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Show PRACTICAL POLYGAMY. 137 number one was then brought up to state her objections. She did so in a very business- like or lawyer- like way, and among other things specified that her faith in the doctrine of polyg amy was not shaken, for she had only a short time before consented to her husband marrying a second wife, in order that his kingdom might be increased, and would consent to his marrying a third for a similar purpose ; but the woman he wished to marry was old, had already been a wife without having borne children, hence the probability was that the great end of marriage, the multiplication of the race, would not be subserved. A more powerful argument could not have been submitted to the president, and he dare not overrule it ( if he dared not do anything). The Saint was a friend of Brigham, and he wanted to accommodate him, therefore he divorced the two wives the man had already, and married him to the woman of his choice. * Polygamy in its best phases and surroundings is bad enough, but the marrying of relatives and incest as practised in Utah is most abominable and disgraceful. Marrying several members of the same family relation ship is by no means uncommon. For several sisters to be wives of one man, and mothers and daughters also, are of frequent occurrences. One of the principal merchants of Salt Lake City married three sisters all of whom are still living. But one of the most disgraceful cases of incest I have seen recorded was the marriage of a well known indi vidual to his halfsister. This is an indisputable fact. She lived in her brother's family for several months, generally regarded as one of the wives of Brigham Young, but when about giving birth to her first child she announced to her brother's other wives ( for he had two others) that he was * In this case, as in all others that I may cite in illustration of the customs and lives of the Mormons, I have the names of the parties referred to ; but as the mention of them in no instance would add to the interest of the narrative, and in some cases would cause an unwarranted mortification to friends of the parties, whom I respect, if these letters should fall into their hands, I withhold them. * 7 |
