Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-16
ELDER ROBERTS on EDUCATION.

TO exist In certain quarters as TO tine
Significance of some remarks made by
Elder d. II. Roberts in the course of
his address last Sunday evening, the
occasion being the celebration Of the
eleventh anniversary of the Latter-day
Saints college In this city. II is charged
that the gentleman expressed antagon-
ism to the free school system that has
been established in this city, and par"
ticularly TO the high school, and that
he belittled the developments of
science. In an editorial review of Ell
der Roberts discourse the Tribune this
morning says:
again, he declared that God has
revealed to the Saints the true record
Of mans origin and identity That
is more of the old cant which We hoped
was to be hereafter confined to ITS own
sphere. without discussing it, how
ever, what has 1t TO do with the puhlc
schools2 II looks as though the whole
anniversary celebration was intended
as a blow to the high school now, to be
followed by the impotency which ruled
the common schools here befO.e en-
lightenment came. Surely there is no
comfort in thinking of renewal OF the
old fight here which kept this storm
want that state of affairs restored2 If
they do not, then they should In an
authoritative way give the "Descret
News" notice to leave its old taunts
out OF print. and should take steps to
confine Elder Roberts bigotry to its
proper sphere
An ecclesiastic, prominent in the
religious society to which he belongs,
in delivering an address commemor-
alive OF the founding of an education
a. institution by that society, declares
that God has revealed the origin and
destiny of man; but this religious doc
trine, stated before religious assem-
bly,, held on Sabbath evening, to
commemorate a religious event, is
more of the old cant" which is not
"conined to its own sphere" What is
Its "sphere?"
Referring to this proposition OF the
ology, the Tribune asks: 'Without dis
cussing It, however, what has 1t 20
do with the public sciools?" 1t has
absolutely nothing to do with them,
and the speaker did not have them in
his mind when he thus spoke. He did
not dream that his words would be
construed as reference to them,
favorable or otherwise The sugges-
tion that the anniversary was in
tended as q blow at the high school
has not scintilla Of foundation in
fact. sense or reason. The allusion
to the "old fight" is silly to the extent
of being absolutely maudln; but II is
not SO easy to characterize the gall
with which the "taunts' of the Desc
ret News are referred to in an arti-
Gle which is ms replete with offensive
expressions as is the Tribune's edl-
torial now being candidly discussed,
when 1t better deserves silent con-
tempt.
But to conclusively dispose Of the
subject: Elder Roberts was seen to-
day by a representative Of the News"
and he most emphutlcally disclaimed
the import placed upon his re-
marks by the Tribune, calling atten-
tion to the fact that the Herald had
given them exactly the opposite con-
struction so far as his position in refer
ence to free higher education was con-
cerned. Elder Roberts held that the
spiritual part of mans nature ought
not to be neglected while his Intellect
is being trained and developed, and
that the theoretical claims of science
ought not to be conceded at the ex-
pense Of revealed truth. This was
the position he took In his address, and
the one he has always maintained;
but he maintains 1t as a religionist
and does not permit his theological
views to lessen his interest in our pub.
lie school system. There Is not, indeed
the slightest ncompatability,
II am an enthusiastic believer in ant
admlrer Of the splen1id school system
we have in this city" he said "includ
ing the high school, which I am mos
emphatically in favor Of maintaining
am uHalterably opposed 10 any back
ward step in respect to our school sys
TEN, and ! would regard as such tn,
abolition OF the high school. You ma!
say this for me, and say 1t hard,
he added, with warmth tina
settled all doubt as TO whore he stoot
in reference to free higher education
anu lIt lulllt Htnbbl NAHltllls ne re-
ferred TO his course IN the constitu
tional convention by way Of further
proof of his friendllness to the publ,
schools, including high schools in cltiei
large enough TO have them.
The News" half suspects that tn,
Tribunes editorial was a stratagem de
signed to call forth definition Of Eide
Roberts true position on the schoo
and high school questions, thinking L
base thereon a guess or two. II so
our cotemporary has achieved its pur,
pose and is welcome to all the result.
ing advantage. one thing is evident
No division on religious lines can b,
effected IN reference TO the hlgf
school question, for Mormons and Gen.
tiles are alike divided among them,
selves respecting 1t, and no man car
tell how the people Of the city stant
in relation to it until some clearer ok,
preston than has yet been had from
them shall be made.
PUNISH BOTH