Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-14
REFUSED To Be III
ONE AMONG THEM
Editor Of fernando Time; Does
Not Believe In Crusade,
SAYS UTAHN Is ALL RIGHT
Scandal Mongers should Train Their
Batteries Upon Their own
Transgressors.

The editor OF The Times Promoter,
published at fernando, Mississippi,
having been requested to sign one OF
the petitions circulated throughout the
country, for signatures from Sunday
school children and other persons
equally qualified to pass on the subject
OF excluding from his seat member
Of Congress. made the following reply
in his paper:
IL positively refuse to De party TO
such Stiffness, unfairness. illegallty and
persecution. Mr, Roberts has spent his
life IN Utah; prior to the passage Of the
Edmunds act he had married three la
dies who also were Delivers in poly
gamy; since the passage Of this act
which did not annul but prohibited
polygamous marriages he has publicly
lived with and cared for these wives, his
life was an open book. and yet his pe0-
pie elected him to represent them In
Congress.
Roberts is a professed Mormon His
religion not only sanctions but COM
mands plural marriages. He belives In
IT, as he has shown by his conduct He
may be believing In something that
is not only uninspred but Is also wrong
socially and economically But he be-
lieyes IL. That is sufficient You may
be your brothers Keeper; but you are
not his Judge, He has a right to wor-
ship his God according to the dictates
Of his conscience. In fact, | believe
this determination TO worship God ac-
cordlng TO individual conscience gave
impetus 10 the opening and settling Of
this country. | further recollect that
the trainers of our Constitution con
sidered this matter Of worshipping God
as any individual deemed fit Of so much
Importance, that they incorporated IN
this memorable document a clause
granting to every individual In this
country the right to worship God ac-
cordng 10 his own conscience.
Much might be said against poly
gamy from a social standpoint. Poly
gamy would cause much scolding and
scrapping among the wives; and the
average man has a pretty hard time
providing for one wife. But II ] re-
member biblical history. those patri-
archs and sages closest 10 God were not
satisfied with homogeneous marriage.
Like Roberts they found more OF happi-
ness in the cares and loves OF many
wives. Abraham. Jacob, David and
Solomon saw nothing wrong in taking
unto themselves many wives. Yet they
drank from the fountain Of divine in
spiraton. II there was no criminality
in such conduct on the part Of these
men. why Is Il. from a biblical stand
point, so wrong for Roberts to marry
two. three or dozen women?
Grant that the Edmunds act would
initiate against Roberts poiygam-
Gus position, then / say he would have
been less than a man TO have given up
either OF his wives In obedience TO the
laws command. He had
plighted his troth and contracted
these marriages prior to the passage Of
any such law These women had given
him their heart. had I their homes
and had given him children. | honor
him for cllnging TO and caring for them.
law or no law. Had he been constituted
like some Of our orthodox Christians. he
would have eagerly seized the oppOr-
tunity TO rid himself OF these women,
that he might seek a fresher love. That
he dld stand by them Is evidence to my
mind that he Is manly man worthy
Of the loves Of three women and a seat
In Congress,
Roberts was elected by people who
knew him. His life had been spent
among them, They thought him worthy
OF honor and gave II 10 him. Who Is
the better judge OF fitness for Congress
ional place than the people Of his Con-
gresslonal district OF you of North Mis-
sissippl? The people OF Utah are not in
the rear OF the van OF material and
mental progress. They are fully capa-
bic Of exercising the right Of suffrage
II was exercised In the case Of Roberts
What right has Congress 20 0nnul that
election? The people OF the Congress
ional districts must select their own
Representatives, the power is not In
Congress.
Congress can expel mem
hel for misbehayOr. but evil
IDENTIFY the only mlsbehayior OF
which Congress can take cog
nzance "a that engaged in after q men,
Der has been sworn IN. What Is meant
by "disordery behavior I will not at
tempt to explain, but II having three
wives supporting and acknowledging
them, constitute 'dlsorderly behavior
then Congress should be fair. and II 1t
should exercise fairness many mem
bers would be expelled who have sew
aral concublnes. Roberts considers and
loves these three women as his wives.
Many Of the other members who believe
In only one wife have many concubines.
Is not Roberts a better man than such
d member? Roberts believes he ls
right. the other Congressman know they
are wrong. lie fair reformersl Do not
train your whole battery on Roberts.
Take your guns on Of him. He Is do
ing right according 10 the light given
hin. Train and fire your Calling guns
IN the fornicators, whoremongers and
idulterers."