the course pursued by many of our traducers traduce rs solomon Bo lomon said hald he that judieth a matter before he heareth it is not wise 11 what lady possessing the self respect that belongs to noble womanhood would not prefer the polygamy of the latter day saints to that which ia is illegally and clandestinely practiced in the outside world that is really and fearfully degrading it is criminal vice and crime degrade the theal civil service journal in speaking of polygamy in utah says it I 1 is s contrary to the moral sense OF of mankind the Cincin daay davy enquirer says we regard it as an offense against morality the above are no uncommon opinions of the press which exhibit either an egregious amount of ignorance with regard to the workings of the social system of utah or they must have al adopted opted an entirely new definition of the word moral morality ity f entirely different from anything that webster walker or worcester ever thought of admitting the correctness of their own reports descriptive of their present state of morals as well as of the many verbal statements from reliable sources which we hear it is really an insult to our oar experience and the finer feelings feell nga of our natures that our practice should even be mentioned in comparison with theirs ours is a system which god has revealed in this age of moral degeneracy gene racy and has commanded his peo to practice it has been introduced to check the tide of corruption and exhibit a precedent aa an order of purity and virtue for the present salvation and future exaltation of or man and that this should he be branded as an otense against morality seems a burlesque on common sense and genuine humanity that it is an offense against popular corruption will be readily admitted were the practice of plural marriage really in opposition to mW morality allty there is too little of that element now existing in the states to create any very percept perceptible lide opposition but when it comes in contact with popular corruption the lug tug ug and toli toil of war is aroused at one craft is 18 in danger to a reflecting mind the fact and it is a fact that the most bitter op posers of polygamy oly gamy are the most corrupt in soe soc society society should be admitted as a strong argument in favor of its influence in shielding virtue and innocence that adulterous persons persona should oppose abys a system which is a reproof to their inclinations and a restraint on oa their conduct is natural but that our oun nation should have so far descended from its former high tone of virtue as to be influenced in its legislation by such unprincipled miscreants Is a subject of astonishment and deep regret 11 what god hath joined let not man put asunder so said jesus god goil is the author of the marriage rite it belongs to him shall mortal man wrest it from him how does god exercise this full fuli function action it is by him invest invested ei I 1 in the priesthood and that priesthood the latter day saints hold with president brigham young like moses of old as the mouth of god to the people I 1 was intimately acquainted with joseph smith the first prophet in this dla dispensation sensation ensa tion he taught me the principle cip e of plurality of wives and instructed me that it pertained to the priesthood I 1 knew him to be a man of god else I 1 would not have endorsed his teachings and from that time I 1 have held the doctrine of plural marriage as sacred as any other principle of salva tion I 1 have witnessed its iti operations for nearly thirty years and know that where it ia N honored it neither degrades man or woman la in conclusion let me say if virtue purity and anti nobility of character if contempt of vile and wicked men and love and respect for those who are pure upright and honorable if the privilege for choosing choo husbands if to be loved honored and respected as wives mothers sisters and daughters by good men is degrading them then the women of utah are degraded ELIZA B R SNOW salt lake city april 21 01 |