New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-27
DIR. NEWMAN vs.. BRIGHAM YOUNG.

The great debate on the question
''Does the Bible sanction polygamy?" be-
tween DIR. Newman and the champions Of
Mormanism came of the twelfth, thir-
teenth and fourteenth of this month.
Each session lasted two hours, and was
attended by thousands in the new taber-
nacle, in Salt Lake City. Our readers
will remember that last April Dr. New
man preached ser1nan on Polygamy in
his church, in Washington, that attracted
much attention. It was answered by
Orson Pratt in New York paper. On
the third of May the +" Salt Lake Daily
telegraph brigham Ioung's organ),
noticed the sermon, and published
statements, which DR.. Newman and
the press generally, construed as
| being challenge to discuss the Gues-
.tion in the City of Mormons. The chal-
lenge was accepted by the Doctor, and
the coming event was frequently referred
to by the papers. As the matter has ex-
cited considerable comment, We quote the
following from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Brigham fatty denied any challenge having
been given. The matter would here have
dropped then, had not several influential
citizens, in writing, requested the Doctor
to challenge Brigham, which he did.
Brigham accepted by appointing Orson
Pratt and John Taylor to speak for him.
| The following, from the Tribune, merely
relates to the preliminaries and occur
rences previous to the beginning of the
debate:
As most of our readers are aware, DR..
| Newman arrived in this city on Friday last,
with the avowed purpose, long heralded by
| the Eastern and Utah press, of discussing
| the subject of polygamy with President
| Young On the following morning the Doc
tor addressed a note to him, stating that
| Gin acceptance of the challenge given in
your journal, the Salt Lake Daily Telegraph
of the third of May last, TO discuss the ques-
tion. Does the Bible Sanction POlygamy,
have hereby to inform you that am now
ready to hold debate with you as the
| Head of the Mormon Church" This offer
was declined by President Young, on the
ground that no challenge was ever given
by him to any person through the columns
OF the Salt Lake Daily Telegraph, and that
the proposition in its columns, of May 3, was
unauthorized by him. Late on Saturday
evening an offer Of the use OF
both the tabeTnacles, one for the morn
inc. and the other for the afternoon
service, was made by President Young to
DIR. Newman; but, counting on the previous
disclaimer Of the President, arrangements
had been made by the Doctor for the Sun
"a -lot h. 20.
aside, and which led, OF necessity, to the
declining of President Youngs offer. TAX
ing advantage Of this simple fact, the Desere
Ners. in its usual unfair and illogical man
ner, sought to make a vast amount OF capital
ont of the affair, and ilourished as though &
grand victory had been gained, arguing that
because DIR. Newman delivered his lecture
in a small hall, before a few hundred people
instead of before the thousands of the Taber
nacle. that he went there to hide himself, sc
that his arguments might not be heard; and
furthermore, insinuating that he never in
| tended to discuss at all, but came to Utal
with the hope OF gaining notoriety on cheaI
terms.
Since writing the above, we learn tina
this insulting conduct on the part of the
church organ-for which there is not the
| least possible excuse-has led to direc
challenge from DR.. Newman to President
Young, which, together with the President
offer to debate through Professor OrsoI
Pratt or Hon. John Taylor as his representa-
tives. we publish in this issue.
With reference to the structures in the
Meas on the unreasonableness OF Doctor
Newman's supposition that he had a RICH
to construe the proposition of the Telegraph
| as q challenge emanating from Preslden
Young, all we have to say is, that although
it is true the sayings of the Telegraph a
the time in question possessed no interes
or Importance in Utah or elsewhere, yet i
is equally well understood that no paper al
subservient to President YOung's rule as tina
journal then was, would say anything whicl
!, it had reason to believe unapprObated b,
him. Dr.. Newman had, therefore, RICH