New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-08
MORMON POLITICS.
APOSTLES WITHOUT A PROPHET.


lFROM ~ C,sIoNA NJ CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
SALT LAKE, Utah, Aug. 31.-I have talked
with several influential Mormons to day in regard to the
situation nIah. The first point Of importance elected
was that wIth the President OF Che Church VIII end the
Official functions OF his two cOuusellors, Daniel H. wells
and .ohn W Young. Presidents and bishops haye each
two cOun,ellOrs, whom they choose themselves lie
selection submitted 10 the people as matter OF or'
and j. always sustained by way OF courtesy
The supreme power Of the Church the college or
quorum or the Twelve Apostles, whose special fnncoh
Il the preaching % the Mormon gospel to mahAuu'
when Joseph Smith was killed said one OF my IN
formants. the Church 1t sea. and one
after another claimed the dead Prophets place
But Brigham Young, the first favorable oc-
cason, beng then President Of the Twelve Apos-
ties. announced the doctrine Of the sacred
books that they were the constitutional repository
OF tie supreme power This announcement was at once
acquesced and the twelve under the presidency OF
Brigham Young led the Church from 1sii to 1917 when
he had acquired sufficient Influence 10 seize upon Joseph
Smiths vacant position Prophet. OF course. the
Mormons say that ne was indicated for the
position by the Lord. The theory of the Church
is that the President be a chosen
Of God, a real Prophet, whatever That may
be. ana that his functions are purely spiritual They
have two orders OF the priesthood the Mechsedican and
the Aaronic. the former particularly charged Win the
spiritual interests OF the Church. and the latter with the
Apostles and the quorums OF seventies, belong 10 the
spiritual order The arst receives the revelations aud
the last two are 10 carry them the ends OF the earth
The Bishops. the presiding Officers OF wards
or stakes, b0Ong 10 the Aaronic PRIESTHOOD
and their functions temporal They are
the business Managers Theoretically and constitution
ally the Presiding Bishop should be the temporal agent
Of the Church Brigham Young, b. Is needless 10 say
monopolzed the functions aud Offices Of both spiritual
a baa.i Of no ohm
IN &C orance with the ecclesiastical theory but was In
q sense justified by the eXigences OF the Church lie
was. all in all, sort Of executive committee OF the
Twelve Apostles and when asked last Spring, with
whom the headship OF the Church rested, he replied
uuhesitatngly with the Twelve" Three or four years
ago he called his aid the administration OF the trs
tecship several Of Bishops chief OF whom was John
Sharp The probability is that they Will attend to THESE
duties for the present and thl when new arrangements
are made the Management OF the temporal and spiritual
affairs of the Church viii De- entrusted to din rent men
II Is not likely that anything will be done before the
meeting OF the Conference, on October o. the Twelve
will assume control Of right belongs to them They
will not" said my informant select any one for the
Presidency until contingency. which We look for, oc-
ours" What is that r. asked When God shall raise
up or Indicate the prophet, seer, and reveator
was the response He must be man W no can pass De-
hind the vail" This meant OF course, that when the
Twelve had found man, after thoroughly feeling the
pulse of the people, upon whom they coud Unanimously
agree a. a leader, they would propose his name
TO the Church. and tile action would be suS-
tanned From the cross-currents known to exist
in this Mormon college Of Cardinals the necessary unan
unity is likely to be plant " slow growth They are
human il they fanatics. and each has his grldges his
prcudces ambitions AMI following. OF the more prom
inent John Taylor the President, has strong party
among the older that knew Joseph smith, but
he IA not personally popular he Is fanatca. bgoted
1ol
things ard according to the precedent set by Brig
nam Young and by virtue OF long service, II
they must have President, he is the man
He has no financial ability, but for mere
Propbet that is not necessary The Bishops supposed
To favor the venerable Ors0n Pratt the abest logcn
in the Church. # he ia To he also temporal Pope,
he hasn't enough business sense TO hold rod over them
and they can then dispose Of the tterngs and temporal
titles in the bailiwicks please Themselves Joseph +
Smith nephew Of the Prophet. il popular man. but he
has ne influential following The same ia true OF Geo q
Cannon present Delegate Congress. Heowes his stand
ing somewhat his ability which Is rated nigh, hut more
IN the support of the Young family Daniel II. Wells,
the potical economist OF the Church is bankrupt and
while benevolent man the poor aud needy, has little
ica Of the difference between mine and thine. He has
no chance Last but not least are the YounSs Brigham,
IT, and John W. Tho latter has really odt2rown Nor
moni,ln but he could take OF himself and Is
NOT Judged competent take % others. Brigham,
in strength for various reasons he
has his fathers assumption and arrogance but
Lacks his ability. The secular lords Of the
Church Hooper Jennings, sharp, Edrdge and Little
seem inclined Ia john Taylor, probably because
they have so little fear rom his influence and also be
cause precedent his side, and 1t would be In the
regular course OF business to select him This nforma
tion about the Apostles did not gather from Mormon
leaders, They are very retcent on this subject IL lis
rather the sublimaton Of common reports.
MoRMoS TALK.
Mr. Hooper said to me today: You have asked us q
good many questions; will ask y0u one What do
Won think will be the probable political effect Of Pres
dent Young's death outsider
MANY expect an almost immediate breaking up into
factions OF your Church" replied "but do not share
in this expectation. You have esprit ne c0ps than
an ordinary political party. and 1t i the teaching Of eX
perence that in them men Will make much personal
sacrifice for the advantage Of the crowd But We VIII
have one OF these days. unanimous opinion Of the SUI
nreme Court OF the United states, in the case of
Reynolds already on IFS docket, going to the merits
Of he question: that poygamy under any circumstances
and on ans preext Illegal form Of marriage, and
tl,at will furnish you ample ground upon which to
abandon H. You can't always remain IN an anomalous
territorial condition. and entrance into the Union
state viii be the great inducement to such step"
THE Twelve will not squnt in the direction ola
surrender OF poygamy," said Mr. Hooper.
Not while grass grows water runs" said an elderly
Mormon present. will We ever abandon poygamy. 1t
l. me nrime principle OF eternal life, aud whatever
may saw or do prevail it will. Your own nation will run
INFO IT, I'll tell you your Government IS already
in the throes Of dissolution it will 20 down, aud will
rise on top Of It,"
"Tve no doubt you think So" said and that you
resent an element the Church But the young people
will not be with You, they 10 not share IN your intense
,pvctious and your Church Is bound to be invaded By
Tho secrlar element TO whom revelation Is an absgrdty
tho same as in all other churches These VIII outyotc
YOU"
Then We shall "a elsewhere This il the work o. God
You can read in our revelations what may happen to-day,
and Won can live here and them verified in the