The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-12
ARTHUR f1EWFN Ir1PALES
THE ENEMIES OF ROBERTS

might say the decision would still go
! lawyer, holly like man of. feeling,
scornfully like man of wit, and de-
family like man of courage and dig
| nity.
1.-The daring of his attack upon Pres4
ident Mckinley sent a thrill of horror
up and down hundreds of spines. 1t
took the breath away. from many Re-
publicans to hear from the lips of this
Mormon that other Mormons. as much
married as himself, had been given fed
eral appointments in Utah, although
protests had been made identical in
kind with those offered against him.
self. OF course, everybody knew that
if the president had done this it was
from the best motives. but still the au-
dacity OF Roberts was painfully start
ling.
"One saw that he would be quite cap
able of inquiring whether or not there
had been received at the White House
any cablegram from the sultan of Sulu
urging that the administration whole
influence be exerted to rebuke polygamy
| in Utah. Fortunately the mans time
was limited, for it is certain that had
he not been thus gagged he would have
been even more unpieasantly personal.
1t is possible that he might not have
spared some of the newspapers which
have made speciality of exploiting his
domestic arrangements. The press gall
lery expected that he would do this
and ii was surely disappointed because
lack of time prevented Mr.. Roberts
from comparing his harem with some
others
1T is not easy to say just what one
would like to say in truths interest
about this Mormon and the opposition
to him, since polygamy. acknowledged
and> unacknowledged. does not form a
subject that can be publicly discussed.
But, really, it must in honesty be said
that much of the opposition to Rob
erts is considerably more revolving than
he is. He had no right to take three
wives, of course, but as he did take
them ii is decent in the fellow to stand
by them. Also. it was indiscreet for
him TO run for congress under the cir
cumstances, particularly as that indis-
erection has set millions of people to
talking about matters that does not adj
vantage modesty to dwell upon.
MIR. Richardson, in arguing in favor
of seating Roberts and trying him af-
forwards. declared that the home must
be preserved in all its purity and
sweetness, which virtuous sentiment
was as ardently applauded as if Nor
mon polygamy were the only enemy the
Hc'fc putty li~aS- l<oOhf4ls5 uONi }Ttfil
the press gallery upon the applauding
house one could find it in him to feel
more respect for Roberts than for the
scores of humbugs less clean than he
who were joining in the raid upon him.
that they might be in the fashion and
not offend their constituents Roberts.
any way, is neither a hypocrite nor
coward. Yet it is consoling and useful
to reflect that the assumption of vir-
tfIa not n0SSpSSpd thnntrl, of,
to the individuals who make the false
preterEe. serves a good end in the eff
feet upon others. Polygamy is wrong,
and it is right that il should be pun
iShed. even if the sentence is imposed
by men who ought to be in the dock
instead of aloft in the judgment seat
The crucifxion of Roberts serves to
declare anew TO the moral standard, TO
draw freshly the line between right
and wrong. If some or many of the
men who render this service to right
eousness are groSser in their lives than
the Mormon they sentence to Danish
ment, even they are made to understand
with picturesque vividness that the
Puritan tradition still controls in this
country, and that society is moral in IL,
ideal. no matter what the practice of
individuals may be. f
Roberts and his daughter passed me
on Pennsylvania avenue this evening.
the girl leaning on her fathers arm. She
has pretty and good face, and held
her head UP. She is as brave as he is.
One couldn't but feel sorry for the two
They are only two and Utah and home
are ever so far off,. Being taken out
daily TO be. stared att for their sins.
which are not precisely like our sins.
does not daunt their spirit. You have
but to look into their steady eyes to
know that they are not ashamed any
more than they are afraid. | dare say
both have a measureless contempt for
US. Roberts would have conferred
favor by not bringing his daughter. 1t
makes gentlemen with votes and mems
uncomfortable. The girl is so young
and ladylike. and so obviously fond of
her father that 1t robs the sport OF
batting him of half its pleasure. But,
of course. chivalry must stand aside
when morality is imperiled.
ARTHUR M'EWEN."