First Presidency Letterpress: February 1887

First Presidency Letterpress Copy Books

1887—February

Anti-polygamy constitution acceptable if others propose it; signs of the times; satisfied with John W. Young's efforts; accept will of the Lord; Card to Canada; John C. Cutler to Presiding Bishopric; why Scott amendment would not work; public demands renunciation of plural marriage; no surrender of principle; Zion's Savings Bank situation perilous; Gardo House rules; purchase of Wells corner for ZCMI; transfer of property to stake corporations; James Jack is President Taylor's agent.

	February 4, 1887 to President Angus M. Cannon
Round dancing	As the priesthood of your stake meets tomorrow and there may be an inclination on the part of some to take up the question on round dancing at the University Ball and at some other parties which have been held in the city, we suggest to you that nothing be said upon that subject for the present.
	February 4, 1887 to President William Paxman, New Zealand
Anti-polygamy constitution	Since the passage of the Edmunds Tucker bill by the House [January 12], there has been considerable talk, both here and at Washington, of the possibility of our framing a state constitution in which "polygamy and bigamy" would be forever prohibited; some persons contending that we could do this without violating our consciences or acting in bad faith towards the government and people of the United States; and that such a provision need not necessarily interfere with our belief in and practice of celestial marriage under the state government.
We cannot propose it	But we cannot frame a constitution ourselves of this character; for it will not do for us, after enduring what we have for the sake of our religion and its principles, to put ourselves in a position where our words and actions may be construed into a surrender of that for which we have contended. Better for us to continue to suffer from the attacks of our enemies and their persecution than for us to occupy a position which we cannot honorably, openly and successfully defend against all attacks that may be made upon us. At this day we cannot afford to put ourselves in an equivocal attitude upon this question or in one that might have the appearance of being false.
Marshal Dyer friendly, opposed by Dickson, McKay	… After Marshal Dyer left for Washington special exertions were made and rewards were offered to get hold of us. Dickson, McKay and others are not friendly to Dyer, and it seems that they are anxious to secure us during his absence so as to injure him, by making it appear that he does not make proper exertions.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	February 10, 1887 to President William Budge, Paris
Church livestock	You speak about a herd of Church stock. The proposition to sell our stock is one that does not strike me favorably. I would much prefer making some arrangement by which they could be kept for us, in some trustworthy person's hands, in a place where they are not known and cannot be identified.
	February 10, 1887 to Elder Andrew Kimball, Indian Territory
Passage of Edmunds-Tucker	Matters and things remain much the same with us as when we last wrote. Not any great evil is yet affected, but much is threatened. Just at present considerable exultation is being indulged in by our enemies over the passage of the Edmunds Tucker bill through Congress. For ourselves we can say that we have not been disturbed or disquieted in our feelings concerning these matters. Neither has any sentiment of fear taken possession of us in view of the prospects before us. This is the work of our God and he will manage and control all its affairs, and every event connected with it for the accomplishment of his purposes, and in this knowledge we are perfectly content.
Signs of the times	Whether those engaged in the crusade against us find any satisfaction therein, or whether they imagine they are doing God's service by persecuting us, and others may see in the faltering of some brother, once in a while a sign of weakness in the Church; but those who can read the signs of the times will admit that though these attacks upon our rights and liberties cost us dearly, yet we have in exchange increased experience, greater light, more perfect union, renewed zeal, and still other advantages that we do not now fully recognize, and that will, perhaps scarcely be appreciated until the conflict is over, and he whose right it is to reign be acknowledged and confessed by all the world.
Lorenzo Snow case	The late decision by the Supreme Court of the U.S. in the case of Brother Lorenzo Snow has been a cause of much vexation of spirit to our more vicious opponents. To the Saints it has been a source of congratulation as it has not only given Brother Snow liberty, but it also effects a number of other brethren, some in prison, some indicted, and others arrested, it will also curb the future conduct of missionary judges and attorneys who are so prone to twist the law to the injury of Latter-day Saints who fall into their clutches.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	February 12, 1887 to John W. Young
Satisfied with John W. Young's efforts	It is easy to perceive from your letters that you are exerting yourself to the utmost to prevent the consummation of the foul plots which have been framed against the rights and liberties of the Latter-day Saints in these territories. We are satisfied that you are doing all that can be done …
Lord's purpose in passage of Tucker Try to defeat in conference committee	Your description of the manner in which arrangements have been made to prevent the passage of the Tucker bill by the House of Representatives and the complete failure, through one cause and another, of the men upon whom you relied to do what they had promised, clearly shows to our minds that the Lord had a purpose in permitting the bill to go through the House. All your plans and arrangements seemed to go for nothing. by a combination of circumstances which were beyond your control. We must acknowledge the hand of the Lord in this … [Hope you can arrange defeat in conference committee. If not, accept it as from the Lord.]
