Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-03

tiemcn Of the cloths'
II h. hard for people to look at this
question fairly on account ~ the
prejudice. We arr fcople with rrci-
udlces. The Democrat on general prin-
riplpa believes he ought to be seated.
simply because he r. Democrat the
Republican. on like general principles.
believes be ought not TO be seated. "
Tor no other reason simply because he
~ Democrat. The Methodist rrcaby-
terrain. ilaptNt and presume many
UuiycrHaiiata believe he ought not to
Do ssntpc because hr " a Mormon.
Thus we ~ come with more or less
prejudice. 10 regard this question. Be-
.irvlnr however. that you are broad
minded enough 20 you ran put Aside
your prejudiccs and forget you ATE
democrat Republican, Methodist. Press
hvturiun. Baptist or tuiXersaiist. and
BE- Just plain men and women. endowed
with common sense ana reason. let US
look nc the facts ~ the question.
on the IN of January 1896. Utah
was admitted to the fun privileges uf
statehood. on equal terms with all 9TH
or fintrn. This made the residents "
Utah citizens of the United States lust
na the residents Of Michigan are. This
mnde every lawful rIuzcn ~ Utah
uiirihie to office under the Anme cnndi-
lions rs ~ any other state, There were
riii1enfhip Tor the nmneaucs declared
hy Presidents Harrison and Cleveland.
who had pnrduned those under fcstfic-
lions. During this last fats campaign
brigham a. Roberts was duly noini-
mated and elected 20 q sent In the Houle
~ Representatives. ~ Washington. iic
la o. clti-nn NJ the United states. eNel
~ YOU ana are. The manner ~ this
election was fn inr aH one can judge,
nornotiy just and fair. HE majority
large enough. ~ his opponent would
not contest his election. These are the
lnrfr iiut na soon 80 Nr. Roberts II
DECLARED elected the churches from far
nud near mise the cry that he must not
b. allowed 10 take his sent. The cry
r. caught up by the paper and tho
storm hlH gathered into great uruppr-
lions DURING this storm Mr. Roberts
has quietly cnrtendod that he - "a citi-
yen ~ the ruitod states eligible a. OF
ncr' that ho was elected ~ a citizen
and that HH citlscn be- has "a perfectly
legal right tn his scat.
let ~ consider some NJ the reasons
urged why Mt. Roberts should not hc
rontods
II II urged that h. must not be seated
because he " Mormon. Hut has he
not perfect right TO be- a Norman
This reason II alleged by prejudice. lie
hnH me- much right tn be Mormon ne
I have tn be- lnlVcfrniint ur Bro.
Swim ConEreFntionalisi This ia
free country and there are no apccifcn.
tlnnr that say that man 60 De- good
ritisrn must be- either n Methodist or
Inivrrraiiat. He can be- Mormon "
be- chnnaoH One NJ the fundamental
PRINCIPLES ~ this government II that
men shall hs allowed 10 worship God
after tho dictates NJ their own cun-
science without amy restrictions from
the state whntTucver In the light ~
this principle Mr Roberts has me- much
rirht a. worship Goi through The me.
dlum Of Murtnuni-m ~ ! through that
of i'niverraiism.
Again Il IT, urged that he should not
be- seated because the Mormons arr try
lnu tn spread their religious trnrhinE
beyond the limits ~ their own State,
and the seating ~ irNnhertr viii rivq
them more strength IN ~ doing. Hut
IN. Mormon has Just ~ much tight 10
trY e. convert me To his religion NJ I
h1vO to ny ana convert MIN To- nay be-
iinf n he believes II be- N duty bound
10 trv aud convert mo. Murmonirm has
na much right 90 snrsad ~ faith NJ the
Methodist. Presbyterian or Universal
~ churches
Again. Il II urrcd that Mr, Roberts
must not be allowed 10 taxi" his seat
because he " a polyramlHt he has
three wives. So far 40 ! know Mr., Rob.
crtH duos not deny thls.hut even boasts
that h. has three and that having the
three viii sim take his seat. In this I
believe the people nnd their real obiCc-
ton u seems To the denrrood. peace
fui one wlfe.inving people that the
worst thing the government could do
would BE- 60 scat IN nnc ~ the legisla-
tive branches % our government ono
who cnnfsssrs himself a pulYramlst.
In this tho people hre moved by deep
and sacred convictions. u n revolving
Ia th,m to think ~ such a man placed
before the youths Of tho country. a
had example indeed. I appreciate this
feeling aud rympathzc with A.. sun.
I believe there " another view 10 this.
why has MI. Roberts three Wives he
cause his Tcllrinp=n religion prcHufn-
ahiy Az dear and sacred ~ him az
yours "a you-hnH taught him IN take
three. nH our religion has taught us to
tnko one.
tut h b. urged that pnlyramy has
been declared unlawful TINS u true.
and while u seeks tn prohibit any moro
plural marriages u has mot ATTEMPTED
Ia oct aside those contracted hnforr
the passage III this law And even
with this law IN Htfict force. AIT Rob
"ru moral obligation tn these three
Wives could not BE- va easily uhrnrutrd
hsfurr ,he altar ~ god In truth and
sincerity. ln accordance with his rec
urlnu. trnrhlnr and belief tho passage
NJ this Jaw CHnnut destroy his moral oh.
llrntlun Co Thorn before hir God, lie
con no more D. untrue a. them than
men uf Michigan could be- 10 their one
wife,
nut II is urrod that Utah. by permit
tlnr ulurhl marriages. since nrr pledge
not 10. bus Violated her trust and has
therefore sacrificed her flTht tn state
hood. This is I believe the only rca
Sons We relrnu that mas oron urged
ugaiu,i seating Mr Roberts. N this be-
tfur lhon che rriyilegca M statehood
Hhnuld hr withdrawn, AMI that would
settle tho uufrtioh ~ Mr.. Roberts This
Hhuuld be- the hunr NJ contention. This
d. what should be- Investigated hy con.
rrrHs SGT ls SIR Roberts O. Mormon"
NOT is "Noriuunlam" seeking Ia spread
itH tvnchinEH- uut hnr Mr. Roberts
thrcr Wives liut has Utah violated her
rlodre not IN allow plural marrinrcsf
if fhe hos, then Hhe deserves to lose
nor privileges nS o state and her ciu-
CONS thr urlvllogoH under n State, Hut
until IL IT, proven that t'tnh has violated
nor Medic. ard President Snow con.
trnda she has not t'tnhs cltiEenH stand
before the wnrld us the citiarnH Of
Michigan or ohio do. and ARE nH 0llgl-
bic To- nnicr me- nny other lawful citizen
~ tho United Rtntrs w.
This I feel. must be- the sense ~ all
fnirmludrd people, however repulHive
the thnught may be- tn No. thlt rn long
na tftnh continues M her statehood, and
her residents urc citiftnf ~ the United
states Then Mr, l,nhrrtr q lawful rcsi-
don't af t'tnh elected me- "a citizen. hrs a
iust and perfect rlrht to Me- allowed 20