Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-01-27

ly turned away. He warned the house
that nations fell because they departed
from their traditions. If nation in
dulged in constitutional immortality"
it died as did the individual who was
guilty of physical immortality. He
beseeched the house not to yield to the
clamor of unthinking people. Was
this emergency? A man was elected
10 congress, who, in the sancity of the
church, had married plurality of
wives. He said we have passed the
stage of representing or defending
polygamy and he did not want his re-
marks so construed. He said the
crime of polygamy is malum probibi-
tum, not mala in sc that in the teach
ings of the Great Master, although He
denounced every crime, every sin that
man can commit, there is no word of
His condemning the conduct of the
patriarchs, or of law as it was given to
Moses and ancient Israel. He quoted
Martin Luther as saying: II cannot
protest when one takes many wives,
for it does not contradict the Scrip
lures, and again, that "the Gospels do
not revoke the laws of Moses in matri-
monial matters"
"Yet we built monuments to Luther
Notwithstanding his toleration and de-
fence of that form of marriage. l say
this only to show that polygamy is
merely crime because prohibited by
law"
sMr. Roberts explained the Mormon
belief in polygamy, aud said the church
thought their creed on this point came
within the constitutional inhibition
against laws prohibiting the free exer-
else of religious belief.
Referring to the continuance of po.
lygamy, after an adverse supreme
court decision, Mr.. Roberts suggested
it was apparent such great religious
conviction could not Immediately be
given up; that the supreme court fire.
quently reverses itself and pointed to
Representative White, of North Caro-
lima, colored, on the floor, as one of a
race, who, if absolute submissiveness
to the decision of the supreme court
was to be the last of controversy, would
have been but piece of goods and
chattels in this country instead OF being
a member of the house of represen-
tatives.
"But then" said Mr.. Roberts dra-
matically, II felt it would have been
deserving the cause of God to have
agreed to give up polygamy." A scat
tering wave of applause passed over
the galleries at this utterance; but it
was quickly drowned with Kisses. II
had rather have my flesh hewn from
my limbs than to have been untrue to
my people. 1t was this feeling that
was the incentive to the lawlessness
such as it was.
But, he continued, the time came
when the Mormons of Utah were OBJ
/ liyed to submit. Death had kindly
solved the problem for some and the
heartaches it left for others made them
wish for the same end.
He insisted that the compact with
the United States had been observed ;
that polygamy had practically ceased
that the Mormon church had given up
polygamy in good faith. Mr.. Roberts
said he had been in public life for 20
years and was not driven to the de-
fence of his moral character. He was
not here representing the Mormon
church. He had received greater
number of votes from Gentiles than
Mormops. "You can neither exclude
nor expel me" said Mr.. Roberts in con-
clusion. II will cling so hard to the
pillars of liberty that you shall not
drag me from them without bringing
down the whole temple" applause
and hisses.) 81 have lived with
good conscience until this day, and
am sensible of no act of shame upon
my part. You can brand me with
shame and send me forth; but l shall
leave with head erect and brow un-
daunted, and walk the earth as angels
walk the clouds. If you violate the
constitution all the shame will be with