The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-19
THE HEBREW VIEW:

NJ a napkin OF TINS city mas given u
The Herald a copy of the Hebrew Stand
ard, published at New York. the leading
Jewish newspaper. in the United States
containing an editorial on the Roberts
case which Mr.. napkin thinks espresso.
the view of majority of the Jewish
people. The editorial follows:
Congressman Roberts is a Mormon. Thu
who.c opposition to him SINNERS down L
this He has been elected a representative
10 the lower house OF congress, is in pos.
SESSION OF mis- certificate OF election anC
possesses the qualifications prescribed By
me constitution of the United States
There is no contest against his seat upon
any constitutional grounds. He is enfi-
sworn in
The house Of representatives is playing
a dangerous role IN pursuing its present
course. A special committee has been
appointed TO consider this case; not one
or the members appointed upon this CON-
mittee has any higher right 10 his seat
than Roberts. The house. of course, has
power TO seat or unseaI a member. Ii is
under the constitution given the right 10
be the judge of the qualifications of its
members 1t may. under The guise of wat
a majority may consider its DUTY, possibly
and iiagrantly deny the seat 10 Roberts
TO which he has been fairly and lawfully
elected. But IL would be establishing u
most dangerous precedent. 1t would De a
fragrant VOCATION of the express terms OF
the constitution, and TO which it has no
right TO add nor take from
subdivision l of section of article ! of
the constitution declares:
No person shall be a representative
who shall not have attained the age of %
years. and has been a citizen of the
United States, and who shall not. when
elected. be an inhabitant OF that state in
which he shall be chosen
This Is Gear enough. No 4 gislation by
congress can qualify abridge in any
way the terms of this section.
In presenting the constitution to the
nj le AAv.l. fn- IL ndH
one OF the appeals made in its behalf by
its advocates. and which appeals have
been published in the Federalist. COM
menting upon the section providing for
the quallfica tons of members, says: "A
representative of the United States must
be or the age of % years: must have been
seven years citizen of the United States,
must at the time of his election be an
inhabitant of the state he is TO represent;
and, during that time of service. must be
in no office under the United States. In
der these limitations. the door of this
part of the federal government is open to
merit of every description whether ma tive
or adaptive. whether young or old. and
without regard TO poverty or wealth. or
TO any particular profession of faith
InlS is the plaineSt possible interpreta-
ton OF that clause. and. like most of the
tar-seelng pleas contained in the Federal
ISL. commenting upon the provisions of
the constitution. is as correct today a s it
was when urging the adoption of that
sacred and greatest of all charters
adopted for the government and protec,
ton of a people.
We are not bent upon the discussing of
Mormonism. whether 1t is a religion or
not. or whether a professor of that faith
ought. or ought not. TO have right TO a
seat in congress. We care not whether
the many charges made are true or I'M
true. at this stage of the members case
congress has no doubt the right 10 sift
these and give consideration to so much
OF tnem as II may warrant but it must
q he -rr,rs. rsx-- T.
There is no contest against his seat
Today, opposition may come from men,
berS of that body against a representa-
tive because he is a Mormon: tomorrow
II may be against the Catholic, a Jew. or
a Swedenborgian.
The opposition TO Mr.. Roberts has been
systematically worked up throughout the
country. Efforts have been made to in
duce people of large means to enter into
the crusade against Roberts and with an
appreciaole success. A tally of the men,
bers or congress was taken by enterpris-
ing newspapers who were impressed into
the service of this crusade. and who al
ways have an eye to business-that is
their business. Money was spent in large
sums TO Keep the crusade atioat. And in
all tneso 1nStrumentalitieS it cropped out
as clearly as the monday sun that Rob-
erts was to be kept out because he was
Mormon. IL was not because of any
onenses against the moral law
Men of great renown have sat in both
houses OF congress whose SHINING against
the moral law was extremely accentuated.
out no body. of the people in influential
number would petition congress 20 keep
the member from admission because of
this moral laxity.
But in the name of Religion, petitions
running from now to eternity can be filed
out, ana not only every religious crank.
put people who are moderately liberal in
their religious sentiments will Join in a
of this character.
Yes, ii was correctly stated that the
door of ha fado
ment shall not be barred against any one
of faith.
Whether any one who processes Nor
monism is rightfully protesting any par
tlcular faith. is not our province 10 dis
cuss. 1t is clear however, that the oppo-
sltfon in its true character and essence
runs against Roberts because he is a
Mormon. We have our. doubts. and we
are not in lonely company when we saw
that 1t is deba table question whether
me legislation touching Mormonism and
the compact with Utah is constitutional
ana right, but we are not DESTROYS of dis
cussing this. We contend that Roberts
should be permitted TO take his uncon-
tested seat: then if ii be found that he is
unworthy of seat. or lacking the quail
lfications of membership. or guilty of an
onense coming within the purview and
limitations of the constitution. he should
Gates who are DESTROYS of excluding him
from even taking the oath because. as
they clearly proclaim it, that he is a
Mormon. we can keep him out by a
but 1t is doubtful whether the
vote for his expulsion can
De impressed" And these advocates of
mis- course are Christians, protesting
Christians.
This country has been let us saw.
)iessedly free from legislation in which
any form of religion has entered, and let
Is avoid giving point to an entering
wedge. Let congress have the courage TO
handle this question in its constitutional
'orm. and let il not take fear from the
threats which have been disseminated bv
many of the thoughtless opponents of
Roberts
We are exercised in this case. as every
rue lover of his country must be- through
he injection of q religious. element into a
public question. We have enioyed the
blessing of religious liberty under the
iegis of the American constitution as has
been vouchsafed to no other people. Let
Is sacredly protect this right and keep il
proof against fanaticism and the dangers
If an overweening fear of religious
ranks.
Give Roberts his seat. Expel him upon
awfully framed charges If found guilty
If them. This is honest; this is the only
BASIS upon which the house can plant
tseif rightfully in the clear light of the
provisions of the constitution.