Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-23
%POlyuamous CONGRESSMAN.

POlygamous Congressman.
The case of Congressman-elect b. Fl.
Roberts, of Utah, a ~polygamous elder i II
the Mormon church, who propose TO
take his seat in the next house of rep
resentatives, is stirring up a commotion
in the country that promises to make
the issue a most sensational affair, TO
say nothing of the question, now be-
come of serious moment, will not con
gress, by admitting this violator of the
law to his seat, practically sanction po-
lygamy in the United States? Such an
action will be sure to bring down upon
the heads of congressman, collectively
and individually, the wrath of such a
large area of country that their lives
would become a hollow mockery and
hope an empty dream. To begin with,
the Woman's Home Missionary Board
of the Presbyterian Church, numbering
100, 600 women, are united to fight Rob-
erts' admission, and the influence they
will be able to bring to bear is not to be
llSlllIN ItS utu. Illtll III w oiIlCII .
Christian Temperance Union of the
United States is also uniting it's power
full forces with the Presbyterian ladies,
and before the time for action comes,
there is promise that every evangelical
organization in the country will be
found ready to fight any favorable rec
ognition by congress of what the late
Kate Field called THE twin relic of
barbarism.'
The issue is really the integrity of the
American home; whether the patri-
archal system of marriage that God
winked at in the dawn of civilization
when man knew no better, shall be en-
grated on American Christian civili-
cation by a ~so-called church including
dozen heterogeneous faiths until its
composition is suggestive of a crazy
quilt. and which would model it's sys-
TEN upon standards existing 5000 years
ago. The Mormon church has not abat-
ed one whit its claims to the divine in
SEPARATION Of plural marriage, and recent
events go to show hat while new po-
lygamous marriages are not openly Gel
ebrated, the elders in the latter day
Zion who were married before the proc
lamation Of the manifesto by the pres
idency of the church. continue Giving
their religion" in brazen publicity. The
question naturally arises, Have not this
people violated their compact with the
government by which congress admit
congress be justified in declaring that
having so violated it's compact, the
state Of Utah shall be and hel eby is re-
manded to a territorial condition? This
question is very likely to be brought up
in the form of a resolution, and the de-
bate ensuing will make manifest how
the country stands,
The seating of Roberts would turn a
flood of evils and veXatious social ques-
lions upon the country. For instance,
the Cheyenne Indians will Immediately
demand a repeal Of the order compelling
them to separate from all but the one
wife or forfeit their rations. Many Of
these Indians have had five or six wives
each. and each with her brood of chill
what congress will do in the Utah mat
ter. They make the same plea that
Roberts does, and in case he is seated,
the Interior department will hardly be
able to rule adversely against the de-
mands of the ~Cheyennes. Moreover,
action by the house favorable to the
proposed member from Utah would
seriously complicate prosecutions for
bigamy throughout the country, until
the matter could be taken before the
United States supreme court, and the
resolution of the house admitting Rob
erts declared contrary to the genius of
this form of government, and, therefore,
null and void
Polygamy continues strong in Utah
Tendencies in Colorado, Arizona, Ida
no and Wyomine, and children are born
of plural marriages continuously. But
it is encouraging to feel assured that
not only is the Christian, the decent
sentiment of the country ~crystalized
against the heathenish practice, but the
rising generation of Mormons them
selves are coming to realize the GER
tainty of embodiment with the govern
ment and with civilized society in the
not far distant future if the practice
continues to be honored, and that ere
many years the custom must be crush
ed out. 1t is hard to even imagine that
Roberts will be given his seat, and it is
perhaps best to look or the bright side
of the matter and assume that congress
will act in a righteous defense of the
American home, until it shall have act
ed otherwise.