The Greenville times., 1874-09-05
Brigham sn the Decline.


i
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 8.
1t is evident that the personal
influence of Brigham Young over
his followers is waning. Of late
he seems cast down. lie walks
about the gardens of the Lion
House and the almost deserted IT,
thing establishments in irritable
mood. and between him and some
Of his once trusted leaders there
IL welling up . gulf of estrange-
ment. Some who have been his
most faithful subjects are desert
ing him, and no longer apply to
him for direction in regard to their |
business affairs. Hc suspects cv-
erybody. and wears q look Of ap-
prehcnsion and anxiety.
Drigham's last bold experiment
to manacle his people, the institu-
tion Of the new order Of Enoch, a
plan for obtaining the control of
al tho business operations Of the
Mormons, even to the cultivation
Of the farms, and the proceeds
thereof, has resulted in o complete
failure, and it is believed that his
mission, fraught with much good
as well as o great deal of evil, is
nearly ended. The barbaric prac-
tice Of polygamy which he intro
duced into this beautiful valley
twenty-five years ago Is sure to be
extirpated by the will Of the pco-
pie, under the pressure Of public
opinion, and in many respects the
religion Of the Mormons is under
going changes which will lessen
the influence and power Of its lead
crs. There are other causes be-
| sides the religious and social
changes taking place which throw
"a heap Of trouble on the old
mans mind" There is . vexa-
tious Anancial problem to be solv-
ed. Ten years ago, when Presi-
dent Young, as the faithful call
him, saw that the construction Of
atranscontiuental railway system
was inevitable, he concluded to
make the best Of what he could
not prevent, and took contracts tc
build some hundreds Of miles Of
both the Union and Central Pacific
railroads. He did bis work we'll
lsvying on Mormon labor IN ths
name of the Lord, aud he made
the businc5s pay. Then he bull
the Utah Central and Utah South
srn roads, Of which he is now th'
principal owner. But railroad
cost money bonds md to be sold
and'nows provision has to be mad
j for paying the interest on thos'
bonds. There arc rumorsy too, 0
trouble In the cooperative ifisti
; tuition Of Zion, or the " coop" Q
It q called out here. II Is sai'
that III order 40 strengthen thi
great trading establishment it be
camc necessary to Issue a larg
amount Of new stock. This wa
!. |distributed in small shares thro'
out the Territory, and II rcquirc
! 4 good deal Of exhorting to induc
the faithful to come to the rcscu
/. Of the "big eye" by investin
their cash in this description
stocks. To add to the annoyanc
. of Brigham, his rebcllious VII
Ann Eliza has returned from a lc'
turing tour In the East, and til
other night, in the Liberal Inst
tute building, she related her q
pericnce in Yonng's harcm to
crowded audience. This harrow
, ed up his feelings. Her dcscrtio
? he did not mind SO much, as l1
!. had eighteen wives left after An
: Eliza forsook him.
BRIaHAM's SONS.
] But although Brigham seems I
: be nearly worn out by age an
= care, ho has sons in harness VII
: are doing heavy work, thereh
!. Tightening the old mans labor
Joseph A., the eldest, Is a your
man of much executive abilit
therein resembling his father. i
Is the Gcncrallissimo OF the Sain
p in the Southern part of Uta
, His headquarters are at St. Georl
.. where a temple is now buildin
u Brigham, Jr., is preaching Il
Mormon gospel to the saints thr
: J, the forty settlements. John "
:. :. the younger, is bishop, and Pre-
!. !, idcnt Of a diocese in the northel
part Of the Territory, but he do
not preach much, giving tho mo
of his time to speculation. job
ny, as he is commonly called, IL
}. fine-looking Dan Rice sort Of
I. young man. He has been consi
:, :. erably married, but at the presel
= time has ouly one spouse, IS b
Is first and second wives were giv'
divorces at their own request, al
y are now supporting thcmselv
and children with thefr own !