Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-12
A HIGH ESTIMATE OF ROBERTS.
Arthur McEwan Says He Argued CooIy Like Lawyer Holly
Like a Man Of Feeling ScOrnfully Like Man OF Wit,
and Deiiany Like Man Of Courage and Dignity.

Arthur McEwan. the brilliant and
caustlc journalist, who made name
for himself In the newspaper world
years ago; whose articles in the san
Francisco Examiner and New York
Journal, attracted worldwide atten-
ton, and who latterly has been assoei-
ated with the Philadelphia North
American, owned and published by
John Wanamaker, has been an interest
ed observer Of the Roberts case. In
one of his letters to his paper he has
this to say
1T Is perfectly clear that the House
Of Representatives does not approve OF
the kind OF polygamy which Mr. Rob-
erts. Of Utah, practices. The other
kind was much discussed In the press
gallery while the chaste Mr.. Tayler,
OF Ohio, Mr. Grosyenor, OF the same
State. and others were defending the
American home against the alarming
assault OF the 'Mormons. The senu-
ments uttered on the floor could be read
without a blush by the young person
and with approval by everybody VINO Is
not an ayowed pOlygamist, WINE me
remarks In the press gallery were quile
unfit for publication, since these bore
largely upon the fitness Of MIR. Roberts
Judges TO sit on his case. There Is
great deal Of sympathy for Roberts ne
is so very lonely, and the opposition 10
him is overmastering He Is the I'M
der dog In q fight which offers him no
chance at all. He would have plenty
OF friends IN the House II members
dared to talk outside Of II, Honorable
gentlemen in considerable numbers say
privately with manly frankness that
whatever Roberts sins may be, II
hurts their sense Of eongrulty 70 see
q lot Of unrepentant FOUNDERS stamping
on a man who is not bit worse thah
they are. The gentlemen say they are
afraid TO vote as they think, lest tney
be classed with the foes OF morality,
SO they add their kicks 10 the rest, ana
are prepared to defend the nome
against the 'Mormons' TO the last gasp.
Thus II is seen that even cowardice ana
hypocrisy, hateful things in themselves,
are happily brought into the service OF
domestic purity.
THE TROUBLE WITH ROBERTS,
1.-The trouble with RObirts, said one
member. is that he has not made out
casts Of his women he calls his wives,
and refused his name 10 their children.
Having thus failed in his duty toward
Christian civilization, ! am prepared,
when the time comes, TO heave the
stone Of my vote at him.
There is a deplorable confusion OF
thought In the press gallery, as Wen
as out Of IL. The correspondents sit
around and tell what they know about
the lives Of public men, some OF whom
are prominent as anti-Roberts warriors,
When the tales Of drunkenness and
lechery have been told. the implied ar.
gument is that the Roberts sort OF
polygamy Is decenter than the Gentle
kind praoticed by his prosecutors. The
nrinciples that two wrongs do not make
a right is forgotten, and It Is also over
looked that after the Roberts style OF
polygamy has been properly branded
as intolerable there VIII be nothing 10
prevent the rejected member from
Utah from turning the tables and eau
ing on the country TO pass judgment
on the polygamy which does not DIS
qualify a citizen from serving In Con.
gress. OF course the newspapers would
hardly give hearing 10 50 Immoral
a character as Roberts. The delieacy
~ the press would doubtless restrain
n from violating the sacredness OF pri-
vate life. but there is nothing 10 pre-
vent Roberts from writing a book. He
js hold enough TO do II, and he can
shield himself behind the specious plea
that those who set up as censors OF
morals challenge examination OF their
own equipment for the Office.
SHOULD HE WRITE A BooK'
"He surely would be encouraged 90
essay such a book by the multitude OF
assurances he Is daily receiving thal
a Mormon with three, or thirty, wives
IL no, hslf so offensive to the healthy
male mind as the sight OF drunkaids
and llbertines figuring as home guards
and strewlng flowers OF exalung fhet-
oric AT the feet OF pleased womanhood
Roberts Is bold enough for anything
There Is admiration, mingled with the
sympathy so freely expressed FOR him
I'm This city, which, having q near view
OF great men, IL prone 70 take the val
cts view OF heroes. He Is a fighter,
ana courage compels respect. He has
brains too. He talks very well, in
deed-ciearly forcibly and eloquently,
He knows exactly what he wants 10
say. and, though he mounts In impas-
stoned flights, he does not slop over.
No one. except q man with a rope
around his neck. addressing the mob
tina, is going to hang him, ever made
speech under more depressing eondl-