Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-13

Eyes" Mr.. mn continued. u know
all about Roberts. the polyeamist elect.
ed To- Congress lie n n roiyRnmist N
tho raniteft dye. being the husband OF
seven wives NJ the present time. whom
he would like to take "a WaahinNton
and parade up and down Pennsylvania
avenue ~ the congressional prizes OF
the poiygamous paradise. There is
only ohr ihinv fnf the American Con
gross and the American people TO %.
and that u to dehar this inccstuous
nbnmlnation from the halls " Congress
by declaring that no such bcfmirchcr
Of virtue and despoiler ~ the American
home cnn occupy seat With the men
who form the honorable body that
frnmes our national legislation. Cor.
rrrs- has the authority 10 ID THIS. and
having lust come from washington
am safe IN saying that Mr.. Roberts VIII
not b. able 10 cnrct nm ndmittancc."
am very much surprised that
man like pr. nm should utter such Ian
sunGc without q knowledge o. the true
situation with reference TO the new
Mormon cOngrcssnnn.eiect. Roberts.
and vet his Interview shows him 90 be
pregnant with iniHinformntion.
II 10 happened that was In Utah last
fall aud participated In the campaign.
I am Republican. Mr.. Roberts ~ n
Democrat The most violent ncwrra-
per or stump orator IN Utah never
charged Roberts with having more than
three wiycs.and yet Dr. iiili says he has
seven. The doctor says further that
'ho would like to take his seven al
Logged wives 60 Washington and parade
up and down Pennsylvania avenue. o.
the congressional prizes 81 the poiyH-
umoug paradise" How docs the doctor
know thifl certainly could not
know except from the lips Of Mr. Rob
AZ. d.
Now. who " Sir. Roberts. aud what
are the factH7 AIR. Roberts n n fnnn
who worked himself M By dlnt of In
duFtry. after hard study from the
hiacksfnlth's anvil - his present high
position. Iie II bright. brainy. versa
tile man with charming personality
and beloved by the people 81 Utah with.
uut regard 10 politics or church. Mr..
Roberts was In the Constitutional con.
Nentlon that framed that instrument
for Utah. lie voted for. spoke for and
worked for the adoption Of that organic
law which forever prohibited poiyE-
nmour marriages thereafter In Utah.
sincc the adoption Of that instrument
there have been no plural marriages IN
t'tnh-not one. Those men who had
wives ana children before the adoption
OF the Constitution continue TO support
and care for them. ana refuse TO throw
them out on the cold world of charity
would Christian people say " they
would resort 10 such an unnatural ana
inhumnn nct3
There was an important thing In that
convention that AIR Roberts fought.
which, IN my Judgment, shows his good
sense. II was woman ruffraEe-for "
thcru II one thing above another that
lowers womnnhoOd without elevatins
man. It's the participation IN politics BY
woman. Let II not be- forgotten that
only about 90 per cent OF the populn-
tion Of Utah IN Mormon. 10 that Mt.
Roberts, whore he II best known. must
be- dencryedly popular 10 have run 1000
ahead OF his ticket with women voting.
and 20 per cent OF the population Cen
tile. n must be remembered also that
Mr.. Roberts II q dcvout member ~ his
church. which at one time taught and
believed IN the religious rights 10 enter
into plural marriages, No sooner was
the prohihltory law passed than Mr..
Roberts and all his followers obeycd
the law.
The same religious principle that
drove the Puritan from his home and
his people. 60 found a new home among
the Wild beasts and Wild men 81 the
western world. drove the Mormon zeal
OF from his several different homes and
settlements 10 found new homes and
new settlements In far away Utah.
amid the wild SAGE brush aud Wild ln-
dlAnr. A. the Puritan suffered hun
gered. died for his religion. 80 did tho
Mormon suffer. hunger and die for his
no less sincere. though mistaken belief
or religion. Let's Hivo each credit for
sincerity and treat each with charity.
| The man who viii 30 10 Salt Lake city
and sec what that city IL now. and ,ncn
compare II with what u was when the
Mormon FIRST landed there. viii at least
be forced to admit that this much per.
secuted. though perhaps misguided
people have done wonders toward
bringing about higher stat. OF civ.li-
zation. and especially In Utah.
What I complain Of. Mr. Editor. u
the attempt upon the part ~ some pco-
| pie to foreHtnll the action OF Congress
In Mr. Roberts ease, Why should not
| Congress be- free to act intclligently aud
| fairly when the ease n prcaentcdf
Mr.. Roberts II In Utah. and II not a
fugitive from Justice. lie IL there, aud
nmennhle to her courts. II he II guilty
| he can be Indicted. tried, convicted and
sent to the pcnitentlary. tntl he " Va
Indicted. tried and convicted. the law
will presume him tn be innocent The
mere naked allegation that come mcm-
/ ber ~ Congress oiect ~ guilty OF some
alleged crime. does not give 90 Tho
/ American Congress either the moral OF
constitutional risht 90 reject him.
=. q. ABBOTT.
Washington. n. g., February