Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-24
'TINUED FROM PAGE ONE----BERK]
admitted by, both the majority and mi

CARED that the members Of the House,
IL they had regard to the constitution
OF their country, would call him back
to the bar from which he had been i'm
properly turned away. He warned the
House that nations fell because they
departed from their traditions. If ma
ton INDUCED In constitutional i'm
morality 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 to
Congress who, in the sanctity OF the
Church, had married plurality of
wives. He said we have passed the
stage of representing or defending po-
lygamy. and he did not want his re-
marks so construed. He said the crime
of polygamy Is nahum prohibition, not
mala in Sc; that in the teachings OF
the great MASTER although he de-
nounced every crime, every sin that
man can commit, there is no word of
His condemnng the conduct Of the pa
triarchs or of the law as it was given
to Moses and ancient Isreal.
MARTIN LUTHER QUOTED.
Ho quoted Martin Luther as saying:
Il cannot protest when one takes many
wives. for 1t does not contradict the
scriptures" and again that the gospels
w llOl revoke or Tic ldWS VI
Moses in matrimonial matters.
Yet we built monuments to Luth-
er, Notwithstanding his federation and
defense of that form of marriage. say
this only to show that polygamy is
merely a crime because prohibited by
law
MIR. Roberts explained the Mormon
belief in polygamy, and said the church
thought their creed on this point came
within the constitutional inhibition
against laws prohibiting the free eXer-
cses of religious belief.
CONTINUANCE OF POLYGAN1Y.
Referring to the continuance of poly
gamy after an adverse Supreme Court
decision, Mr.. Roberts suggested it was
apparent such Il great religious con-
viction could not Immediately be given
up; that the Supreme Court frequently
reverses itself, and pointed to Repre-
sentative White, OF North Carolina
(colored) on the floor as one of race
who. If absolute submissiveness to the
decisions of the Suprenc- Court was to
be last of controversy, would have been
but piece of goods and chattes in
this country instead of being n mem
Der of tho House of Representatives.
But, then" said MIR. Roberts dra-
notically 81 felt 1t would have been
deserving the cause of God to have
agreed to give up pOlygamy."
APPLAUSE AND Kisses.
a scattering wave of applause passed
over the galleries at this utterance, but
1t was quickly drowned with Kisses. "I
had rather had my flesh hewn from my
limbs than to have been untrue to my
people. 1t was this feeling that was
the incentive to .he lawlessness such
as II was"
But, he continued. the time came
when the Mormons of Utah were
obliged to submit Death had kindly
solved the problem for some, and the
heartaches 1t left for others made them
wish for the same end.
THE COMPACT OBSERVED.
He insisted that the compact with the
United States had been observed; that
polygnmy had practically ceased; that
the Mormon Church had given up DO
lygamy in good faith. Mr.. Roberts said
he had been In public life for twenty
years and was not driven to the de-
fence of his moral character. He was
not here representing the Mormon
Church. Hc had received n greater
number Of votes from Gentilcs than
Mormons. You can neither exclude
nor cNpel me-" said Mr.. Roberts in con-
clusion. 81 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
hisscs). have lived with good con-
science 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 shall leave with head erect
and brow undauntcd and walk the earth
as angels walk the clouds. If you vio-
late the constitution all the shame will
be with you"
There was n great outburst of ap-
plause in the galleries when Mr. Ro-
berts concluded.
At 5:S5 the House adjourned until II
o'clock tomorrow --===-===