The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-19
ROBERTS IN HIS
OWN DEFENSE
Says His Church Has
Not Broken Faith.
Special Dispatch 70 The Cal.


NEW YORK. Nov. Is.-The Times to-
morrow VIII publish a three-colur1n arti-
cle py Congressman Brigham II. Roberts.
discussing the efforts being made 10 ex-
crude hlm from the House. M Roberts
says in part:
nose engaged in working up a public
sentiment against the representative from
l tan demand OF the House OF Representa-
uEes either that he be not allowed 10
l4He MS seat, % which il has been admit
led he was legally elected. or. after being
q44gi,!-11ed, thst De be expelled. That the
4iouse can 90 either OF those two things
IS extremely doubtful
-ts many We'll meaning and Christian
ti--li.5l tIs outside OF Titan are misled by
me Ialsenood u those at the bottom OF
tne reng,O-poliCcal scheme 10 unsear
l tan representative. and thus defeat the
tAPIesseI VIII or the people of q soVer-
etsA state, 1 point out some OF the false
Si.S. So eit Wnlcn the agitation IS based.
II is falsely charged that the Mormon
cnlfcn mas broken faith with the Govern.
ment or the United States in reference TO
10Y amy mat is. IL Is charged that the
practice OF poiygamOus marriages has
been resumed By the church.
IN the nrst place, u must be remem
pereC that no compact exists between the
mormon church and the Government Of
the United States on the subject Of po-
.ygamy. The only compact existing on
Utah, acting through their representa-
lives IN the State constitutional conveu-
ton. and the people OF the United States
represented by the President and Con-
gress.
y affirm positively that that compact
has been kept on the part OF the people Of
L tab. There IS no attempt made 10 re-
peal or annul the parts OF the cOustitu-
ZION prohibiting polygamOus or plural
marriages. There Is no desire 20 disrupt
that compact with the United States The
Mormon church has never annEled the
compact, and has 70 desire 70 aunul IL.
On the contrary, the venerable head OF
the church has avCwed his determination
70 adhere 10 its settlement or the QueS-
ton
The Representative 10 Congress from
[ tab has never cOllated this compact. che
assertion OF his enemies 10 the contrary
Notwithstanding. When the little coterie
or sectarian ministers and disappointed
would-he political bosses In Utah who
cHLrcl or us mem ocrs violate the COM
pact between our state and the people Of
the United states because a few men In
ltan feel morally bound 10 fulfill their
under sanction OF the Mormon church.
previous 10 the issuance Of the church
manifesto OF 1880 disseminating polygam-
Gus marriages; when they say this $
violation OF the compact with the United
States they say what they know 10 be IN
true. Disrupting and disseminating those
compact 4 was not demanded by the
enactlng amendment.
a. was -4NL any part OF the LGLQl OF
ire cons tituuoCal convention. but, on the
contrary. steps were studiOusly taken not
20 disrupt those relations by cOrstitu-
uoDal provision by Glscarding the parts
OF the anu-polygamy law. which would
have brought about that result What
good would come 10 the people Of the
United states by a disruption OF these
plural families What good would come
70 either morality or religion 20 turn
those plural wives and their children
adrittt What Christian woman's home
would be the secUrer Tor knowing that
2 Mormon plural wife's home was now
let Il be remembered that the home
sid family q that plural wife were estab-
.ished under the sanction OTTO her-a
holy church ceremony and with the np-
proval OF all her people. The fountain Of
the evil was dried up. and the people OF
the United States can be generous enough
20 allow the streams that flowed from II
% take their course uDloSt in the oblivion
~ death. Some Uen-the number IS Few
and RAPIDLY growing less-who entered
into plural marriage relations previous 70
lSo. when the church formally and Of
lcially discontinued such marriages. and
hence. Of course. previous 70 the settle
ment OF the question by the compact ~
our State constitution have felt IL NOR
ally binding upon their consciences 10 ful-
I'll obligations OF their marriage vows 20
those polygamous families. This Is the
only 'polygamy' that has existed IN Utah
since the admission Of the State, or since
lss0 IN fact
1T Is falsely charged that the Mormon
church controls the politics OF Utah AMI
that the Representative from Utah was
nominated and elected by Mormon church
influence. Il Is falsely charged that the
Mormon church leaders sought 10 have
Roberts elected 70 test the sentiment OF
the people OF the United States as 20
whether Utah would be held 70 the agree
ment IN the matter OF the abandonment
OF polygamous or plural marriages. This
IS too silly 10 require refutation-'