Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-26
THE END OF THE FIGHT.

The public are already aware that the
House Of Representatives adopted. on
Thursday evening, the majority report
Of the special committee on the case OF
Il. H. Roberts. by a vote OF PCS TO 90
This amounts TO a double declaration:
First, that Congress Is determined not
10 admit q Mormon" polygamist to
seat In that body. Second, that large
majority Of the members regard public
opinion az higher than the Supreme
Law OF the land.
In one sense the viii Of the people Is
the highest authority In this Republic.
But that opinion. In order to be valid
and legal, must be expressed in the
manner agreed upon by the people. The
Constitution Of the United states Is
the written authority OF each branch
Of the national government 1t defines
and limits their powers. All that are
not thus expressed In that instrument
are retained by the respective States or
by the people. Those powers can be
enlarged or curtailed or changed to any
extent that the people decide, but their
decision must be conveyed In the man
ner agreed upon in the Constitution.
The provisions OF the Supreme Law
cannot be set aside, lesitimately by
popular demand which has not been
formulated In the way prescribed In
that instrument Public opinion Is as
tickle and changeable as the wind, 1t
viii praise one day that which II con-
demned The day before. It may be
dashed into fury by designing persons
and led to rapine. arson and murder; or
It can be aroused 10 reckless enthusi-
asm. hero worship and boundless adu-
lation by similar means. II IS not to be
regarded as any authority until II is
formulated into law duly enacted
=. VI. Roberts felt confident. almost to
the last. that he would be permitted 10
take the seat TO which he was without
doubt duly elected by a sovereign State
Of the Union. This was the view taken
by many Of his supporters and friends,
previous TO the storm which originated
In Salt Lake City and was diligently
worked up throughout the nation. He,
70 the end, and they at the beginning,
believed that the majority OF the men
elected TO the House OF Representa-
tiyes would feel bound by the
Constitution which they swear to up
hold. rather than be Influenced by pub
lie sentiment In contravention Of It's
provisions. II was faith In their IN
tegrlty that buoyed him up In the midst
OF the hurricane which blew around
him and them. That his confidence was
ill-founded is not his fault but his mis-
fortune II II works any harm to him.
The contest which he waged so free
ly In the face Of such overwhelming
odds, manifested once more the fact
that In overcoming anything associated
however indirectly with "Mormonslm,'
departure from truth or from con-
slitutionGl right is inevitable. 70 sup
press what Is claimei TO be wrong In
4, al actual wrong has 10 be COM
nt,led This has received repeated H.
lusiratlons In the history Of the Nor.
mon" people from It's very beginning.
The Misrepresentation ana ISLANDERS
winch have dIsgfaced the alta ks upon
the ",iormons' during this controversy,
nre not creditable 10 those who in
dulged In them. The people thus
n,aligned have been accustomed to tina,
land OF "argumenr." II win do them
NJ permanent harm. IT viii be the
means OF attracting a.tentioa to the
truth and of preparing the way where
by il can be fairly presented.
II is cause for congratulation that
fifty stalwarts were courageous enough
10 stem the tide Of popular fury, and to
stand by their convictions Of right in
the face Of so much violent opposition.
Their names ought to be held in pre-
cious memory. and their future should
be watched by those who believe In the
victory OF truth and the triumph OF JUS
tIce.
There is no disposition on the part Of
the Mormon people. of either political
rs,fy, TO endeayor TO thrust into Office
any individual, however prominent and
talented, because he is a polygamist.
That was not the idea In the minds OF
the voters who elected b. II, Roberts.
1hey supported him Notwithstanding
the fact that he was reputed TO be a
man who had contracted plural mar
riages 10 times past. They had good
reason to believe that, under the En-.
abiing Act and State Constitution. this
would not be regarded by men Of legal
learning and general Information as a
disqualification for any public position.
But they had no desire to provoke pub
lie hostility, or faunt the peculiar m
stltution,' fast going to decay, in the
face OF the nation, as charged By those
persons aud papers which have been in
strumenial in arousing the country on
a false hypothesis
II II WIN be any consolation to the
antl-"Mormons' who are jublant in
their chlvarous triumph over one gen.
tlernan who dared TO brave their wrath
II may be now frankly acknowledged
that no practical polygamlsi" win be
likely hereafter to offer himself for
national public Office also that n he
were to venture 50 far he would not be
supported By the voters Of this State.