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Show j A HiiRO. j Heroes, like dolls, are often made of I sawdust, and martyrs are often made of I moral 'cowards. k The News and the Her- I aid of this city have been trying to raise ' George Jiomney, of thisCit', who was convicted on Saturday last of unlawful i cohabitation, and sentenced to the full extent of the law, to the dignity of a hero and martyr. It cannot be done. "When Mr. Komney was be- fore the Court for sentence, the Court said: "Well, Mr. Romney, is it 1 your intention to. -obey the laws of the ' ) "I United States?" The reply was, "I have J no remarks to make." The Court then asked: "Are you prepared to state what you will do?" The answer was, "I am I I not." Upon th;s, the full penalty of the S law was imposed upon the prisoner at the l i bar. Silence and a refusal to obey the I ; laws of his adopted country make Mr. I 1 I Romney a hero. Is he entitled to the I j appreciations and honors of hero and ' 1 j martyr? Let us see. The United States j passed a law to stop a system of marriage I inconsistent with the civilization of the ' age, and one that in all countries where ' the common law has prevailed has been made a crime; and the civil law has I I always treated it the same. Mr. Romney has been living in violation of this law, and has been found guilty and sentenced, j J The enforcement of a law that was en- acted to preserve the family as the unit of ' i the State as it is established in every civi- j i lized country of the world, makes of its violators, heroes and martyrs. Let us I examine this particular case still further, j I Not long since, Mr. Romney very freely j !; discussed this question of obedience to I the law with a well-known gentleman of this city. His remarks were almost ! word for word as follows. He said: "I cannot Bee any difference in promsing to j obey the law and not going to jail, and j going to jail for not promising obedience ; to the law, and then when the time of M imprisonment has expired coming out I and obeying the law."' Some further ; conversation was had between Mr. , Romney and; the gentleman referred to, and . Mr. Romney having ex-J ex-J pressed himself as being somewhat in a quandary, the gentleman with whom -lie was conversing said to ; him : "It is all nonsense for a man with i 3'0"r convictions to go to jail. There is no need for it ; all you have got to do is to go into court and state your honest convictions and say that you will abide by them." i Why did not Mr. Romney abide by I his convictions in this matter of obeying : ; the law? Was it because of any grand i, heroic adherence to a religious principle ? If such were the case, why did he so express himself to this gentleman? Men don't discuss and weidi the pro3 and cons of a question when they are fully convinced on it, and ; are willing to suffer for it. We can see it . i in no otlier light than that .Mr. Romney I was afraid to meet the censure and con- , demnation of his co-religionists in pre ference to following his convictions. A ;!' man who is more afraid of public opinion I ; than of the law, especially where ho ; , would obey the law if he were to follow !; his own inclinations, is not much of a hero after all, and the claim to martyrdom is j; absolutely without foundation. Mr. Rom-; ; ,:j ney has taken the advice that the As- sistant Superintendent of the Mormon 'f Sunday School gave to a lot of pupils through a bull and not through intention. ! ; Said the Assistant Superintendent: "It is ;i better to suffer wrong than to do right." Mr. Romney's heroism comes from lack of moral courage to do as he personally desired " and to follow the dictate of reason. Truly, such men are heroes, and I;' "they have their reward." |