Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-02
COMMENTS on nonEnrs.


The Man Of the World. a New York
paper has the following under the title
Of "Mormonism and Morals"
Considerable dlnaulctude rolgnH In
the minds of some no doubt very good
people. because Mr.. Roberts. the Nor.
mon, has been elected a member OF
Congress. We fail 10 understand why
their mental equilibrium should be dis
turbed The law II against polyEamy
and II Mr.. Roberts has broken that
law, Il seems a pity that he II not pro-
secuted and punished. In the absence
~ any such proceedings. however. u
seems probable that Mr.. Robcrtr'r legal
position IL assured. II only remains
io be- seen why he should not take h.s
seat In Congress. We do not know No.
Roberts. and We do not hold y brief
for Murmonism. We never had more
than one wife ourselves, and We have
always found one wife ample.
Abraham. David, solomon. and other
noble heroes " tho iiible made cxpcr-
lments In mntrimony without material
~ deroRatlng from their high positions
aud We believe that the excited ladler
who arr today objcctlng 10 Mr.. Rob
erts going 60 Washington would not
exclude amy ~ the heroes OF Scripture
were they presented for election.
The proposition to exclude Mr.. Rob
ertH on the score ~ immortality IN Us
Huprcmely ridiculous az II n inanifcrtly
unfair. Mr. Roberts IN married accord
Ing 10 his lights. ana moreover accord
ing 10 the rights Of his church. We
may not be Ia accord with the teach
inEs 81 that church. and circumstances
may have rendered II necessary for the
supreme authority TO Interfere with the
execution ~ some ~ It's dlHpenaationa.
Hut beyond that We have no more right
10 go than 10 interfere. ON the ground
~ cruelty tn children. with
tho circumcision ceremony OF n
large and worthy section " tho United
tinn OF Sir. Roberts cannot be nrrnilei.
Mere he 20 abandon Tho wives he has
married. In order 10 adjust himself 10
the views % his opponcnia. we should
have very poor opinion ~ him. ~
Il II. he rcroiutcly adicrer IN tho obli-
cations he has assumed and declines
70 bulge nm Inch.
hut " the moral objection 90 four
wives ~ To hold good. what are We 10
say " men who's. engagements with
ladies frr not sanctioned by the Tie =.
murrihge1 Every mnn vhd Keeps his
eyes and ears open knows full well that
thsrr ar Legislators all over the Union
whn maintain establishments n which
their wives know nothing Ht all We
40 wv want w hHN UMNMN ANF01N WfNNNh
gentlemen who md the Company "f
titrir wives bit tlreHoinc und seek the
fsspety ~ less ylrtunuH. " more fns-
ciuntluE, ladies tiut thesc mons ic-
lndurncieH. which are exceedingly
we'll fnown. do not inHnlfe nuatero
nnrGi',ts with objections 10 their DE.
tirg IN Congress. Senators anl con.
gfctsmcn ere very much ilks ,'ie r,m-
mon cay Kind Of indy IA IG'. ana n
thny de- not 40 60 the .st"nt ~ mar.
ryitg al the ladies on whom they east
their affections. u " Tipniv because
the SlaW IN against them. s1ciniiy q
man ~ considered NO Noftf than iir
ur' ud rflRhhorH bccn,ae he d.',ru two
establishments md no political cru,
IN h. Hcnsen woul1 object 20 rurn
Vicious conduct and hiF him frin per.
h'r,i'ni his legislative fInruouH M
that t,ount.
NJ Roberts. on ,he other han =
V'u'stea no moral law, IN Iced. he d,
cphp' Nhng the morality ~ sort 81
witch lc n an exponent. AMI nOthinp
ihlfs should be- expected ~ hnn
Mh Rawy ", 81 eourts 'hr only
proper system for these days Bift "
our attempts Co enforce II 'et ~ A
least be- Intelligent ana inteiiiblslr. q
you exclude Mormon from Congress
then you must also exclude ihe nier
who. VI they have not "a couple e.
wives. ought to be the more aAhaine,
uf themselves.