| Show DEATH TO THE PRA PROMISE MISE BUSINESS 1 map case of 0 P arnold conveys an important lesson to the latte rd saints it shows how mue muc a reliance istone is to be placed on the virgual agreement made bythe by the public prosecutor and the courts of immunity to those woo promise to obey ahe edmunds law and the extent ol of twe tse be nent to be derived by those who are induced to make that promise when mr arnold agreed to live according to that law as construed by the cociu coin is the extreme rali rulings of late cabes had not been delivered IT cohabitation albita tion at that time meant living will it was dot cot girou eacy its sig ti tion it Is true butir bat i vas understood to comprehend act lai dwelling to gether in the same d amibile ual cile ili it was not then considered anat a visit to a r sick ick child in tae m w others presence enco constituted constitute ft cohabitation winnin the meaning of the law nor that chat forand for and occasionally meeting with a plural wife tor the purpose of see seeing ing to 10 her welfare and the proper care of 01 her children was TO b be e construed trued as criminal carimir al mr air arnold did not make such a promise as is now exacted because such conditions as are at present imposed were not then passed on nor we believe even thought of or anti ci his promise was qualified and was conditioned on caring for and recognizing his bis plural wite wife and her eni laren the evidence at a t bia bial showed no do violation of his agreement We ement as it was entered into and aid sla a lie he understood it and had bad a right to understand it ii with tile the construct jn 01 ol the ibe statute then given iven out as duj law but his conviction biz been brought about by applying to his case abe I 1 later a tr f interpretations of the court which involves a course not re by defendants defenda ats when mr arnold was induced to make ke inn hin promise those new rulings have been made retroactive retro active acelie in braer to secure jus his conviction vic tion he la it now bow condemned to a len lengthy imprisonment and a heavy floe fine f for or doing that chica was perfectly y allo allowable t under the construction of the law i in u vogue when he promised to obey it when a man convicted under the edmunds E law promises to obey it as construed by the courts there Is a mutual agreement chere must be at least two par parties ties to every contract tile tau fc promises to obey the law jawand and the G vern meat qs rap reseA all by the court promises not to him while he that promise ur mr arnolds case s shows h aws that no trust can be reposed in the treacherous illusions which in this class of cases pass for guarantees guaranties guaran guara ties intes of the government he who relies upon them is in daily and imminent danger his fits very agreement is made a means to his discomfiture he is safer without without it than with it for it renders him a special object of the spotters scra scrutiny tiny if he renders readers aid to a f friend who wao is in jeopardy and thus excites the ire of the minions ot the law he is exposed by his promise to extra vigilance and double danger the great desideratum of the opponents 0 seems to be the promise which is insisted upon by the judges judge sand and thought to be reasonable and proper by the unthinking public what it really means has been explained many times in ia these columns ft it signifies vastly more than appears in the words he who makes promises it to treat the wife who has borne him children and who loves him devotedly worse than he would treat the stranger Hemus he must tuot not meet her he must not go bilto her presence jo to see a dying child or attend its funeral he must not go to berho her home meto to visit her or supply her bar with absolute necessaries he might visit a sick stringer stranger but not a sick plural wife but if he makes the promise there is no telling telline anat it fully implies it may mean one thing today to day and another tiling thing tomorrow and as in the case of mr arnold the new condl Lion that is an afterthought may be required of him whenever it is manufactured although it formed no part of his agreement if it il means the same in other cases as in mr arnolds it signifies that as soon as the promise is made a spotter potter fc willbe will be bet like a sleuthhound at his bis heels to dog his bis footsteps watch his bit actions and help to nose out LL a new case against him courtesies that he be might show to any lady in need of them will airi be construed into indications of closer relations the neighbors will be wanted to pry into his affairs and give evidence to his discredit conduct that in itself is innocent will be so bent and held up as to appear to be cri criminal J he will be more than ever an object of suspicion and if be does not act like a brute without abnor conscience or affection he be will be marked down for a certain prey this is assuredly poor encouragement to persons made offenders who contemplate escaping puni dament by giving the promise required we commend it to their careful consideration the they Y should d examine it ana see how much benefit they are likely to secure as its reward and those who urge the latter day saints to bind themselves by that promise should ponder upon the punic faith of the prosecution and behold low bow much mach confidence cabbe can be reposed in the govern governmental ectal part of the agreement tue the arnold A bold case we should imagine will be death to the promise business |
