Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-14
Editor Of fernando Tine; Does
Not Believe In Crusade.
SAYS UTAHN Is ALL RIGHT
scandal uonncr. Shooid Train Their
batteries tpou Their own
rrapsgressors.

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 sundny
school children and other persons
equally qualified to pass on the subject
Of excluding from his seat a member
Of Congress. made the following reply
In his paper:
II positively refuse 20 be q party TO
such stiffness. unfairncss. illcgality and
persecution. Sir. 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
poiygamous marriages he has publicly
lived with and cared for these wives; his
life was an open book. ana yet his pco-
pie elected him to represent them IN
Congress.
Roberts h "a profcs-cd Mormon His
religion not only sanctions but COM
manda plural marriages. He believes In
II. a. he has shown by his conduct, He
may be believing In something that
~ not only uninspirod but IN also wrong
socially and economically. But he be-
licvoH Il. That Il sufficient. You may
be your brothers keeper; but you are
not his Judge lie has "A right to wor-
ship his God according to the dictates
Of his conscience, In fact. | believe
this determination 20 worship God nc-
CurdlnT 10 Individual conscience gave
Impetus To- the opening and settling Of
this country I further rccollect that
the Trainers Of our Constitution con.
s.N.N 81
ns any individual deemed NJ of 20 much
importance. that they Incorporated In
this memorable document clause
granting to every Individual In TINS
country the right to worship God ac-
cording to hln own conscience.
Much might be said against poly
ramy from social standpoint Poly.
ramy would cause much Hcplding and
Hrrapplng among the wives; and the
average man has q pretty hard time
| providing for one wife, Hut " re-
member biblical history those patri-
nrchH and HnEca closest TO God were moi
satisfied with homogeneous marriage
| Lake Roberts they found more OF happi'
ness In the cares and loves Of many
| wives. Abraham, jacob, David and
| Solomon saw nothing wrong In tnkinH
| unto themselves many wives. Yet theS
drank from the fountain u divine In
| fpirutlun. II there was no criminaliti
/ In such conduct on the part " thes'
men, why II A. from biblical stand
| point, 20 wrong for Roberts to marry
two, three or "A dozen women
Grant that the Edmunds act woul'
initiate against Roberts polygam
| oua poaition. thea 1 say he would hnv
bocn lcfa than a man 10 have given nj
either OF his wives In obedience 10 tn
| laws command. He hni
pilEhted his troth and contraote'
these marriages prior to the pas.age
any such law. These women had give
him their heart. had I their home
and had given him chlldron. I homo
him for clinRlng To and caring FOR them
law or no law. Had he been constitute
like some Of our orthodox Christians. h
would have eagerly seized the oppor
tunity 10 rid himself Of these womer
that he might seek n fresher love. rhn
he aha stand by them II evidence 10 M
mind that he II n manly man worth
Of the loves OF three women and a sea
In Congress,
Roberts was elected by people VIII
knew him. His life had been spcn
among them. They though, him worth
~ honor and gave Il to him. Who
the better Judge Of ftncss for Congress
lonal place than the people Of his Con
grvrslonal district or you Of North Mis-
rlaslpplg The people Of Utah are not 4
tho rear Of the van of material an
mental progress. They are fully capn
BILE OF exercising the flght OF HuUtnH'
II was exercised In the ease u Robert
What right has Congress 10 anuul thu
cicctionf The people Of the Congress
ionnl districts must select their ow
Representatives. the power II not l
Congress.
Congress can cxpel mem
her for mlsbehavlor, but cyl
IDENTIFY the only mlHbchaylor q
which Congress can take cos
nlzance 10 that engaged In after y MON
her has been sworn In. What IN mean
by "dlsordefly behavior I Will not al
tempt to explain. but II having ,hrc
wives, supporting and acknowledge
them. constitute 'disorderly behavior
then Congress should be fair. and II
should exercise fairness many mem
bcrn would be expelled who have eey
oral concublnes. Roberts considers an
loves these three women as his wivci
Many " the other members who bellcy
In only one wife have many conoubinei
IL not Roberts a better man than sue
~ member Roberts believes he
right the other Congressman know the
are wrong. lie fair. reformersl DO nc
train your whole battery on Roberts
Take your guns on Of him. He Is Do
ing right according TO the llght give
him. Train and FIRE your Calling gun
on the fornlcatorH, whoremongers an
/ uIuIfarafl 4"