Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-20
As TO RoBERTs.

AS 10 ItOBEltIS.
There are so many comments adverse
TO the action Of the House In the Rob-
orts case. that We have not space for
a 1.-THE Of them. We append here an
editorial from the New York Post. and
u letter to the Denver Post, which touch
the same matter from different stand
polnta and are samples OF others " the
same eject;
The New York Evening Post re-
marks;
at is,already evident that the more
sensible and candid among thoss MEM
bcrs OF the House who refused 60 let
Representative Roberts OF Utah take The
oath on Tuesday regret that they were
swept on their feet by the wave OF pop
ular clnmor. The pleas which Were made
for thia hnsty and revolutionary action
do not stand examination. while the ar
gumcnts In favor OF following both the
preccdents and the obvious dictates OF
justice. By admitting Roberts and then
cNpelling him II n fair Investigation
should warrant the step. grow stronger
the more carefully they are examined.
The situation In made the worse by the
fact that the Investigation which has
been ordered IL to be made by packed
committee. II is always the custom In
a legislative body. ~ II IL the obvious
dictate Of Justice. that the minority
should be allowed representation ON eve
~ committee. Nearly sixty msmbcrp
voted with Mr.. Richardson o. rennesse.
the Democratic leader. TO let Roberts
take his seat and refer the charges
against him to the judiciary committee
for Investigation. but not one OF these
men was given a place on the special
committee which was finally ordered.
This unfnirness on the part OF Speaker
Henderson IN only another illustration or
tho way In which one false step leads TO
another In n legislative body. us In every
other relation OF life.
"A great deal has been said In the talk
concerning this case about the necessity
OF preserving the sanctity OF the Anne
rlcan home" the lOudest voices raised
being those OF editors who have done
most TO demorallze family life by their
ncwspapera The truth u that the safe
| ~ OF III" home. as OF everything else
worth preserving. depends upon the
maintenance OF Justice Every sensible
person appreciates this when Il Is n
case OF lynch law by q mob. like the
shocking one at Maysville. Ky. last
week. II IL equally true when The
/ principles OF ivnch law are accepted by
| Congress as happened In the House on
| Tuesday. The personality OF Roberts
has no more to do with the issue In
/ Volvcd In this case than had that of
jay Gould years ago. when he repre-
scented the maintenance of the rlghtsioi
| property In this city. Investigation may
show that the claimant OF a seat from
Utah ~ an odious wretch. who ought
TO he expelled by the House. but TO ~.
fuse him admission on mere allegations
Of his badness. when he meets all ths
requirements OF the Constitution and
the laws fer the swearing In OF a Rep
tcscntativc-slect. Is an outrage. Tn,
homes OF MayAville would be more sac,
red TODAY u the people had allowed IN,
law to take Its course In the ease oil
the negro criminal whom the mol
burned aud tortured TO death. In INK,
manner. THE sanctity OF the American
home" would have been better main
taincd II Congressman had visited upor
Robcrts the punishment which he prob
ably deserves. by expelllng HIN In or
orderly and impressive manner. thar
BY violating the principles OF justlc,
and offending the sense OF fair play"
To the Editor OF the Denver Post;
II ever there was "A case OF swallow.
Ing a camel and stralnlng at a gnat," II
occurs to me this Roberts case 10 cor,
tainly one.
Al over the country goes up hypo.
critical elamor against the terribly bat
man from Utah. q
What are the charges against him?
He In polygamist. I'll.
And IL polygamist n criminal ar
outlaw and a bad man In gensralp
Assuredly, yes-unless he and hi
wives have taken the prccaution I,
avoid the little formall,y OF marrlag,
ceremonies. In that event he Ii usual,
a Christian gentleman, entirely ollglbl.
TO seat In Congress and to place II
the select circles OF society. He MAJ
be- q professed llbertlne and a leproui
pronigate; he may bctray Innocent girl
20 their ruin. wreck their lives and sept
| them 10y the score down the dark road
TO hel-yet he remains "emncntly ~
Specialize" carries hiJh his head anC
sits In the cushioned chairs OF powell
and authority.
u not this extreme display OF shan
virtue and hypocrltlcal pretencc which
the American people are making oyci
the Roberto case nauseatlng 10 homes
people2
| am not defending nor condoning po
lygnmy. | am condemnlng the hysterl
cal rantlngs Of men ana women VIII,
have been 80 quick to discover the mot,
In their brothers eye, und 10 slow-oh
SD slow-in detecting the beam In theil
own eyes.
Ia our Christian Gentle System Of
marriage such stupendous success H.
self. 70 promotivc Of virtue, peace ant
happiness. so far beyond the range o
criticism that our self-rlghieous reform
ers are compelled to seek the fnr-off
peaceful valleys OF Utah In order to FIN,
something ana somebody to condemn
and rebuke?
what, ] pray. have they 10 say con
corning the 10000 divorces granted II
the United States during 1898? what o
the more than 1000 infant babes founI
dead In ash barrels and alleys In tn
city Of New York alone last year? VIVA
OF the countless thousands OF younl
girls and women that are yearly goinl
down TO the gates OF hell" In ever
large city on the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Victims, for the most part, OF our wnal
! crude and haphazard marriage system