“That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured and that no inhabitant of said state shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship; provided, That polygamous or plural marriages are forever prohibited.”
However it was not understood that those who had entered into that relation should be barred from political rights. President Grover Cleveland, in September, 1894, by proclamation, restored all political and civil rights to those who had been disfranchised by the anti-polygamy legislation. Similar action had previously been taken by President Benjamin Harrison. John Henry Smith, president of the constitutional convention, was a polygamist, and Brigham H. Roberts also served in that body without any question of opposition, and helped to frame the constitution which prohibited plural marriage in the state.
Opposition of the Ministers
The opposition against Congressman Roberts was led by the Ministerial Alliance of Salt Lake City, Attorney A. T. Schroeder, and the Salt Lake Tribune, which at that time was the organ of the Republican party. Mr. Charles C. Goodwin, editor of the Tribune, had served with B. H. Roberts in the constitutional convention without a thought of opposition. It appeared now that the old question was to be revived through religious and political hate, and that the harmony which had prevailed was to come to an end. The Ministerial Alliance met December 6, 1898, and prepared an address, which was signed by twenty-four “ministers of the Gospel,” “most earnestly” calling upon the people of the United States to join them in a protest against the seating of Congressman-elect Roberts of Utah. They declared that the “Mormon” Church, in the election of Congressman Roberts, had broken its pledge with the government.
Statement of President Snow
In a telegram to the New York World , December 29, 1898, President Snow stated, officially and emphatically, in answer to the many false reports, that plural marriages had ceased with the issuance of the manifesto by President Woodruff, and that the Church had nothing to do with the nomination and election of B. H. Roberts, that matter being entirely a secular and political affair. The record of the election showed that B. H. Roberts received greater support from the non-“Mormons” than he did from the “Mormon” people.
Declaration of Senator Rawlins
In answer to the false accusations, Senator Joseph L. Rawlins (non-“Mormon”) stated:
“That polygamists should be disqualified to vote or to hold office was no part of the compact between the state of Utah and the United States. In territorial elections polygamists were so disqualified. But Congress purposely and knowingly wiped away all such disqualifications as to the very first election to be held under the enabling act, namely, the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention.”