The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-31
AFFAIRS AT MANILA DEFENSE OF ROBERTS
Prof. W. m. Stewart Argues For
Congressman.
CHALLENGED TO A DEBATE
PROPOSITION WAS PROMPTLY
ACCEPTED.
Well Known Utah Teacher Delivers
Talk In Chicago In Which He
Says the Fight Now Being Made
On Roberts Is Question of Poll
tics and Prejudice.

tics and Prejudice.
A defense of Congressman Roberts
was delivered by Professor w. NJ
Stewart. principal of the state Norma
school, last Sunday night, in the Nor
mon meeting house in Chicago. Rev
F. NJ. Cooper, a missionary in charge o
the reformed church in Illinois. rose il
the audience at the close of Professor
Stewards remarks and offered to de,
bate the Roberts question with him
The challenge was accepted, and the
arrangements for the debate will be
made.
In its report of the meeting, the Chi
cago Inter-Ocean says:
Caused Stir.
THE challenge of the Rev. Mr. Coop
er created somewhat of a stir in the
quiet little church, which was filled
with members of the Church of the
Latter-day Saints, the sympathies of
most of whom were with Professor
Stewart. Mr.. Cooper, however, COM
piled with suggestion to meet Pro-
fessor Stewart afterward and make ar
engagements for the joint debate with
him. AT the conclusion of the meeting
there was conference between the
two men, and it was agreed that they
should meet this week in Professor
Stewards room at the Chicago universe
ty and the arrangements for the de-
bate will then be made.
Professor Stewart had been an
nounced to deliver a lecture which
would be a defense of Congressman
Brigham H. Roberts. He opened his re-
marks with a brief history of the Nor
mon church, in which he said that the
doctrine of polygamy had been taught
to the members of the church for fifty
years. and that it had always been
considered as much a part of their re-
igion as anything else. During that
time it had not been interfered with by
the United States government. He then
spoke of the passage of the Edmunds
law, which prohibited polygamy. This
was followed by a proclamation from
the president of the Mormon church.
counseling its members to abide by the
law upon the subject, and the legisla-
ture of Utah subsequently enacted a
law sustaining the provisions of the
Edmunds law forbidding the practice
of polygamy in Utah.
Cared For His Wives.
Previous to this time, the speaker
said, Congressman Roberts had been
the husband of three wives, and when
the law was passed he decided that it
would be the better part of manhood
for him not to abandon these three
women, who were dependent upon him.
but 10 continue to care for them and
to support them. He had done so. as
had many other Mormons in the same
position, and he honored them for it.
Whether they all continued to live pO-
lygamous lives, Mr.. Stewart said, he
did not know.
What is at the bottom of all these
vicious attacks upon Congressman
Roberts then?' asked Professor Stewart.
I will tell you. Four years ago Mr..
Roberts was nominated for congress
by the Democratic convention, and
there was not then word said against
his character or his morality. Why
was this? The ministers and the press
were silent upon the subject. At that
time Congressman Roberts took a very
firm and decided stand against the
Mormon church using it's influence in
politics. He made a very strong speech
against it, and / myself heard him de-
lounce a leader of the Mormon church
n the most severe terms for a position
ne had taken. The convention which
nominated Mr.. Roberts also condemned
he church for taking sides on any po-
itical question.
Mr.. Roberts was defeated and near
Y lost his head as a member of the
Mormon church. He was made a pet
# by ministers, by the Republican pa
,ers, and by all who are now so vio-
emily opposed to him. Since that time
lie has fixed up his differences with the
Iormon church, and at the last cleo
ion was elected to congress. When
he campaign opened every one began
ttacks upon him, and his right to take
lis seat has been made almost a ma
ional issue. He has maintained the
osition he has always maintained and
cted the part of man. Ministers and
hurches have villified him for what I
as been known about him for years. |
1t has also been charged that the !
lection of Mr.. Roberts and the So
allied recognition of polygamy is but |
preliminary movement toward the /
of polygamy in Utah. l /
ave never heard anything of the sort, |
or has there been any occurrence to /
ldicate that this was the intention of /
he church. The charge is equally as |
llse as are all others which have been
lade against the Mormon church re-
emily.
A Political Fight.
Now, if the congress of the United
tatcS decides that MI. RODertS Is
wv breaker and unworthy to take his
eat, hope that the members will I'M
Eat him. and will also act likewise
18th other of their fellow members
-ho are known to have violated laws
f morality. 1 hope that the American /
eople will be equally as scrupulous re-
arding every one whom they elect to
laces of trust and confidence. The
eal cause for the fight against Con-
ressman Roberts is politics and preju-
ice. / am willing at any time to de-
ate the question as to whether Con-
Roberts is right or wrong
18th any fair-minded minister who is
esirous of listening to our side of the
uestion.
81 The American people should not be
lady to judge until they are in a po-
ton to judge fairly. DO not condemn
Mormon simply because he is a Nor
on. My father was Mormon bishop.
was brought up a Mormon and am
Imiliar with all the machinery of the
lurch. / can say that it compares IA
1rably with any other church, and
lat the percentage of immortality is no
wer. When polygamy was practiced,
1T per cent of the members of the
lurch were polygamists. and I be-
I'VE that the percentage of immortality
nong people who are not Mormons
much larger than this