The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-28
The Other Side OF
The Roberts Case
Editor of The Tribune.


AS the Roberts question has now become
a national one, and will probably be one
of the chief topics of discussion when
congress convenes December next, some
knowledge of the real condition In Utah
Is necessary to a proper understanding of
the case. a mighty effort is being made
to deceive the public concerning the de-
signs, purposes, and doctrines of the So
called Mormon church, and many intelli-
gent people have the most absurd Ideas
concerning its teachings. Let it he un-
derstood at the outset that Mormonlsm
and polygamy are not synonymous; nor
was polygamy ever a cardinal tenet of
the Mormon faith, and so great were the
restrictions placed upon It that less than
2l2 per cent. of the male population ever
entered into the order
o
The Mormons were sincere when they
entered into the practice of polygamy
and equally sincere when they quit it.
Believing the federal statute prohibiting
polygamy an infringement upon the re-
ligious liberty clause of the constitution,
they contested the statute But when the
supreme court declared the law constt-
tutional the church, In conformity there
with, passed the manifesto of 1890, forever
prohibiting the practice of polygamy, and
no polygamous marriages have been sol
emnized since that time, and all state
ments to the contrary are absolutely
false. Polygamy is also prohibited by
the state constitution. and punished by
legislative enactment So in Utah both
the state and the church have in most en-
phatic terms declared against it. The
system must therefore in a short time be-
come obsolete and pass away .
o
The constitution does not, however, in
terfere with polygamous relations en-
tered into prior to 1890. No question arose
In regard to them until about a year ago
when the present agitation was begun.
The Mormons claim it was practically
understood and agreed that while no
more polygamous marriages should be
solemniZed, the then existing relations
should not be interfered with and that
is the reason why the constitution is ST.
lent in regard to it; while their opponents,
on the other hand, claim that it was un-
derstood that such relations should also
cease. The code commission of 1898, in
serted a clause against unlawful CO.
habitation, as 1t is called, and this is the
law now sought to be enforced. The
church does not Justify any man in break
ing the law, but declares emphatically
that the present attack is not instituted
to Correct an evil in Utah, but is malicious
i'm is character and prompted by jealousy.
faith is absolutely false and incapable OF
proof The church has ceased to advo-
cate the practice of polygamy, and the
younger generation is growing up in COM
parative ignorance of II.
The absurd statement that the anti.
Roberts campaign is bipartisan, and
that Roberts is opposed by Democrats as
well as Republicans, IL refuted by the
Salt Lake Herald. the organ of the Demo
cratic party in Utah, and Rev. Stilman
president of the association, denied that
the letter in question emanated from the
association but from Mr.. Campbell HIM
self. The present anti-Mormon attack
emanates from certain unsuccessful min
listers, sent to Utah by the evangelical
churches to convert the Mormons to theil
respective creeds. They are aided il
the enterprise by the Republican party
which sees a strong probability of Mr.
Roberts being succeeded by a Republican
as the governor and chief executive o.
the state are Republicans, while Mr.. Rob
erts is one of the ablest advocates o
Democracy. The Mormon church did no
elect Mr.. Roberts, nor did 1t have a righ
| to prevent his election, and 1t is an i'm
material matter to the church whether HI
| is seated or expelled; and il congress
wishes to pass law prohibiting the praC
| tice of polygamy throughout the United
| States, the Mormons will be the last t
| oppose 1t.
There is much, however, in the char
| acter of Mr.. Roberts to be admired. b!
| his own eXeTtiCns he rose from the hum
| bier walks Of life. At an early age h
distinguished himself as student anC
| orator. His integrity as man has neve
| been questioned, and he is eminentl!
| qualified for the position to which he ha
| been elected
| Mr.. Campbell says this campaign is no
| religious persecution. Thus has reasoned
| every prosecutor from Cain down to tn
| last one under whose hand a martyr
| blood was shed. That is just what tn
| Jews said when they killed the Christ. |
| wasn't because He was a friend to tn
poor and teacher of righteousness tina
| religious bigots prosecuted Him, but be
| cause He was blasphemer and traitor
| No, there never was a criminal or perse
cutor who did not find some excuse t
| justify his crime If 1t is not religion
persecution, whence this numbering o
| Mormons in the south, this mobbing O
elders, this burning of Mormon churches
The Latter Day Saints have in the pas
| suffered untold privations at the hands q
| these Christian prosecutors BefOr
| polygamy was ever known they wer
| thrice driven from their homes, and re
ligious bigotry drenChed the soil of Mis-
souri, and Illinois in human blood. !
| Missouri, fourteen hundred inhabtant
were driven from their homes in the dea
| of winter The sick were torn from thei
beds and thrust out in the midnight all
and forced to seek shelter in some bea
forest. There were innocent little chi
dren homeless, but for mothers arm:
couchless but for mothers breast in sue
distress pursued by merciless mObs the
left the tracks of their bleeding feet upo
the SHOWS Of their pathway. Strange a
it may seem, every mob that has eve
murdered Mormons was led or inspire
by Christian ministers. Driven from tn
confines of civilizatiCn,th they planted then
selves upon the shores of the Great Sa
Lake. There they conquered the desel
and founded a mighty commonwealth,
| d
The Mormon people are thorough
American and patriotic, and no peopl
have exhibited their patriotism unde
more trying circumstances. While tn
Saints were encamped in the wildernes
ON their western journey to the Rock
Mountains, they furnished five hundre
volunteers in response to the president
call to go and fight the MeXicans. Arri'
ing In Salt Lake Valley, which was the
Mexican soil, the pioneers hoisted I'll
Stars and Stripes on Ensign Peak, aboy
Salt Lake City, and in solemn assembl
voted to revere the constitution of III
United States, and its principles as a d
Vinely-inspired document. In the late VIZ
with Spain, Utah furnished more than hC
quota of volunteers, and the Utah ba
teries became famous for their brillaI
achievements in the Philippines. III
Mormon people are intensely religious
well as intensely patriotic. The Mormc
church has kept Its pledges with the gov
eminent and it will continue to kee
them. The Latter Day Saints are hon
| est industrious nrnsnnrnna nnh hnnnv