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	February 14, 1887 to President Charles O. Card
Card to settle in Alberta ahead of others	[No objections to your plans to settle Alberta.] It will be well, as you suggest, for yourself and the brethren named to go ahead of the company and select but best ground upon which to settle. [Pioneer company to raise crops.]
	February 17, 1887 to Bishop William B. Preston
Approve John C. Cutler for Presiding Bishopric	[Approve John C. Cutler as counselor if he has time. You interview, and if all approve, ordain him with Bishop Burton.]
	February 19, 1887 to Elders Charles W. Penrose and Franklin S. Richards
Constitution Dr. Miller Members of Congress	[The letter is very light and hard to make out. The first part is illegible.] . . . being urged by our friends. … For a constitution which shall prohibit the practice of bigamy and polygamy … Dr. Miller when he came here… the future discontinuance of plural marriages … We have just … brief interviews with nearly every member of the House of Representatives. …
Most would have opposed Scott amendment	They have been seen individually and their views are written in their own language on the Tucker bill and the Scott amendment … that 19 out of 20 have no confidence … would not have voted for it, because they looked upon it as a subterfuge, or as being in the interests of it. Mormons … and to nullify the Tucker bill.
Don't trust promises	The majority express themselves as having no confidence in our promising to do what the Scott amendment proposes to do, and they would not consent to the admission of the territory as a state on any such terms, that nothing short of the complete … of polygamy by harsh measure such as the Tucker bill, will satisfy them. It appears clear therefore to our minds that the adoption of such a policy as you outline in your communication would not satisfy Congress and the country at large, and the adoption by us would only result in … to us without any corresponding benefit.
Will not compromise principle	For years before President Young's death, the First Presidency of the Church assumed an attitude upon this question which has not been changed by the First Presidency up to the present time. That attitude has been both dignified and consistent with our profession and belief. We have not [-] with this [-], have shown no intimation to compromise with principle, or in any manner [-] in our maintenance of our rights connected with it.
Reasons for rejecting Scott amendment	Every well informed public man knows this, and they are conscious that this principle is so deeply imbedded in our belief and practice that nothing but the most cruel and far reaching measures will cause us to abandon it. Their expressions show that they would have no confidence that such language as is used in the Scott amendment would limit us to a renunciation of this practice. If we were to make such a proposal, we should have [to abandon] the ground upon which we have so long stood and so consistently maintained and take new ground. In doing so we should have the mortification of proposing a concession that would be spurned and thrown back at us with contempt. We should, thereby, not only lose our own self respect, but our own people would be weakened, and the world would say we had offered to barter every principle for the sake of expediency.
Plan not practical	If the language which you suggest would be accepted by the nation, and could be successful carried out in the manner which appears to you feasible, the question would then present itself in a very different light to what it does now to our minds. It is as clear to us as light that this is not practicable, that it is a plan which, under present circumstances, we cannot possibly accept.
Put our trust in God	Whatever the ills and terrors of the Tucker bill may be, personally we prefer to endure them than to take this other course. We have put our trust in God in the past and we must trust Him in this as in all other things in the future. In doing so we are not troubled with even the shadow of a doubt as to what the result will be.
Request update	[What changes have been made in the Tucker bill and the test oath?]
	With kind regards, and thanking you for the interest you have taken and the trouble you have been at to get your views clearly before us and properly recognizing the motives which have prompted you in your communication, we remain, your brethren,
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	February 21, 1887 to John T. Caine and John W. Young, Washington, D. C.
Public demands renunciation of plural marraige	The difficulty that we perceive is this: What can we say or do to President Cleveland, if he interests himself in our case, towards satisfying public clamor? Can we satisfy public clamor and still maintain the ground upon which we have ever stood in relation to this question. In using the words "satisfying public clamor," we use those of your dispatch. Public clamor demands and will not be satisfied with anything less than, the complete cessation of plural marriages and a renunciation of the practice by us.
Cleveland would accept nothing less	We are told that public opinion is crystallized in regard to Mormonism. If it is, it is plain to be seen, from every expression made upon this subject, that nothing less than the complete destruction of our system of plural marriages will appease the popular demand. We think in speaking in this strain that we do not overstate this. We think we have reason to believe that President Cleveland would not be satisfied with anything short of this.
Dr. Miller's visit was to convince us	Dr. Miller's visit to Salt Lake, doubtless with a tacit understanding between himself and the administration as to the end to be accomplished, was for the purpose of convincing us of the extreme necessity and advisability of our making a promise of this kind.
