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Show TIIK SACRAMENTO rIO" OX THIS DKB.VT1!. The Si'.erameuto Union showed its ! enterprise by publishing a verbatim report of the debate between Professor Pratt and Dr. Newman, reported specially spe-cially for it and forwarded in advance of those published in this city. In its issue of the 20th, the Union makes comments on the debate, in which it says : Confining himself to the strict language lan-guage of the question as presented "Does the Bible sanction Polygamy ?" the Mormon makes out a strong ease in defense of his system, a3 he or any any other dilectieian might from texts derived from the Mosaic law, and other propositions which modern civilization and the laws of states reject. But leaving the strict language of the question ques-tion as presented, and allowing the debate to take a range within the realms of philosophy and history, as was done by Dr. Newman, it must be confessed that the Mormon guns are spiked. This is a plain admission that Dr. Newman was defeated. Professor Pratt consistently held to the question under debate ; the Union says, after reading and publishing the verbatim report that Dr. Newman took a wider range that is, did not confine himself to the question, but strove to drag in matter irrelevant to it. Now, let it be understood that the Mormons do not base their belief in polygamy alone upon up-on the laws given to the old Shemitic nations, and are as ready to maintain its correctness on philosophical and historical grounds as upon Biblical ones. But Dr. Newman did not challenge chal-lenge a discussion upon any but Biblical grounds, and his leaving the question proposed by himself, begging the question ques-tion and lugging in points that had no connection with the subject which he had propa-eJ, are the s'rouge.-t evidences eviden-ces that could be required to prove his incompete icy to maintain tlv position he ha.l chosen. So far from the ''Mormon guns "being "spiked."' when they are opened on the points named, it will be found they are as powerfully effective as were those from which Dr. Newman retreated re-treated when he sought to make his attack from another quarter. The Union says the debate was "the beginning of an argument wh ich must end iu appealing the Mormon question from the theological courts to the courts of common sense ml philosophy." philoso-phy." We have no fears in t?uch courts, if allowed a fair and impartial hearing. But will the Union tell us why any religious question should be appealed there? And will it point to the introduction of a single religious truth that was not first condemned in the "courts of common sense and philosophy"' phi-losophy"' because the judges were prejudiced pre-judiced and partial, to afterward." become popular and sustained by the same court- a- the tide of popular opinion carried them to support the side which they hnd h.-l'o; e tin.c opposed. op-posed. The Union further says : If Brother Bcccher, with his rich fund of common sense and his readiness in debate, could have, a .six days' dis-cus-icn with the Mormon Prophet, or with Elder John Taylor, who is said to be the next greatest intellect in Moi-mondom, Moi-mondom, we think the harems ol Utah would be emptied in a twelvemonth. What a work that would be for "Brother Bcccher"' to accomplish with six days' labor! It would immortalize his nrirne to a degree far exceeding anything lie has yet done, for would he not turn the entire current of a religious re-ligious community that has made itself a name and fame of no secondary im-p'jrtarie; im-p'jrtarie; in the history of the century! But v.e are not so sanguine with regard to the results as the Union is; and we have no doubt if Brother Bcccher were itching for such a contest that Elder Taylor would accommodate him. It is to bo hoped nobody will consider this a challenge emanating from President Voting or from anybody else, as such newspaper -u:'g---tio!is are ap to bo const ru'-d. We ni' "rely say, :i an individual, indi-vidual, that if the subject of po! j gamy is. to be ili cu--ed in all it-" henring, thosi: ol' standing -ullieicnt to warrant their bein.r met, who are antious to debate it. i ae.webe'ii", ",be accommodated accommoda-ted here iu I .'tab by plenty of men capable of ni'iliiris' the debate inter-c-ting to them, whether it be considered consid-ered biblically, physiologically, statistically, statis-tically, w,ci:i!lv, p. orally, historically, nr in any other way. And we have jiM a' much confidence iti the result as in that. ,, ti.e !, ,J, Ut.. : for tho-c gentlemen gen-tlemen who expr ". the:!1 -.elves so flrongly against, polyrawy, never having hav-ing v-cijlicd the ar'oiue nts f-jocpt. on dtif id' ' uothi'iL' of the w-irht of metal and length of range of the "Mormon guns" which Dr. Newman did not "spike," and which were never opened on him. |
