Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-29

to the church, and more for the glory of
God TO take for husband man with
many concubines, than to remain single.
Religious zeal, superstition and fantic-
ism have been strong elements toward
building up this church. But the pros
perity of the community is due to other
causes. 1t is an industrious communi-
tv. Its recruits mainly have been from
the classes accustomed to labor. The
teachings of the Mormon preachers are
that labor is acceptable to the Lord,
that by labor the new Zion is to be es-
tablished. Men are industrious here, as
a general rule, but there are idlers here
as well as in other lands. There are
men who oversee things while their wives
work.
The isolation Of the communicates
far from the StateS-has contributed
greatly to the prosper.sy of the commu
nifty. This city has been the chief trad
ing point between St Louis and San
supplying all the country be-
tween New Mexico and Oregon. The
discovery of gold in California, followed
by the discoveries in Colorado, then
Nevada, Idaho, Montana, then in Wy
oming, brought rush of fortune hun
tiers. The long lines of emigrant trains
over the plains all tended in this direc-
ton.
Emigrants, miners, traders, trappers,
all have had this as their Quitting
point. There has been steady influx of
migration-about five thousand per an
mum, from the old world-men and
women, with a new life before them
hope, aspiration, ambition awakened and
quickened.
1t is a community-a machine moved
by strong force, faith aud zealand all
its energies directed by one man, with
one object in view, to build up the
church. 1t is a despotism. Brigham
Young, more than Louis of France, can
say, 81 am the State" One tenth of all
that man receives during the year-not
his net receipts, but the gross-goes into
the treasury of the church, and it goes
out only under the direction of Brigham
Young.
The prosperity is not due solely to in
dustry and frugality, but circumstances
have all been favorable to the accumula-
ton of wealth. The military sent out
during President Buchanan's administra-
ton, at cost Of forty million dollars,
Injured to the benefit of the church. The
ten thousand troops-the great army of
the camp followers swelling the number
to seventeen thousand-paid ready mon
ey and the highest price for every article
of provision the Mormons had for sale.
Up TO that time there was great scare
ity of iron, of wagons and carts in the
Territory, but when the expedition was
recalled ar immense amount of material
was left behind, which the Mormons Oh
tanned for nothing. The construction of
the overland stage road, the movement
of the thousands Of migrants all contrib
uted to build up the church. For long
time Brigham Young had the govern
ment Of the Territory in his own hands.
The Territory was organized in 1850.
President Fillmore appointed Brigham
Governor. He held the position until
1858; was succeeded by Governor Cum
mings, who held the office for three years,
but upon his resignation Brigham again
came into power. Being himself the
State. owing no responsibility, having all
the revenues at his disposal, obeyed i'm
plicity, accompanying circumstances, fa-
voring, religious fanaticism, zeal and
sensuality, the highest and lowest of hui
man passions brought into play, he and
his people have transformed the desert
to fruitful valley. with the sound of la
Dor breaking the long solitude of the
ages.
LAW AND ORDER.
Every visitor, upon entering the city,
is struck not only by the evidence of
prosperity, but vita the order in the
community. 1t is order maintained by
theocratic law, under the administration of
the church. Gambling is not allowed.
All drinking saloons are licensed by the
church. There are four kept by GenIiles,
which pay each $500 per month in ad-
vance, and one billiard saloon, which pays
also $500 per month, making total of
$4,000 per annum paid into the treas
ury of the church from liquor and bill
lizards. This is so much money from the
pockets of the Gentiles, for the church has
its own liquor store. and the saints are
forbidden to trade with Gentiles, mas
much as the church has no license to pay,
the church liquor store is exceedingly
profitable. The church enjoins tempe
rance, but does not require total absti-
nence. Men joining this church do not
lose their taste for whiskev, but, if they
happen to get drunk, the church justice
will extort heavy fine, which goes in
to the church treasury. 1t is not ex-
actly sinful but very Improbable to get
drunk.
ESPIONAGE AND POLICE.
The Church maintains rigid police
ordinary, special and ecclesiastical.
The ordinary and special police are APP
pointed by the mayor, Mr.. Apostle
Weles, Brigham Young's right hand
man, chosen by him TO administer secular
affairs. The policemen hold their Office
at the pleasure of The Mayor. The &c
clesiastical police are.the Bishops of the
church