| Show A REPORT FROM GOVERNOR WEST Is DI this issue we present the report of governor caleb W west to the secretary of the interior it is in f ull full with the exception of the closing and probably most interesting part of it that which relates specially to the situation in this territory of that part only a synopsis lip appears lippearl the reason for this is our not being 1 in possession of a complete copy until thac that point is reached the paper consists of a compilation pi lation of useful information derived from various sources tile sta that the Mormon people assume a defiant attitude in regard to the law enacted for the suppression of polygamy is from our oar standpoint t and pout inaccurate toe law in question tin finds ds a portion of the city in a particular domestic status the result of the workings ol 01 a certain peculiar marital institution which has been in operation for fer nearly half a century ceu ceia tury the law in question comes along and according acco iding to the construction construe placed upon it by the local courts demands a total disruption of family associations grounded in religion aud and affection it involves according to those constructions th the e total repudiation tion of wives and the practical casting adrift of children bound together by ties than which there are none more sacred known to humanity the people whose most moat vital interests are iu involved alved have asked for an authoritative detention ot the law before they can conscientiously say whether they can abide by the conditions it imposes they have asked for brealand brea dand have been tendered a stone mild they have petitioned forbish for fish and have been given a serpent in other words they are turned over to fco the tender mercies of those who seek their destruction st who construe the law one way today to day and another tomorrow to morrow that every avenue would enable them to conform to the legal enactment mip m ip be effectually closed it has been placed beyond question lu estion that men could not even treat their wives and children with the common they can bestow bebrow upon people unconnected with them without liability to legal pursuit and punishment they cannot according to definitions definition given to the law in question even attend the funeral f of one of their own offspring it if a plural wife the mother of the same babe were also alao present at the obsequies the position of the mormon people is not one of defiance but that ot of a comina community who are beill being unreason unreasonably unreasonably abl and inhumanly assaulted and denied an explanation as to how they can i ren ender their course of conduct in accord with the edmunds act the immunity on the score of promising has been well nigh exploded by late developments in the teira district C court ourt according to these developments it in bolves the putting of a hired aired spotter upon the track of the that his acts may be noted and construed to his disadvantage in the most glaring and strained fashion to bring him within the meshes of tha law the recommendation that the mar ahal and deputies be salaried is sensible as it would tend to remove the temp temptation t aaion otherwise existing to go to extremes in pushing the law beyond its legitimate intent but the suggestion should include other officials who have made a u rich h harvest a arvest 0 of i fees out of the anti and mormon crusade having manipulated prosecutions in a manner to make the yield as large as possible the pacific character of the mormon people under extras extraordinary edinar pressure au re and a ad aggravation gat a va i 0 1 is I 1 s recognize recognized c ees by at the e admission din ag t that hat no n 0 arit armed e d organization L at ion for resistance resist ne of toe the law exists also alio that there them has been no violent resistance to its execution but the recommendation for an enlarged garrison and increased local powers to call the military into requisition in case of emergency is in ghastly contradiction i to the acknowledged pacific situation why make formidable provision again stan admitted improbable exi exigency ency T the ite favoring of toe the passage of the tucker edmunds bill cannot be based upon the idea that it will be the engine by which the polygamous polygamous specter is to be annihilated annihilate for what bearing that tha t infamous measure would have in that direction is not apparent it does appear however that it would rob a larg number of people of their just riehm s under the constitution it would also place a large scope of political powe in the hands of a few men who would have a large following of fawning place hunters in co il it t would crush crash freedom into the earth in this 8 terri territory to ry the courteous treatment accorded to the governor by all classes is acknowledged and ir in aaion to the que question 8 tion which is made to predominate lover over everything else those who provide a way of escape for J the hapless mormons cormons Mor mons from the dilemma in which they find themselves and the dire disasters with which their future is threatened are said to be their benefactors taking the methods of escape generally offered into consideration shutting the doors of conscience K and honor and suffering them only to emerge through the gate of i ignominy well may the devoted people exclaim save us from oui our friends 11 |
