Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-08-31
BYA JOSEPHITE MISSIONARY
The ncn Accepts aud A. sangcmcnts
for the Debate Being Made
what Prof stewart said,

Professor william NJ. Stewart Of the
rnh state Normal school ls In Chicago.
on sunday night last he delivered an
address at the Latter-day Saints mcot-
irr house and incidentally referred to
what la known In Utah and elsewhere
a. tha Roberts case" There was n
nan ln the audience named r. NJ.
COOPER O. missionary OF the Reformed
or 1oaephltc church, Cooper interrupt.
% and took Issue with Prof. Stewart
ani challenged him to debate on the
subject. II appears that the den was
accepted and that the debate will occur.
10, go-Intcr-occan reported the
meeting 40 followsi
The challenge NJ the Rev Mr.. Coop
o. created somewhat Of a stir In the
uuiot little church. which was filled
with members ~ the church N the
tlttnr-day Saints. the symplthics Of
most NJ whom were with Professor
stewart. Mr. Cooper. however, COM
piled With a suggestion % meet Pro.
fgHsor Stewart aftorword and make ar
fnngomonta Tor the Joint debate with
him a. the conclusion OF the meeting
there was q conference between the
tNo mon, and Il was agreed that they
rhnuld meet this week In Professor
Stewards room at the Chicago unlvcrsi-
~ and the arrangements FOR the de-
bate viii then be made
Professor Stewart had been an
rounced 90 deliver "a lecture which
would be defcuee ~ Congressman
brigham ~. Roberts. He opened his re-
marks with brief history Of the Nor.
mon church. IN which ho said that tho
doctrine ~ pulyg1my had been taught
tu the mvmhsre of the church fur nfty
yolrs, and that u had always been
considered "a much 10 part Of their g..
lE.uu uH any ilug else. During that
time u had not been intorferci with by
ths United States government lie then
spoke ~ the pnssuge ~ the Elmunda
law which prohibited pplygnmy, This
was followed by proclamation from
the President ~ the Mormon church
CnunHcIl.ur ltH members 60 abide by tho
llw upon the subject. and the loElsln,
turo OF ttah subsequently enacted d
Jaw sustaining the provisions ~ IN,
llmunds law fnrhidding the practice
of pulyramy in Utah.
Previous 90 this tlmo. tho speaker
r1ld, tourrcsHmnu Roberts had been
the husband OF three wives and whpr
the law was paHsol he decided that n
would be- the better part ~ manhood
Tor him not 10 abandon these thre,
women. Who were dependent upun him
hut 90 continue 20 carr FOR them and
60 support them, lie had done 3d. a.
had many other Mormons In the sam,
position. and h. hon1fod them for a.
Whether they all continued 90 live Pc,
lygamoua lives. Mr. Stewart said. h,
dl not know
What 10 az tho bottom u all Thea,
vicious attacks upon Congressman
10 Il -. a.
u VIII tell you. Four years ago Mr.
Roberts was nominated Tor Congress
by the Democratic convention and
there was not then n word snid against
H. character or his morality. Mhy
vas thla7 The ministers ana the pros.
were silent upon the subject. Al that
time Congressman Roberts took vefA
hHm and decided stand against th,
.sormon Church using its influence ~
p'.itics lie made q very strong spcocl
ug1inst A. and I myself heard him de
n0uuou a leader ~ the Mormon Churcl
ln ihr most severe terms Tor a position
Do had taken The convention. which
nominated Mr. Roberts also condcmne,
tho church for taking uldrr ON any p1
l.iICal question.
Mr. Roberts was defeated and near
ly lost hls head nH a member of thl
Mormon Church, lie was made n pet
NJ boy ministers, by the Republican pa
IHrs. and hy AN who are now 20 vio'
iHHiIy imposed Co him, since that tim,
y bias hNed up his differences with thi
Mormon Church. ana nt the last elec
ton was elected Co Congress Whcf
tha campaign opened every one bcglf
attacks upon him, ana his right 90 TAXI
l'H scat has been made almost ma
iIunal issue. lie has maintained tn
position he has always maintained an,
acted the part Of man. Ministers AMI
churches have villinud him f0r WIN
hlH been known about him FOR years
10 has also been charged that The
election " Mr. Roberts and the so
called recognition OF polygamy rs bu
preliminary movement toward III,
restoration NJ polygumy IN Utah
have never heard anything OF the sort
t1r has there been any occurrence q
Indicate that this was the intention o
H. church. The charge Il equally al
false as are an others which have bcci
made against the Mormon Church To-
'Now, II the Congress NJ the Unite,
States decides that Mr.. Roberts a.
llH breaker and unworthy 10 take hi
seat ! hope that the members will un
t.lt him, and viii also act likewlsl
WIN other u their fellow member
Who are known 20 have violated law
" morality, | hope that the American
p"1ple will be equally as scrupul0us re-
Elfling every one whom they elect q
places m trust and confidence, Tn
fNN cause Tor the fight against Con
FRESHMAN Roberts ls politics and preiu
llrr I am willing nt any time 90 de
iHtH the question ns 10 whether Con
Ffrssmun Roberts is right or wronl
With any fair-mindcd minister who 4
H. ruus OF listening 20 our side OF IN
question.
The American people should not b
ready 20 Judge until they are In a 20
sutton 10 Judge fairly DO not condcm
Mormon simply because he n Nor
mon, Ny father was Mormon BishoT
vas brought up a Mormon and an
tlmiliur with all the machinery OF IN
lhulch. ! can say that It compares IN
koHahly with any other church, am
lhl' tho Percentage OF immortality ~ d
over When polygnmy was practicet
nui per cent ~ the members Of N
hlreh were polygamists, and I be-
n're that the percentage OF lmmorallt
among people who are not Mormon
" much larger than this