The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-19
A POLYGAMIST'S DEFENSE
STATEMENT FROM REPRESENTA-
TIyE-ELECT ROBERTS, OF UTAH,
He Denies the Mormon Church Has
BE Permitted to Sit in Congress.


tives that he be either not allowed 10 take
his seat, TO which il is admitted he was
legally elected, or. after being admitted
either OF these two things Is extremely
doubtful. AS many well-meaning people
and Christian ministers outside of Utah are
tom Of the religio-pOltical scheme TO I'M
seat Utah's representative, and thus defeat
the expressed will OF the people of a SOW
ereign State, l point out some of the false
charges which the agitation is based:
1t Is falsely charged that the Mormon
Church has broken faith with the govern
ment of the United States in reference TO
polygamy; that is, IL is charged that the
practice of polygamous marriages has been
resumed by the church. In the first place.
IL must be remembered that no compact ex-
lists between the Mormon Church and the
government of the United States on the
subject OF pOlygamy. The only compact eX-
listing that subject is between the people
OF Utah, acting through their reprs senta-
yves In the state constitutional convention
and the people of the United States, repre-
sented by the President and Congress. L
affirm positively that that compact has been
Kept on the part of the people of Utah.
There is no attempt made 10 repeal or an
nui the parts of the Constitution prohibit
ing polygamous or plural marriages. There
IS no desire 10 disrupt that compact with
has never violated the compact and has no
desire to annul il. but, on the contrary. the
venerable head of the church has officially
aVowed his determination TO adhere to this
settlement OF the question. The represent
alive, 10 Congress from Utah has never
violated this compact, the assertion of his
enemies 10 the contrary Notwithstanding.
When the little coterie of sectarian min
listers and disappointed would-be political
bosses in Utah who began this agitation say
that the Mormon Church or its members
violate the compact between our State and
the people of the United States, because
few men in Utah feel morally bound TO
married under sanction of the Mormon
church, previous to the issuance of the
church manifesto of 1880 disseminating
polygamous marriages-when they say this
Is violation OF the compact with the
United States. they say that which they
Know TO be untrue; disrupting and discon-
tlnulng those poygamouS relations was no
part OF the compact. 1t was not demanded
by the enabling act. 1t was not any part
OF the action OF the constitutional conYen-
tlon. but, on the contrary, steps were stu
diously taken not to disrupt those relations
by constitutional provision by dscarding
the parts OF the anti-polygamy law which
would nave brought about that result. What
good would come to the people of the United
states by disruption of those plural fami-
lies! What good would come to either mo-
and their children adrift? What Christian
Woman's home would be securer for know
Ing that Mormon plural wifes home was
now destroyed?
FULFILLING HIS MARRIAGE VOW.
Let 1t be remembered that the home and
family of that plural wife was established
ceremony, and with the approval Of all her
people The fountain of the evil was dried
up, the people of the United States can be
generous enough to allow the streams that
flowed from it to take their course until
lost In the oblivion Of death. Some men
the number is few and rapidly growing less
who entered into plural marriage relations
previous to 1890. when the church formally
and officially discontinued such marriages
and hence, OF course, previous to the settle
ment of the question by the compact of
our state constitution, have felt il morally
binding upon their consciences to fulfill OBJ
legations of their marriage vows TO those
polysamous families This is the only po-
lygamy that has existed in Utah since the
admission of the State. or since $780, in fact
1T is falsely charged that the Mormon
Cnurch controls the politics of Utah, and
tnat the representative from Utah was
nominated and elected by Mormon Church
influence.
1T is falsely charged that the Mormon
Church leaders sought to have Roberts
elected to test the sentiment of the people
of the United States as to whether Utah
would be held 10 the agreements in the
plural marriages. This is too silly to re-
quire refutation.
rs is falsely charged that Roberts was
elected TO crowd polygamy down the threats
of the American congressman and people to
fulfill an alleged prediction of Brigham
Young that 1t would yet be done.
man from Utah was elected to represent
polygamy; that If he is seated. and retains
his seat, II will mean that Congress mdorses
polygamy, and that there will be an imme-
ciate revival of the Mormon plural marriage
system in Utah. Does the House of Re
publicans indorse the individual views of
Socialists in some congressional district
elect congressman. would his admission
to the House say TO the world that the
American Congress Endorsed socialism? /
don't go TO Washington as a representative
or polygamy. L am not sent there by my
constituents to ask Congress to consent to
the repeal of the clause in our State Con-
stitution which defines, prohibits and pun
ishes polygamy-and 1T is TO be remembered
that this particular clause in our State Con-
stitution cannot be repealed without the
consent of the United States. / shall not
go to WASHINGTON to advocate or. even de-
fend polygamy.
DOES NOT ADVOCATE POLYGAMY.
1T is falsely charged that the representa-
tive from Utah advocates polygamy-that
is. the present contracting of polygamous
marriages, notwithstanding the Utah con-
stitutional prohibition of such marriages
Il pass by the many other falsehoods that
have been uttered relative TO myself in this
political agitation, knowing that the time is
near when those who uttered them and my
self will be face TO face. / can then answer
the charges accusing me of being guilty of
n
answer to the House Of Representatives
the first parliamentary body in the world
If ii can consent TO far forget its dignity
as 10 resolve itself into police court 10 as
certain II one of its members is guilty of
a misdemeanor alleged to have been COM
mitted in a distant State and punishable
there.
THE danger to the American home in the
protection OF which this political agitation
is invoked, and which is urged as justifica-
ton. does not lurk in the sun-bessed valleys
of Utah. filled with farming villages, where
domestic peace and happiness rise every
day 10 greet the morn and crown the hours
with quiet joy. The good people of New
York city and other cities can md il much
nearer home. In this city where | am writ
ing-the city of Helen Gould-and / mention
that ladys name with the profoundest re-
spect am. admiration for her good works
her womaniy charity. and, with all her
observation-disclosures. and only regret that she
has been Ihisled in relation TO con-
ditions in Utah-but here in the city
feet square may be found more that men
aces the American home than ever existed
or, i hope, ever will exist, in the whole
State OF Utah. And, knowing this, it looks
Just little ridiculous TO see wel-meaning
reformers so far misled by misrepresenta-
tion or Utah affairs TO be found standing
knee deep in the swampS of social evils
about them, vainly trying to tiptoe them
selves into position where they can peek
over the rugged SUBMITS OF the Rocky
mountains 10 find a more desperate menace
TO the American home. Leave Utah alone;
she Is able. and will work out her own SAL
walton, II. indeed, she is not already as far
along that road as any other State in the
Union"