The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-07
OF PARTISAN ORIGIN.

Our morning contemporary Is mis-
taken The Herald has never said that
all who have protested against the
seating of Utah's congress1nan-elect
are Republicans. Many of them are
honest Protestants whose righteous re-
sentiment has been aroused by the cal
umnies of the local Republican organ
and its assertion that the Mormon
church is trying TO crowd polygamy
down the throat of the nation"
Misrepresentation which originated
with a local Republican boss who is
simply having his revenge upon certain
church authorities for refusing to fur
Their his personal and partisan projects,
were sparks hurled by the hand of
malice into the national magazine of
prejudice.
But wherever the opposition has
spread. the fight upon B. H. Roberts
and his people was begun by Repub-
lican politicians in Utah; it was util-
lied by the Republican party a year
ago; it has been repudiated by. al
though identified with, that party; it
has been constantly agitated by the Re
publican organ. although taken up by
sectarian crusaders and placed before
the American people as a moral ques-
ton which requires federal inquiry and
radical action.
In 50 far as it has been a party af-
fair The Herald has defended the rights
of the Democratic congressman as a
member of the Democratic party and
as citizen of the United States: fur
thermore. il has exposed the hypocrisy
of the originators of this crusade and
has shown by their conduct and public
utterances that they had fully con-
doned what they afterwards con-
demned.
For several days before his nomina
ton the air had been full of threats
coming from the headquarters Of the
local Republican boss-threats of a
personal and religious warfare. Dem
ocrats went to Mr.. Roberts and told
him of these threats. He assured them
that he was ready to meet any and all
charges that might be made against
him or his people. He is ready now, he
says, to meet his accusers and answer
TO the committee for his conduct and
for the good faith of his people. And
ii IS essential to a perfect and mu-
tual understanding of the matter that
the hearing should be complete, and
that everything which MIR. Roberts has
20 say in his defense, whether of extern
uation or denial, should be listened to
with patience and respect.
Mr.. Roberts understood when he was
nominated that in case his election pre-
cipitated a discussion of Mormon doc
trines or practices, The Herald would
not follow the discussion beyond the
range of politics. In all probability
the opposition will make a personal
fight upon Mr. Roberts. for which he
is doubtless prep lred," was the an
nouncement made in these columns.
The Herald viii defend his Democracy
and the political rights OF the people
he represents" This was entirely sat
isfactory to Mr.. Roberts. and The
Herald has hewed to this line.
And, while the prosecution is still fed
by the trickery and malevolence of To-
cal Republican leaders and men under
their influence, the case has become a
curious mixture of partisanism and
sectarianism throughout the nation.
rendering it difficult to discuss the sub
iect from a purely political standpoint
The Republican party and the Repub-
lican organ of Utah cannot escape
their responsibility for this cultivation
of doubts and awakening of suspicious
against people who are as honest and
as law-abiding as the people of any
community