Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-15
The Case of the Norman Congress-
man.

October Z. 1899.
q o. tll Editor Of the Dispatch:
s. Would you please kindly insert this let
q Co. iu 90 prominent place in your valuable
4aror SOD as TO correct certain false ru-
u.s which are aGoat in regard TO the
4 Roberts case, which viii come before the
l.lt session Of Congress?
l- s frequently stated in the public
Irrfs that The fight which is being made
acI.ust Air. Roberts is prompted by par
4 ts.a motives. The utter falsity of this
i charge becomes apparent when we re-
4 imber that his predecessor belonged to
tae same political party that Mr. Roberts
4 Goes, and Chat no fight was ever made TO
laya Dian expelled from the House. Such
4 thing N.s rot even thought of in con-
4 l,.ton with Mr King.
Moreover tle present political condi-
81 l1 m Titan clearly indicate that
81 Nr Roberts is expelled. the man who
81 elected 10 un the vacancy will also be
member of the same party Hence
r party has anything to gain or
10 numerical strength I'm the pres
House by the expulsion Of Mr.. Ro-
t olt both would gain I'm prestige
gone fhe country and before the whole
CIVILIZED world by doing their fun part in
NAtANttN tAaAAAt INV lAAfNfA ~ RRt'iNAN'+
OF the American Congress in its attitude
toward Halygamy. the arch enemy Of the
l'me and the greatest Zoe to our civili-
1.H0u.
The nom artisanship of this movement
s further evidenced by the fact that a
rge percentage, IL not the majority, OF
I. stauncnest supporters belong 10 the
mocratic party to which MIR. Roberts
lI0fesses to belong. These men strongly
sent the Insult offered 10 the party of
lerson and Jackson by the proposition
taa- it shall become the champion of the
|iIygamist; and well they may, for as
every intelligent person knows, there is
i ioLing in this country which is more
&. -democratic, or anti-republican than
po.ygamous aristocracy' such as Mr.
Roberts IS seeking 10 have established
.l cur American soil.
Again. IL is frequently stated that we
OF. lighting Dir. Roberts because he Is
4 Mormon: that our cOmpalgn IS. there
--, "a species Of religious persecution.
The isity Of this charge H. evident from
Use fact that Mr.. King, Mr.. Roberts
predecessor, was also Mormon, ana
Dish officer in the said Church-the same
Ar. Roberts. though no night OF TINS
Aa- "ae ever made upon him, because ne
respected The laws and the covenants
n 10y Nla people III oiNti ~ "NNN-
".A y and statehood.
' 4aen ihe apologists Of Mr.. Roberts
1 !" Ntiioa5 parts Of the country are stun
--aai fl.lslg asserting that he married
t- ls wives before there was any
Il" against polygamy, and they there
'.it maintain that IL is too much TO
.Ai-.i "a man TO put away "wives' whom
4 married before IL was unlawful for
'N To do so. This IS just as false as
other statements referred TO Mr..
s. .'.ils married all his plural wives
-s after The law against polygasny had
n INTO effect; and he married each Of
II -.A 20 wllul defiance OF the laws OF his
& .'--.iy as well as "a defiance Of the
'4 conscience Of civilized mankind.
Asain. IL is persistently claimed by
"po0rls's jealous, but ignorant, cham
mat he has obeyed the laws against
smy and unlawful cOhabitatlon"
since the manifesto Of President
'-'ln Of the Mormon Church. By
'N TIE said Wce-regent suspended"
practice Of polygamy. There will be
-"lant evidence presented 10 Congress
prove that Mr.. Roberts has persistent
'.Aed those laws ever since he was
p''e9ned for this offence IN 1882 and
10y DDS ease has become very much ag
'taled since his Imprisonment. because
mas since that time taken an addi-
'i WIFE" and because OF his con-
-'' w'liul violation Of the solemn
-ses which were made by him and the
''~1i Aosmon leaders In order that they