Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-18
ABBOTT ON B. n. ROBERTS.
a Political Opponent wagnanimousi,
Comes TO the Front and Faces
Popular opinion.


-. la Fctra introduced the following
resolution. which was unanimously
adopted
Whereas. the election Of brigham
~. Roberts. q poiygnmist with three
wives BY the people ~ Utah, TO a seat
In the Congress ~ the United states "
n defiant population " utahH covcn-
ant with the United States
Resolved. That We. as law-ablding
citizens, enter our most solemn pro-
tost against such nm insult 20 the
American people, Whose power rests
upon the Christian Home the bull
wafk ~ the nation. We. therefore pou-
ton the Fifty.nuh Congress 10 cSef-
else its right IN refusing this lawbrcak-
~ seat with the lawmakers OF our
United States Congress.
Mr.. Abbott addressed the following
letter to tho McConncllsyillc. ohio.
Herald ~ Jan. y. from which this clip
ping IN taken.
The above ! cut from the Washing
ton Post this morning. and II IL only
sample ~ the character u work being
daily used by the different conferences,
unions. ETC. throughout the whole
land.
There ought To be- disposition In q
Republic, and especially In a Republic
~ Intelligent Christian thinkers, 60
treat everybody with charity ana com.
mon faifneas. There seems 10 prevail
IN this country n disposition, on the
part N many, to tear down rather than
build ~. Ex-Governor Hoadly. form.
orly ~ ohio. once said that there WIS
n disposition, on the part of his own
party In his native state. not to permit
a man 10 grow more than six Inches
high, and what Governor iiuadly said
of his party In Ohio N equally true OF
u vast majority Of the people the coun.
Try over. People, who are members ~
the church. very often. through religious
zeal or enthusiasm. feel called ON 90
rush In ana strike a man as Mr' Rob
sfts IN being struck, seemingly, with
nut a knowledge 81. or n care for the
facts.
I believe In Justice and fair play. ~
between man and man. II W happened
that I was IN the State NJ Utah DURING
the campaign. aud participated IN "
during the whole OF the time. MI. koh-
cfta ~ opposed a. me In politics. lie
spoke FOR Democratic principles.
spoke for Republican principles. Nuw.
what are the fArtsf Mr.. Roberts "
member 0f the Mormon Church. He u
In fact a leading writer and member
Of that church. No one. 20 Tar NJ I
have been able To learn. ever question
81 tho ability. the intcrrity or the ~
ngioua sincerity ~ air. Roberts. lie
came up. ~ ana Lincoln and GARFIELD,
from the iowiy walks ~ iife through
industry and roctitude Of character. un-
al he N today not only one Of the most
learned. but one ~ the most eloquent
men IN the nation. No one who knows
claims that Mr. Roberts has contracted
marriage since the adoption % the
Constitution. which prohibited u. lie
was himself member ~ that conven-
tiun. aud helped to frame that inntru-
ment. The most violent newspaper, or
party speaker, never charged him dur
Ing or since the campaign with having
contracted plural marriage Hincc the
prohlhlilon by law. The most thcy do
say H. that the Law prcHumca him 10 b.
legally married 60 wife number nnr,
aud that he " continuing 10 live with
two rthefH-thiH " u mere naked allie
cation. and people arr not convicted Ia
this country On the ~ parte statements
~ newspapers ana stump orators.
My association with the people OF
Utah leads me 90 the belief that they
arr nv honorable and hiHh minded NJ
people In general over the country
certainly no one can Fn there and not
be- convinced ~ their sincerity In their
to uH-pcculinr religion. We may
doubt tho correctness ~ n. hut that
thoy are sincere ana devoted u beyond
the question NJ doubt iiko the ruri-
tan. who lcft his native country o. ini
"a new home among wild beasts and atill
wilder men. ro did the Mormon" zeal
ouHly leave his country and his huur'
tu found himself a now home In the viii
dcrucas NJ the Far West. among the
sage brush aud the same VITA men that
met the Puritan at Plymouth They
suffered. they hunEered. they died from
starvation and hardship a. the same or
like extent with the Puritan N two
pictures could be- drawn and shown to
The wurld-thr one giving Utah before
Mormon" settlement and the other ~
she IL to-day one would b. appalled, at
tho PROGRESS made hy these people. \
wild. harrvn desert has been changed
into Hover garden by these Hlncrr'
though much prosecuted people, po-
| ygamy was tenet ~ their church. II
was taught In the temple and believed
| In hy their people, when the law was
sustained. making II a crime. they gave
! II up.
Mrn like Mr.. Roberts. who had plu.
rll wives presume. are caring for
them. and refusing a. throw them aud
children cut On the cold world ~ char
/ ity, and why should they not do sn3
Courts NJ Justice exist w. ttuh tho
same ns In other States ~ the Union
| n Mr. Roberts II guilty ~ the high
/ crime with which he stands charged by
| men AMI women Who, AT least, nru sup
/ passed t1 be- charitable, let them indirt
| tfy ana convict him. lie h there IN
| hnnnrrd and respected citizen. and not
a fugitive from Justice when he il In
dictod aud convicted. then aud not IN
| then. viii u be- time Tor an American
Congress 10 refuse him admission.
The mere fact that somebody says
/ some one b. guilty n polyEumy. perlu-
| 49, forgery ar larceny does not MAKO u
| $40, and does not give q Congress either
/ q moral or constitutional right o. rrivrt
| him JOHN q, Alilurr
We copy the following from the Phil
] ndrlphla sun,
Here h what or. lluldnh T, Gum has
/ Co say in defense Of the Mormon"
member OF Congress, Mt, Roberts, of
] Utah
This country IL said 90 be- u land ~
/ religious liberty and yet the tendency
. 10 Go make u one uf rHlgtUuH intoler.
/ uncr and OF blgutry, "Mormnnlsm' has
! existed Tor years uH u distinct religious
scot. ana polygamy was one NJ us ar
| tclps uf faith For this they had album
| duut authority in the Bible. which n
! recognized ~ the rule ana guide ~ all
! Christian nations According To Biblical
history oven christ was descended frum
the pulyWamous marriage OF Jacob and
| Rachel Air. Roberts IN a Mormon
and married his three wives when Il
| was one nf the tenCta ~ the Mormon
! church. Having married them. he has
had the manhood to take care ~ them
AMI hir children. He was elected IA
Cougfpss by the people Of his own dis
trict who know him, and as he hhs
violated no law, religious fanaticlan
should have no weight In the matter
OF his taking his scat In Congress, Now
| IL Air ttnbprts "a Ia be excluded fruu