The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-10
THE LAST MOVE OF THE PROPHET.

Brigham Afraid OF Grant-Thc Dictator
OF the saints Retires from Comm rcial
Speculation-Wil Not Abandon Poly
gamy, hut VIII Go to MexicO-His
Political Moves Exposed.
Brigham Young has ever been an enigma to the
"Gcntile" world, and his voluntary abdicatien on
Tuesday of the highest positions OF financial trust
among his people will bewilder outside unbe-
lievers more than ever but to the student
there is in Brigham's present movement a pur-
pose perfectly consistent with the character and
antecedents OF the man.
BRIGHAM PHOTOGRAPHED.
There Is no one man in history that can be named
to whom Brigham may be compared by way Of
illustration and no man ever was less understood
outside OF the small circle Of his daily assoc-
ates than is Brigham Young to-day in Utah.
without any disrespect to either the living
or the dead, the Prophet Of the Rocky
Mountains may be said to combine pre-emi-
nently in his person the distinguishing traits Of
three representative men-MOhammed Richelieu
and Grant. He has all the visionary fanaticism
the "Koran or the sword" enthusiasm of the
Arabian prophet; the subtle, diplomatic, foxy dis
position OF the French CardinalPremier, and the
self-will and unyieding character Of the present
occupant of the chair Of Washington. Add to
these the comic peculiarities Of Tabernacle Tai
mage and the brow-beating eloquence Of George
Francis Train, and the 'make up" OF Brigham
Young, the Mormon prophet, Is complete.
SEEKING TO SAVE HIMSELF.
The announcement OF his retiring from the chief
direction of the Bank OF Deseret from the Presi-
dency OF Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institu-
ton and from the ONCE of "Trustee-n- Trustn Of
the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints may
shake the credit OF the two named financial insti-
tutions throughout the Union, for Brighams iron
will created both of them, and IL was his influence
and word only which commanded the business asso-
ciated with their names Now that he relaxes his
grasp and the people follow their inclinations
without the fear Of his anathemas, the reaction
will bring about a perfect revolution in commerce
among the Saints, and "Gentlles' and apostates
iu Utah are certain to gain the ascendency.
LEGISLATIVE MANIPULATION.
At the last session OF the Utah Legislature
statute was carefully framed changing 'Zion's Co
operative Mercantile Institution into company
OF ''limited liability" and by that measure the
moneyed men who had been forced into association
with the Prophet were held responsible only for
the amount OF their own subscribed stock
The dissenting Mormons had for the last three
years threatened to make Brigham account for the
millions he has controlled as Trustee in -Trust,n
and they only awaited the settlement OF the Jury
question that was before the Supreme Court Of the
United States, In order to take measures to reach
that end. To forestan this that same Legislature
passed q bill annulling after one year from the
date OF their action, all Indebtedness in Utah which
had not either been settled by note or was in adju-
dication before the Courts. On the 10th Of last
February this bill came into effect, and Brigham
Young was then longer accountable for the
twenty or thirty millions which he has lavished
upon his family and his personal estate during that
same number OF years past.
HIS CREDIT MoBILIER OPERATIONS.
Brigham has been preparing for this coup detdt
during the last three years, and to that end his
representatives in Congress were ever ready to
'1oan" to needy onicial in the departments or to
slide over" an M. c. with RETAINER for legal
SERVICE In order 70 keep back Congressional action
But the eliminating shrewdness OF the Prophets
manipulation was exhibited in the ready endorse
ment which he obtained from the present GENTLE"
Governor OF the Territory, who on the last day OF
the Utah Legislature, signed hastily all Brigham's
bills, on the next day wrote to President Grant i'm
| ploring his influence with Congress to veto the
bills that he as Governor, had just signed.
| THE SAINTS REJOICE
with the decision OF the Supreme Court in favor
| of his Jury bill and the neglect or Congress to
afford relief to the federal Courts, Brigham on the
attn of March felt relieved and rcjoiced at the tri-
umph OF his diplomacy. But underneath all this
1 parade OF peace there still fear that Presi-
dent Grant had "put MS foot down" when he an
nounced his determination to execute the laws In
Utah. Brigham. notwithstanding this Indifference