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

WV AhoNc'' nave tVHNtUNtu LOT my
rights and the rights Of my constituents
single-handed and alone, 10 the best Of
my 6bility, but have been overwhelmed
by force OF numbers.
Notwithstanding all that has been
said, the people OF Utah are not law
less people Those OF them who have
been involved In the past In the plural
marriage system once taught and sane
toned by the Church Of Jesus Christ OF
Latter-day Saints, are not wanton yio-
lators OF the laws, but. finding them
selves In the position where the law
commands them 10 do one thing, and
moral obligations, sacredly entered into
under the sanction OF the Mormon
Church, command them to do another,
they are placed In a very trying situa-
ton, and some few Of them, including
the member from Utah, may have
found II necessary to regard their moral
obligations as more binding upon their
consclences than their technical obedi-
ence TO statutory law.
Such a position, however Is but
transitory In Utah, ant comes down to
the Mormon people from conditions
growing out Of the plural-marriage sys-
tenn OF the past. The condition here re-
ferred TO- however, Is rapidly passing
away. From authoritative figures OFF,
cially collected recently by the Nor
mon Church 1t has been ascertained
that AT the time OF the discontlnuance
OF plural marriages under the authority
OF the late President Woodruff's mani
festo, In September, 1880, there were
2,45l polygamous families throughout
the whole Mormon Church. Since then
II has been ascertained that 90S OF these
families have ceased to exist, through
death, divorce or abandonment, leav-
ing at the present time but l,543 polyga-
nous families In the Church through
out the world, and, as most Of these are
we'll advanced in years and all beyond
middle life. the system will soon be
obliterated from the earth, and under
these circumstances there has been 1T
tie excuse for the extraordinary efforts
put forth throughout the country 20
crush system OF marriage already
practically dead and abandoned.
"T'he election Of the member from
Utah to the House Of Representatives
was no effort on the part Of the Nor
mon Church to revive polygamy or
stun II down the throat OF the American
Congress or people. Nothing Of the
kind was contemplated In either his
nomination or election. all reports TO
the contrary Notwithstanding. The al
legged statement often quoted TO the ef-
feet that Brigham Young, on July %,
1915, or at any other time. declared that
he would make the American people
swallow MormOnism. polygamy and all.
and that the election of the present
member-elect from Utah was an effort
to fulfill that prediction, is absolutely
untrue. He made no such utterance,
and the recent agitation respecting
Mormonlsm and its being q menace 10
the purity Of the American home Is Ut
terry unwarranted by the facts in the
case.
Congress has been made to believe
however, that such Is the intention OF
'Mormonism, or at least has been
awed into acquiescence that such were
its intentions and hence has been led
to vote TO exclude the member from
Utah.
There Is not virtue enough, II ap-
pears. In the American House 81 Repre-
sentatives TO stand for their convictions
as TO what Is right in this matter Only
this morning the representative from
Utah received a communication from
q person who Is evidently member OF
the House OF Representatives,. since the
letter Is written upon House official
stationery and sent 10 him IN an off,
cial envelope Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives. although the signature rs
Republican friend After citing the
member from Utah TO a speech deliv-
cred by the Hon. James G. Blaine In
1879 With rafaFanra n nnlN0QnlN no
says:
- regret that am not at liberty TO
vote as my conscience dictates on this
question (the Roberts easel, for rea-
sons which you fully understand Presl-
dent Mckinley and Speaker Henderson
have made the support Of the Tayler
resolution the test OF Republican ortho-
doxy, and l am obliged to wear the
yoke.
$50 far as this matter is a personal
affair | may say that whatever hap
pens. the member from Utah can con-
graduate himself that from obscure
birth and the conditions OF iron fortune,
and In spite OF having espoused an un-
popular faith, he has fought his way
upward until he reached sufficient
prominence 10 be the decided choice Of
the people OF sovereign State TO repre-
sent them In the American House Of
Representatives. From that summit he
was hurled down by the House under
a spasm Of prejudice. arising from mis-
representation and falsehood as 10 con-
ditions existing In Utah.
That action will not ruin him. Con-
scious of the rectitude OF his own In
tentions. he will face the future undis-
couraged by this incident in his career.
and will weave again his fortunes he
will face the future with a light heart
and a determination TO succeed.
"No. he Will not stand for reelection
as vindication TO himself, even should
his people desire IL: he will ask that
his exclusion shall be permitted 70 close,
for the present this incident in Utah's
history"
Austin. Tex, Jan. 25.-Today In the
house of the Texas legislature reso-
luton was offered condemning Con-
gress for Its course In the d. II. Rob-
erts case. The resolution vas intro
duced by Representative Wells. and
occasioned some debate. but was finally
referred TO committee to be reported
on as soon as possible. The resolution,
In part, says:
while we are opposed TO the prac-
tice OF polygamy, at the same time we
commend said Roberts for his manly
course in refusing 10 abandon his plu-
raj wives and their children, and II Is
the opinion OF this house that IL all
the members OF Congress who are gull
~ OF violation Of 'he moral code OF the
character pharpan aVafnet said Doh
erts would vote TO seat said Roberts.
there would not be found corporars
guard opposing the same"