The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-22
PoLYGAMIsT ROBERTS.

If any man in the United States under
stands the Mormon question it is ex-Sena-
tor Edmunds, who was the author of the
anti-polygamy act which went into effect
while Utah was yet Territory, and which,
being enforced by United States author
ity, did effectually put a stop, for the time,
to polygamous marriages The admission
of the Territory as a State was, however,
looked upon as an unwise proceeding by
many who doubted the honesty of the Nor
mon assertion that the prophets" had had
new revelation, and that the claim of the
hierarchy that polygamy was divine in
stitution and part of the Mormon religion
had been abandoned. Congress was per-
suaded to accept this statement, and on the
strength of 1t, and of the fact that the
proposed constitution of the State prohib-
tied plural marriages, admitted the Terri
tory to statehood. The recent election to
Congress by citizens Of Utah of man with
three wives proves the lack of sincerity of
the representations made concerning the
practice, and the little regard the Mormons
of the State have for their Constitution. 1t
puzzles many persons not posted in legal in
tricacies to understand why a man who so
offends the moral sense of the entire coun-
try and defies the laws that are on all the
statute books is not placed under arrest
and the matter simply and easily disposed
Of by trial in court, but Mr.. Edmunds points
out, as may be seen by an article elsewhere
in this issue, that if Utah is willing to make
its Constitution and its statutes dead letter
the United States can do nothing. Having
been admitted to the Union there can be
no interference with the administration Of
its internal affairs He also shows that the
House of Representatives has no other
course than to admit him to membership
to that body if he shall meet the three
requisite qualifications of age, citizenship
and election. But after he is once mem
Der, then, as Mr.. Edmunds shows, he may
be expelled from the House for any reason
upon which two-thirds of the members
shall agree. There is no question but that
the defiant practice of polygamy is a cause
sufficient for expulsion. If the associates
of Mr.. Roberts do not feel that his presence
in that body is an insult to themselves in
dividually they should consider that it is an
insult to the community at large and a
reflection upon the institution of marriage
which, as accepted and held sacred by
millions of people, forms the foundation and
strength of the home and the Nation.
With the light thrown by Mr. Edmunds
upon the method Of procedure it devolves
upon the members of the next House of
Representatives to make themselves ready,
as one of their first acts, to- cast this polyg-
amous Utah man from among them. BY
doing so they will at once manifest proper
respect for themselves and recognition of
public sentiment, and will teach the bold
and defiant Utah polygamists a lesson that
is better given now than later.
1t was announced some time since that
Representative Landis of Indiana, was
preparing to conduct the fight against
Roberts. If he shall do so he will meet with
popular approval and cannot distinguish
himself in a better cause.