Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-25

ltdh, Hhue lhese sthtth'H'a'
"The problem Of Morm0nism' is OF
practical interest because OF the men
ace OF increasing activity among lhe
adherents 10 the Mormon Church. the
Christian churches are complaining
that there has been an alarming de-
crease In their membership. But lhe
increase will better indicate the rela-
ton Of the Mormon Church TO TINS
problem OF membership. During the
year 1897 the Congregational church
gained 1900 members; the Presby-
terrain church 1900 members; the
Methodist church 10000 members; and
lastly, the Mormon Church gained So
600 members
Among the $4,000 members OF the
Mormon Church there are ZO,yJV
church officials In descent from the
President TO the DeacOns. The MEM
bers Of the Church are obliged 20 give
one.tenth Of their income tn the church
authorities, and when Brigham Young
was living he claimed the control OF
everything even to the ribbons on
womon's bonnet"
As pleasing contrast TO the illusions
from the pulpit we find the follow
ing In the Detroit Evening News Of
the same date. 1t is a sufficient answer
to all the Trades from the different
Christian" pulplts on sunday Nov.
2ist That paper says editorially:
The News does not know what II its
readers think about the case; but for
Itself II muse confess that II has be-
come somewhat confused by the noise
and clamor that are belag raised about
the ears OF Representative Roberts OF
Utah. Doubtless we are very stupid;
but We cannot understand what IL Is
all about. OF course we understand
well enough that Mr.. Roberts is polyg-
amist on a small sCale-nO elaborate
establishments Ike those maintained
by our great and good friend and our
distinguished felloW-citi2ed. the sultan
OF Sulu; but rather a modest menage
IN triple. 1t is not disputed, we believe,
that Mr.. Roberts married these three
wives before Utah was admitted as
State and he has continued to live
with them. supporting the three faml-
lies. and recognizing an Of the on
spring as legitimate children.
In the fall Of 1895 Mr.. Roberts was
nominated and elected 10 Congress.
immediately the cry was raised that
the presence Of such a man In the
House OF Representatives was a men,
ace to Republican institutions. The
demand was made that he House
should refuse 10 seat him. Finally
somebody took the trouble TO explain
that he House could not very well re-
fluse 10 seat him ~ he went - Wash
ington bearing from the proper au-
thorities credentials certifying that he
was the legally elected representative
In the Congress OF the United States
from Utah. Then the demand was al.
tered, and petitions have been circu-
lated insisting that the House shall eX-
pei the p0lygamOus gentleman from
Utah, upon the ground that he has
three wives. and that three wives are
a menace TO the nation. To be sure.
Congress has the power TO eXpel one
Of it, members on any ground II
wishes TO select The only thing fol
Congress TO determine is whether the
crime fits the only punishment that
body can impose.
The News" must admit that while II
has very poor opinion Of Mormon
ism" and It's practices, II secs nothing
IN the election OF Mr.. Roberts 10 the
House OF Representatives to warrant
the turmoil that has been created. IL
all statesmen who maintain more than
one domestic establishment are 10 be
expelled, there will be vacancies in the
representation from several states In
the Union. As for any prestige that
the Mormon" Church might gain II he
Al i. No
think that has been greatly exagger-
ated, too. Mr.. Roberts will be only
one representative among 1855, and il
Is not probable that he will enact
great deal Of legislation favorable TO
the Mormon" Church, But. say the
petitioners, the United States govern
ment cannot afford 10 recognize the
Mormon" Church by allowing one OF
It's polygam0us members TO hold a
seat In the awmaklng body OF the ma
ton. With all due respect TO them, the
United States government Will not be
recognizing any church Of any kind II
Mir Roberts retains his seat. The gov
eminent merely recognizes the fact that
he Is not disqualified by the Constitu-
ton for holding the Office TO which he
was elected; and that he was chosen In
a legal manner by citizens whose right
TO exercise the franchise In the manner
they have cannot be questioned.
The whole question Of "Mormonism"
Is entirely outside the Roberts case, and
cannot be affected by any action the
House may take In respect TO his seat
II he Is expelled. the practices Of the
Mormon" Church viii not be changed
Polygamy should be destroyed root,
branch and twlg; but that has nothing
70 do with the legal right Of Mr., Rob-
crts 20 hold an office to which he has
been lawfully elected, or the right Of
the citizens OF Utah 20 be- represented IN
Congress by a man who was not Con-
sttutlonally Ineligible to the Office az
the time Of his election.