Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-09
SOUND OPINIONS.

its institutions 10 perceive the danger
which will come from breaking down
those safeguards to liberty and equal
rights provided by the Constitution.
Even before the vote was taken In
favor Of an unprecedented and uncon-
stitutlonal method 70 crafty popular
clamor thoughtful persons and papers
perceived the wrong intended and
raised their voices against 1t. There
were many too, who perceived the
hypocrisy displayed in the pretense Of
high morality on the part Of some who
raised the cutlery against the Nor
mon Representative.
Among the papers which have taken
conservative yet strong grounds against
the injustice and Illegally Of the pro-
ceedings in this case, is the New York
World We have already published
some Of its utteranees on this question,
and we here append a few more, also
some letters published by that paper
In relation to the subject
80 far as polygamy as an institution
Is concerned, no one who cared 10 think
about the matter could possibly regard
II as a menace to the American home.
The Aryan race was homogeneous when
il came out Of the darkness into the
light OF history. II has remained
homogeneous. II Is not likely that at
this late day. when polygamous races
are turning TO monogamy, II VIII take
up with practices Il refused 10 adopt
from its ncighbors In its infancy.
IF Roberts is transgressor OF the
code Of social purity why do not those
whom he has offended take him TO
court, secure hts conviction, with its
penalties OF loss Of the privileges OF
citizenship, and then lay before the
House a fact Of which the House has
the constitutional right to take cognI-
zance--the fact that he is legally. con-
stitutionally disqualified?
Isn't II possible TO be sensible, order
~ and law abiding even II a question OF
social purity, villa its endless oppor-
tunities FOR cant and hypocrisy is
under discussion"
what would be the proper adjec-
tive or adjectives TO describe the con-
duct Of a Congress which would re-
fuse 10 exercise its constitutional right
and investigate charges that a member
had obtained his seat by bribery and
corruption. and would proceed to inves-
tigate charges against another member
in no way affecting the legality OF his
title to his seat or his constitutional
standing2'
To the Editor Of the World:
Suppose Jesus Of Nazareth We're in
Congress, and said 10 the members as
10 the Roberts case as He once said q
a not less pharisalcal company, Let
him that II without sin amongst you
cast the first stoneg'
Has the authority Of the great Teach
or lost It's hold upon mankind?
New York, Dec 9 o. b. NJ.
To the Editor Of the World:
Polygamy Is a crime IN Utah. If Rob.
erts has committed II there, II ls Their,
that he should be tried for the offense
| What has Congress to do with the mat.
| ter? LAWYER.
New York. Dec. g.
To the Editor Of the World:
Why should such a TRADE be made
| against COngressman-elect Roberts
| Although not in favor OF polygamy
| cannot see the difference between thii
| man who has two wives and one hOm,
| or the man who has one WIFE mis-
| tresS and two hOmes-in fact both ar
| wrong. but Is not the first one TO b'
| commended? He Is frank and open viii
his life, while the other Is a sneak an(
| a coward
| While investigating Mr. Roberts would
| II not be Just as well 10 Investigate som'
OF the other Congressman whose private
| lives In Washington could not bear tn
| scrutiny Of a very dim searchlight even
An hail to Susan y. Anthony for he
able words on the subject.
What Is the Biblical quotation abou
casting out the mote in thy brother
eyey c. Z. X.
New York, Dec. ].
The Chicago Times Herald says OF
the constitutional question involved;
"The consensus Of congressional opln
ion, however. fayOrs the plan 60 perml
the Utah representative 20 take th'
oath OF office and his seat in the House
for the reason that neither the con
stltutionality Of his election nor tn
regularity u his credentials Is chal
lenged. After he Is sworn In the ques
ton is as 90 whether the State Of Utal
has violated lts federal compact viii
the United States-cOntained In the En-
ablng Act by which II was admitted a
a Stately sending Roberts TO the ma
iional House Of Representatives. TIL
Is clearly a matter for Investigation b!
the House committee on elections or b,
a special committee appointed for tina
purpose II this committee, after
careful examination OF the Enabling
Act comes 60 the conclusion that
reasonable construction u the languag
Of the act makes the continuance Il
polygamy as unlawful as the contract
Ing Of new plural marriages, Il will b
the duty OF the committee 70 repor
In favor Of his expulsion"
To the Editor Of The World
Absolutely no newspaper In the Uni
led States has presented the Robert
case so fairly 50 intelllgently and s
convinclngly as has The World.
il Is not the function Of Congress I
pass upon this mans morality. All tina
Congress has 20 do II TO decide whethe
or not he has the qualifications require
Of a Congressman, and whether or no
he has been duly elected.
Beyond that, In the absence Of an
conviction of crime, Congress has n
more right TO Inquire than II has {
explore the private life Of any othe
person elected as a representative, an
perhaps a large number Of Coagressme
would. for reasons % their own. rernr
such Inquiry as pestilently impertlnenl
II. ~. ROBINSON.
Brooklyn, Dec 2.