The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-09
CEITNES FROM 0HAn
Make Answer to the Argument d
Brigham h. Roberts.
not A QUESTION OF RELIGION.

Ths Delegation Representi.s the
opponents OF M. Roberts In His
Own state Declare That Ne IL op-
posed Because He Violates the Law.
Washington. Dec. San answer ia
Mr. Brigham Roberts address to the
American people was issued yesterday
by delegation representing the gen.
tile element of Utah, who are here to
oppose Mr.. Roberts. The answer de-
clares that many facts are suppressed,
and proceeds:
Mr.. Roberts claims that the prece-
dent made by bis exclusion 10 both new
and dangerous. That It 10 not new was
conclusively shown by Mr.. Taylor In
his able legal argument before the
house, and not single precedent to
the contrary was cited whore the
ground Of objection was ineligibility.
Neither is the precedent dangerous.
Whenever q prima facia case 10 made
against members citizenship by
showing that under 4 conviction for
felony against the laws Of the United
States he is disfranchised, and further,
that by reason of his present mainte-
nance Of the status Of polygamist he
Ia again suffering from civil disability
under the Edmunds anti-polygamy act,
such member refusing even to deny
the charge should DO excluded. Nor 10
this dangerous. for II is not likely,
as Mr.. Roberts seems to assume. that
an entire minority or all representa-
tives Of large state are coming to
congress to carry such burden. In
other states men who haunt their vio-
cations Of these laws Of decsncy in the
face Of the public are sent to the peni-
Tertiary. II ID only in Utah where such
indecency ever added to ones eligible
ity and served As recommendation to
political preferment.
"Mr. Roberts says no has not been
convicted since statehood. II does not
follow that he is innocent. He is now
a fugitive from Justice In Salt Lake
county on charge Of unlawful CO.
habitation. and In Davis county.
Utah, where resides one Of his po-
lygamous wives, with her illegitimate
twins. charge of adultery Ia felony
under the laws Of Utah) has been for
two months pigeonholed by Mormon
attorney.
mr. Roberts In his attempt to belit-
tie his crimes insists that he is only
charged with misdemeanor. He
knows better. He knows that he has
been, under oath before the proper
officers. charged with the
felony Of adultery, as well as the mis-
demeanor Of unlawful cohabitation. He
asserts that in 1889 he pleaded guilty
to misdemeanor only. and says that
If he were guilty of the same acts In
the District of Columbia, "even fla
GRAVITY So" that as a member of con-
gress he would not be arrested there
for, because 1t is only a misdemeanor.
Here again Mr.. Roberts states what is
not true, and he ought to know 1t. I'm
lawful cohabitation under the Ed
munds act, under which he plead
guilty., was felony, as also is adultery.
These charges, in view of the Ed
nunds and Edmunds- Tucker laws Of
he United States still in force. warrant
Mr. Roberts exclusion. They are az
,ravated, however, because his Is not
IN isolated case, but one representa-
i've of system.
MANY sentimental people are being
nisled by Mr.. Roberts very ingenious
from which some people
nfer that he took his polygamous
wives when it was lawful to do so.
This is mistake. Adultery was
rhine in Utah when Mr. Roberts was
,orn, and at the time Of the passage
# the Cullom anti-polygamy act Mr..
Roberts was only years old His
flea for sympathy, therefore. amounts
'nly to this, that he should be allowed
o continue his criminal practices, not
he took his polygamous
wives in defiance of law. We disclaim
ny desire to have him declared ineligi-
lie because he is Mormon. but solely
BECAUSE he is violating and defying the
avs Of our state, of the United States
nd of common decency.
"Ex-Congressman W. H. King was
nd is Mormon. and no claim of incl
aibility was ever made against him.
We point to this fact as showing that
We oppose Mr.. Roberts not upon tho
round of any religious opinions enter
aimed by him, but because of his Grim
nal practices. Neither is this matter
t religious or political persecution or
reiudice. The undersigned include
zen of different churches and men
Tho belong to no church, Republicans
nd Democrats.
"Mr. Roberts denies and we assert
hat the compact between Utah and the
Their states has been violated. As evil
ence that this compact has been
roken we point to the facts that in
tab 1000 illegitimate children have
cen born to polygamous wives since
tatehood. that about 1000 polygamous
ouseholds now exist In Utah, and that
ne attempt to secure punishment of
1ese offenders is denounced by the
lajority, as we believe, of Utah's cit
ems"