The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-29
SP|)UIS HOLY WRIT
Polyg Roberts Justifes Him
self on Religious Grounds.
DENOUNCES THEBRETHREN
Of the Presbyterian Faith Who
Condemn Him.

New York. Dec. $-A Salt Lake spe-
ciaI to the Evening World says: Congress
man-elect Roberts today made the follow
ing statement TO the Evening World cor
respondent:
IF a time comes when Il Is necessary
for me 10 defend myself 1 shall be there
right on the spot and I appreciate that
the members Of congress and the Amer!-
can people are more liberal. broadminded
and generous than few bigoted and con-
tracted preachers OF the Presbyterian
church. whose training. mode OF life and
trend Of thought tend TO undt them FOR
practical lne.
Joseph Smith received a commandment
from the Lord to introduce our order Of
marriage into the church and on the
strength of that revelation and not by
reason OF anything that Is written in the
Jewish scriptures. the Latter Day Saints
practice plural marriage. Polygamy Is
not adultery. Cor were II so considered
then Abraham, JACOB and the prophets
who pracnced IT would not be allowed
an inheritance in the kingdom. OF heaven
and If polygamy IS not adultery then it
q =
pears to me that modern Christians must
either learn tcAGIeraIe polygamy or give
up forever the glorious hope Of resting in
Aoraham's bosom.
THAT which God approves. and so str!k-
ingly approves, must be not only not bad.
but positively good. pure and holy.
Notwithstanding this. however. the
hand OF the Gentiles was laid go heavy
upon the people OF the Lord that in His
mercy, God permitted them 90 cease Tnere-
from from eIpedlency. and. true 20 the
pledges given by the church. no poIyga-
nous marriages nave since been celebrated
by the church. But not even the church
can take away from a man the wives II
has already given him. They are his for
time and for eternity and I think the
great. broadminded and just American
people Will not require man TO east on
the wives he has and with whom ne has
lived nor 10 abandon his children
At the most. Mr.. Roberts says his offense
Is unlawful cohabitation and ne re-
marked:
Il am here and the courts are open. II
any one wants to test the point the way
is clear"
1t has been urged by some that Roberts.
owing 10 the operation OF the Edmunds-
Tucker act. which disfrsnchised polyga-
mists. is legally barred from taking his
seat in congress. In regard 20 this Mr..
Roberts says he has the best legal advice
obtaina5le. which convinces him that there
are no legal obstacles in the way OF his
taking his seat.
BUT ROBERTS DENIES IT.
Salt Lake. Utah, Dec. 2S.-Congressman-
elect Roberts was today shown the Salt
/ Lake dispatch 10 an eastern paper, claim
/ ing 10 be an interview with him on church
/ matters.
Mr.. Roberts said he bad not given the
reporter Of the paper anything OF the kind
| FOR publication. He said he was called
/ upon for a statement. and tod the reporter
/ that he had nothing 30 say on the sub
! ject. In conversation with the reporter.
/ Mr.. Roberts said he called attention 20
/ the distinction between p0lygamy aud IN
| lawful cohabitation and said there had
! been no polygamous marriages since $50.
! Further than the substance " this. he
SAYS. he said nothing that Is contained In
| the alleged interview.