Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-05-08
Brigham Young.

1t begins to look as if the public life
of this arch impostor whose victims art
numbered by tens of thousands and who
by his crimes and outlawry has threat.
ened the peace ofthe whole country,was
nearly at an end. He is still at the head
of the Mormon Church, but resigned his
place in the public institutions of Salt
Lake City, and contemplates, it is said,
retirement to distant part of Arizona
beyond the reach of the mail and the
telegraph. If he should carry out the
intention thus announced, the United
States and Europe will have occasion
for rejoicing ;since it is not at all likely
when his age and the past history OF
Mormonism are taken into account, that
he will again be able to induce such a
multitude to attach themselves to his
fortunes as followed him to Salt Lake,
and this will be the precursor of the
breaking up of the entire system of
Mormonism which has so long set at
naught the laws of God and man. The
opening Of the Pacific Rrailroad and the
Introduction Of large numbers of those
who Brigham Young and his adherents
denomiate "Gentiles, "has done what all
the violence of Missouri and Illinois
failed to achieve. The unchristian, un-
natural, Illegal and heathen system can
not stand before the energy, Intelligence
and morality of Christian civilization.
The presence of trade, contact with the
world, and the silent influence of intel
ligent and well ordered families, has
solved a problem, before which our most
distinguished statesmen shrank.
Brigham Young himself, has been
one of the most remarkable men of his
times. He has revelled in sensuality,
set at defiance the laws of God and man
has been guilty of ever crime condemn
ed in the Decalogue, and at the same
time has yieled an unbounded influence
over great multitude drawn from all
parts of our own land and from every
country in Europe. He has been the
inspired prophets the divinely appointed
ruler, the financier, the legislator, and
the instructor of a most heterogeneous
people Of difference in race, language,
pursuits, and previous training. He
was born at Whittingham, Windham Co.
VT, June l, 1901, reared to manhood on
a farm. and afterwards became paint
er and glazier. In 1882 he adopted the
tenets OF Mormonism and went to what
was then its headquarters, Kirkland, o.
In him Joe Smith, then the ruling spirit
Of the movement at once recognized one
"born to rule"and his deep cunning and
wonderful knowledge of the weak
points in human nature, soon gave him
leading position among those to
whom he had now united himself. In
1885 "quo rum of twelve apostles"was
organized, and among them was Brig
ham Young, who soon afterwards re-
eeived the "gift of tongues" and was
sent on a mission to the Eastern States.
After the death of Joseph and Hyram
Smith, he became the Mormon leader,
althons nshWilliam Smith the prophets on
ly surviving brother claimed the sue
cession. At the same time he compell-
ed the retirement of Sydney Rigdon,
who had been one of the most active of
the originators Of this great delusion.
In 1916, after the Mormons had been
driven from Illinois and Missouri, and
while they were encamped near Omaha
the organization was changed, the
"quorum of twelve" was abolished, and
it was unanimously resolved that "the
mantle of the prophet Joseph had fallen
on the Seer and Revelaror, Brigham
Young" And i'm the latter part of 1S47
he had led his people to the place where
Salt Lake city now stands, and where
he supposed them safe from all intru-
sion. When the territory of Utah was
organized in 1850, President Fillmore
committed the great folly of appointing
Brigham Young, Governor, for which
he received no thanks from that quar-
ter. In harangue delivered shortly
afterwards Brigham said. "Why when
that time comes (the earthly reign of
the Saints) the Gentiles shall come beg
ging to us to be our servants. 1 know
several men high in Office in the nation,
who would make good servants. 1 ex-
pect the President of the United to black
my boots" In making this appoint
ment Mr.. Fillmore made a most egregi-
GUS blunder, the effects of which are felt
to the present day.
In that distant place Brigham Young
has ruled with undisputed sway, except
as interfered with occasionally by the
United States officers. He has built a
city made the desert productive, defend
ed and practised the most bestial prac-
tices, sent his emisaries into all parts Of
Europe, and drawn multitudes around
him, ever ready to do or suffer his bid
ding. Though unprepossessing in ap-
pearanee, rude in speech, profane, of
low tastes, and ignorant, by sheer force
of will he has subjugated thousands to
bis authority as if it had been granted
him directly from heaven. That such
man may soon lay down his authority or
have it wrested from him, and that the
miserable slaves whom he has held in
his CALLING chains may soon be freed,
will be the prayer of every sincere
Christian and the desire of every friend