The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-03
Extern LIES ALLIED
Jtest Phase of the Anti-Mormon
Crusade.
CRITICISM IS SILENCED
BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF PREsI-
DENT SHOWS STATEMENT.
Only Effect of the Agitation Will Be
to Make Nr. Roberts the Best Adj
Vertised Member of the House
Past Troubles Discussed From
Partisan Standpoint.
(snecial corresnondenoen

NtoptEldl OOIIeSiO0OenCe.)
Washington, Dec 30.-Congressman
elect Roberts refutation of an alleged
interview which had been widely cir
culated throughout the east and Presi
dent Shows declaration that polygamous
marriages are not permitted have had
an excellent effect From the first there
has been no chance for success in the
anu-Roberts campaign, but these state
ments have silenced a great deal of cur
rent criticism which was based on mis-
Information 1t is now apparent that the
only result of the agitation of the So
called Mormon question will be to make
the new congressman one of the most
widely advertised members of the Fifty
The Washington Post, which has been
sturdily antagonistic to the effort to
make bigotry an issue IN the new con-
SreSs, has contained a number of strong
editorials on the Roberts case. More re-
Gently this able paper has discussed other
features of the so-called Mormon question
ana Utah history. In one editorial the
Post says:
a New York contemporary says that
polygamy must sooner OF later be for
hidden by constitutional amendment as
its twin relic OF barbarlsm -s.avery-has
already been, otherwise the republic must
endure the, repr9ach OF barbarisTn en-
acted into law. This is based on the as
sumption that the Utah MOrmons sin
believe in Dolygamy. and will make it
lawful IL their state. We have no doubt
>
believe all that is reported as to the
conditions existing in Utah. such an
amendment would be put through. But
II viii require stronger evidence than
has yet been presented to convince con-
SresS or the people that the danger so
Historically heralded is rot imaginary.
Meanwhile the Post will continue TO
cherish the cheerful belief that our civ
llzatlon IS not failure, and that it can
enacted into law without any change
in our national charter. All .denomina-
tionS of Christians are as free as the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daY
Saints to preach and teach i'll Utah. We
do not believe that under existing cOndi-
lions polygamy can prosper there"
DEMOCRATS AND MORMONS.
The same writer takes up phase OF
old-time Utah history and makes clear
the attitude of the Democratic party upon
an assertion by the Philadelphia North
American (RepUblican) that all res
possibility for Mormon troubles since
1851 rested with the Democratic party.
The North American also discovered that
the slave holders did not feel free to
destroy pOlygamy in BuchananS time
lest such action be construed as a re-
proach to their own peculiar institution,
and proceeded to say:
General Albert Sidney Johnson was
sent with a few men and many mules to
bring Brigham Young into subsection, but
he, his army, and his mules halted some
miles from the firing line, and then turned
tail and sought asylum in the midst of
civilized surroundings. Thus ended the
Mormon war the one purely Democratic
war up to the secession of the slave
states. Had there been any pluck or
virtue in the Democratic party in 1851
there would have been no Mormon prob
lem to drag through forty years since.
nor would there have been any polygamist
elected to the house in November
To all this the Post replies that the
charges are preposterOus, and continues:
''Fhe North American onlits to mention
the fact that Brigham Young whose de-
faint attitude. toward the government
brought on the trouble. was a federal
official, holding the position Of governor
OF the territory of Utah. 1t was not
James Buchanan or any other Democrat
that made Brigham Young governor. If
any party is to be held responsible for
that great blunder and the evils that grew
out OF it, the Whig party was the cul-
prit. President Willard Fillmore a man
of excellent intentions, appointed Brigham
Young, a notorious polygamist, and of
known unfriendhness TO the government
TO the office in which he caused a vast /
amount of trouble and expense to the
government and people of the United |
States.
The North Americans unfairness does