The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-10
ROBERTS REPLY.
The Congressman Answers His
Critics.
Says the Attacks Are Prompted
by Religious Zeal.
TO THE CAUSE
He Declares That He Cannot Be
Unseated.
One of His FavOrite Wives
Speaks Her Mind.


fred Black says: L have had a long
talk with Brigham H. Roberts, con-
gressman-elect from the sovereign state
of Utah.
Brigham Roberts is a great, strap
ping, good looking, virile, intensely
masculine man in the latter thirties,
with the persuasive, wheedling, coaxing,
voice of a PROSECUTING ecclesiastic.
There is no use trying to get people
to believe the truth about our religion
or about u.s." he said.
mo matter what we say, it is mis-
construed and ridiculed- But the light
is spreading. We are sending out more
missionaries today than we have ever
sent. The true faith is growing with
almost magic rapidity.
THE world will soon baSk IN Cne
glory of enlightened faith.
These attacks upon me are pelng
made by those whose minds are DARK
with the clouds of superstition, ana
there is nothing personal in them
These people have nothing against me
my religion they hate. Therefore l bear
them neither malice nor anger can
stand persecution for the truths sake
But this persecution, Mr.. Roberts,
will it not affect the standing OF Utah
politically before the country"
1T will not" said Mr.. Roberts. In
the first place, there is nothing perman-
ent about this sudden storm of religious
fanaticism which is attacking me- 1t
will soon be over Why, I don't take my
seat until next fall! There is long
summer between now and then; Inere
is the sea serpent to think about. When
they get to telling fine tales about him,
Roberts and his crimes against human
ity will be forgotten.
1.-The Christian ministers are trying
to make a bOgy man of me, but they
will find that the people of their con-
gregations are not so easily frightened
now as they were some years ago, when
nnS0ate6 account of
his pOlygamiSt marriage.
There is no law in the land which
can unseat a man who goes to WASH
ington as a representative from SOW
ereign state just because he has been
guilty of what the law of that state
makes a misdemeanor. Polygamy is
not bigamy. There is great difference.
Just the important difference that there
is between a felon and a misdemeanist.
Mind you, do not admit, and have
not since this persecution began, ever
admitted or allowed my friends to admit
that 1 am living in polygamy.
do you deny it, them"
ct neither admit nor deny do not
discuss it. I can not see what the peo-
pie of the United States have to do
with my domestic affairs 1 am not try
ing my case in the newspapers. The
congress of the United States will try
it in due time and 1 will make my de-
Tense then and there and not until
then"
Then I went over to see DR.. Shipp-
She lives in a neat little cottage in a
broad, quiet street. There is a sign out
at the door which announces to the
passer-by that DR.. Roberts has an office
within.
Mrs. Roberts met us at the door and
asked US into a pretty little parlor. She
is a handsome woman, with brilliant
black eyes, a high collar, silken black
hair and a brilliant smile that lights
up a somewhat masculine type of face,
which shows traces of sorrow and
anxiety.
Mrs. Roberts used to be a great suf-
fragist. said my friend. but since she
married Bro. Roberts, she had a. change
of heart. Mrs. Roberts flushed a little
as she said:
mo: that is not true. I am suffrag-
list enough now. but I do think that it
women forward into the industrial
fields of life. 1 believe in home, and
think the only place for a woman is
her home.
1.-The only thing which makes a wo-
mans life worth living is love, the love
of some one man. in whom she believes
and trusts. and the love of her children.
I have had seven children, and thought |
had great deal of trouble and care.
81 would not have given, even in my
hours of terrific struggles and discour-
agement, one hair of my very smallest
child's head for all the business success
or social triumph in the world.
"a good husband. healthy children
a
three things that help woman to stand
being alive A Gentle lady told me just
the other day that she wondered what
it was that made the Mormon women
look so peaceful and contented.
THE ideal How could she help know
ing that it was our religion, the perfect
faith and trust we have that every
thing is for the best that gives US peace
which the world cannot know How
could we stand the agonies Of life with
out it?
''Take this polygamy that there is so
much talk of now. Gentle women are
through it as we do. Why, it's our re-
ligion; that's all there is about it. If it
were not, we could never stand it in the |
world. We know that polygamy is |
right, and that it is the will of God
that we should live as we do. And we |
submit in patience and humility.
Plural marriage is dying out. The |
church has declared against it and that |
settles the whole affair. The women of |
the next generation will not have to |
bear the burden of a polygamistic life.
and it is a burden. don't care what |
you say nor how you argue about it, |
nor how much you try to convince your /
self that you are happy in the idea that |
your husband has more wives than one; |
it is a burden and a grievous one. Wo- |
men who are more degenerate will tell |
you that it is not. They will insist that |
they are happy in polygamy. Well, per- |
haps they are. So are we all. But it is |
our religion that makes US happy in it, |
not plural marriage itself.
Plural marriage does bring perfec- |
ton of character, but it does not bring |
happiness. Don't go by. what I say, |
though. Most women will tell you ex- /
actly the opposite, but must bear test |
imOny truthfully."
Mrs. Roberts spoke of her husbands |
persecution, as she called it. Then she |
added: 1T is a means of grace. He is |
but an instrument in the hands of a |
higher power. 1t will all come right in |