Penrose/Richards plan (Scott amendment) would not work	The plan of Brothers Penrose and Richards if it could be successfully accomplished, might perhaps avert the evils which are impending, but it is chimerical. The public men of the nation would not accept it, they would not permit us to carry it into effect while the present sentiment reigns upon this subject. These are our reasons for saying to you in our dispatch, that we cannot change our attitude upon the main question.
Can go no further Rely on the Lord	We have examined the views and arguments which have been presented to us with the utmost care and deliberation, and we have sought the guidance of our God, and these are the conclusions we have reached. We are conscious of the weighty responsibility that rests upon us, and shepherds of the flock of Christ, and how important the consequences may be that will follow any decision that we make. But with all this in view, we have decided that we cannot do anything more than we have done towards conciliating public opinion upon this question, and whatever may be the result to us and to the people, we must trust to the Lord to sustain and deliver us.
Appreciate Cleveland's desire to help	We are greatly pleased with all you have told us concerning the feelings of President Cleveland and the desire which he manifests to serve us. It would gratify us very much to meet him in the same spirit which he exhibits, and to please him, but in this we must please our God and seek to maintain and carry out that which he has commanded.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	February 21, 1887 to Messrs. Thomas G. Webber, James Jack, Hiram B. Clawson, LeGrand Young and David McKenzie
Zion's Saving Bank	Your letter of the 17th in which you describe the condition of Zion's Saving Bank and Trust company evokes serious reflection and calls loudly for prompt and systematic action on the part of the officers of the institution. On the reputation of the names of its president, vice presidents and board of directors.
Greatest asset is reputation of its officers	Business has been done with it with a confidence that is not ordinarily extended to institutions of the character without they have undoubted financial backing. Its credit has rested, it may be said, entirely upon the names of its principal officers, and on this account the greatest possible pains should be taken in the management of its business to avoid the least betrayal of this confidence. For this would involve not only monetary loss but the loss of reputation which is beyond the power of money to purchase, and which, in the case of the officers of this bank, is priceless.
Neglected due to raid Loans due, interest not collected Would ruin the bank and our reputations	It is very clear that this institution has been sadly neglected, and this through the peculiar circumstances which have surrounded the men who figure as prominent officers in it. Their inability to take active interest in its business makes it more imperatively necessary that those in immediate charge of its affairs should exercise the greatest vigilance and caution. It is bad enough to have such loans as you describe come to be; but when to these is added the entire neglect of collecting interest for long periods the situation becomes one that is altogether unbusiness-like, and if continued would prove ruinous to the bank and to the reputations of those connected with it.
	John Taylor George Q. Cannon
	February 23, 1887 to My dear Sister Agnes
Gardo House targeted	The frequent raids upon the Gardo House are evidence that it is a place that is very much watched, and it is more than suspected that parties can be found there whom the deputies are anxious to arrest.
Rules of use	In view of this, great caution should be observed by all who reside there. It is not a place where business should be done by those who are sheltered there. None of their families should go there. If they have business with them let it be done elsewhere; and there should be as few of the public men as possible visit the Gardo House and none with their families.
Hospitality	The propriety of this you will understand and it should be impressed upon them. There is no objection to brethren enjoying the hospitality of the house, but we do not wish them to have it spoiled as a place for others by any imprudence on the part of the families or friends. Will you please see that this is carried out! Your affectionate brother,
	John Taylor
	February 23, 1887 to James Jack
ZCMI deed for Wells lot Secret deed for GQC	Please make a deed to ZCMI for the 55 feet of the east end of the D. H. Wells lot fronting north, by 105 feet 10 inches in depth running south, and forward it to President Joseph F, Smith for him to execute and have another deed for the rest of the lot which has not been deeded made in favor of George Q. Cannon, for him to sign. This latter is what we call a secret deed.
	John Taylor
	February 26, 1887 to James Jack esq.
Transfer church property to stakes Bishop's agents prepare inventory Jack is President Taylor's agent	I am desirous of transferring and delivering to the Church associations of the various stakes of Zion which have been organized as corporations, all the personal property of every description belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now in the hands of the bishop's agent in each stake, under his control, at the present date, and for each bishop's agent to furnish to such corporation a full and complete inventory of each property, stating the kind, quality and market value thereof, and also for each of them to return a copy of such inventory to you, and I fully authorize you to act as my agent in this business, and to sign all necessary papers for me as my agent in making these transfers and delivery through the bishop's agents to the various stake ecclesiastical association or corporations, so that it shall be, to all intents and purposes, as though I had signed such orders myself.
	John Taylor
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