The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1877-09-07

the son Of small farmer, who served
/ with honor in the Revolutionary wal. i In
early life Brigham developed those traits
Of character that later contributed SO
much to his success as the leader Of be-
cullar people. Naturally arttul and cum
nlng, and OF q domineerlng dispositio
but having acquired good common
school education, and being possessed of
I plausible address, he was peculi arly
lifted to obtain and exercise control over
the ignorant.
Shortly after attaining his majority Brig
ham Young was licensed to preach by the
Baptist church. and rapidly obtained a
vast influence among the common people.
| Before he was ordained, however, he raE
moved to Ohio, il 1881, when she joineH
1.-THE Mormon ockat Kirkland, then under
1.-THE leadership of,the first prophet, Joseph
smith. His energy and shrewdness soon
won Tor him prominent place among
the Ignorant and superstitious followers
OF the prophet, and in 1885 he was cho
|sen one Of the twelve apostles, soon after
became chief among them, and as sent
out as a missionary to make converts to
the Mormon faith. What success he had
n his PROSECUTING work does not appear,
but when he returned to the headquarters
OF the sect he had lost none of his popu-
larity, and was welcomed with Joy. n
! When the Mormons moved from Ohio
4 to illinois he accompanied them, and By
his impassioned eloquence, and appeals
7 to their credulity, he kept them steadfast
IN their faith. AT Nauvoo, he was a lead
ing spirit among them, and in 1914, when
/ the prophet Smith was murdered by a
mob, Brigham Young stepped into his
|place by the common consent of the
Saints, who accepted Brigham as their
seer. without question. Sidney Rigdon
aspired to be Smiths successor, but he
seems to have. been possessedsof none of
the requisites for a leader of such peo-
pie, and was wholly ignored. Being con
tumacious, he was communicated,
cursed, and solemnly delivered to the
devil, "to bufeted in the flesh for a, thou
sand years" zEfg fag* sa@@sss M "a
From this time forward the biography
! Of Brigham Young is the history Of the
| Mormon people,. His hand nodded the
/ course of the church; his mind directed
/ the people in all their affairs, both tenn
poral and spiritual. No potentate on
earth SO absolute as he; for IN his hands
rested according to the belief of the
Mormons, not only the temporal, but the
eternal welfare Of his subjects.
! When the Mormons were driven from
Illinois and Missouri, Young persuaded
This followers that the great Salt Lake
valley was the promised land, in which
they should find freedom from persecu=
ton, and enjoy the privilege of propaga-
ting their faith unmo lested. Early in the
spring of 1916, he, with a small party of
his adherents, started overland for their
promised land. After enduring great
! hardships on the plains, they arrived at
! their destination, the present site OF Salt
! Lake City, in July, {1S47, where, they
I founded a settlement. The next year the
remainder of the Mormons joined 4sthe
pioneers, and a city was found in will
\ derness, far from the abodes Of civilized
! men a city Of enthusiasts, governed by
ia crafty, ambitious, unscrupulous ruler.
! NIhe country about the new city was
sterile and almost absolutely unproduc-
! tive. But a thorough system of irriga-
II CAOtA Wt'o Ny 1AuuoGAy diuO
thrift the Mormons succeeded IN literally
makingathe desert to blossom as the rose.
III An emigration fund was established
! and large numbers of converts were
! bro ught by a well-organized system from
Europe, chiefly from the working classes
| of Great Britain, and especially from
| Wales. A considerable number came
also from Sweden and Norway, and a
smaller number from Gernlany, Switzer:
lanl, and France. In March, 1849, con
vention was held at Salt Lake City, and a
State organized under the name Of Des-
eret, word understood by the Mormons
to signifyt'th land Of the honey bee. A
legislature was elected and a constitution
framed and ssent to Washington; but
Congress- refused to recognize the new
State, and in September organized the
4 country occupied by the Mormons into
the territory Of Utah, of which Brigham
Young was appointed Governor by Presi-
dent Fillmore. In the following year
the Federal judges were forced by threats
4 Of violence from Brigham Young ato quit
Utah, and the laws Of the United States
! were openly 1defed and subverted. This
lied to the removal Of BRIGHAM Y Dung,
! and the aDDOintment of Col. StentOe Of