Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-09-12

his reputation as a bon pir6at, are against
the successorship. On John W., the
third son, the choice seems to cen
ire. He is not II fanatic, and very little
Of a Mormon and these are the best
points in his favor, paradoxical though
it may seem.
The first phase Of Mormonism is fast
passing away among the intellectual
men who are connected with it. The
leading merchants in this city, the
Walker Brothers, are apostate Nor
mons. They were four poor boys when
they came to Utah, but of a good Eng
fish stock, and, when they fully realized
their situation, they abandoned the
church and struck out for themselves
in business. They are the richest men
here, after Brigham. Many others
could be named of the same sort, well
known to business men in New York.
such as Godbe Lawrence, Chislett, and
Cunnington, who are all "apostates F"
and successful business men. Then
there is a crowd of intelligent men who,
though still in fellowship with Brigham,
have lost faith, such as Capt. Hooker,
William Jennings, Bishop Sharp, Mich
olas Grosbeck, Dan. Cliff, Lew Hills, and
others, to whom Mormonism has be-
come n business. They have got into
it, have formed business relations with
the community, and have grown wealthy
with its development, and they conclude
that 1t Is better to pay a tithing on large
incomes, derivable from association
with the Mormons, than to break with
them and lose it all. So long as they
pay they can think rs they please.
Brigham does not care a fig, and is sure
not to call upon them to preach what is
not in their hearts, and 50 there is a
perfect entente cOrtlide between the
prophet and them. These men are a
power to Brigham. They back him
when he wants it, and though they
have no vote in saying who shall be
the successor of the prophet, they have
considerable to say about who shall
not be.
The moneyed men in Utah want to
more fanaticism shaping itself into
armed rebellion against the United
States, as III 81 no more Mountain
Meadows maSsacrcs, and no more Nor
risite murders and ass~assinations. They
want the expansion of commerce, the
development of mines, the construction
of railroads, and the establishment of
free schools and institutions Of learning;
and If the man who steps into Brigham's
shoes can be relied on for sympathy in
that direction, he will find the best men
III the community ready to support him.
Brigham sees this, and he is making
preparations accordingly.
Had Brigham died fifteen years ago,
one Of his apostles Of the old stock, who
knew the original Smith, would have
succeeded him but it cannot be done
now. Brigham has lived so long that
his possible successors have gone before
him, and those Of them who remain
have no influence. Five years ago
Brigham reminded the order of his
highest priesthood, to provide against
the possibility Of rebellion at his death.
The highest rank up to that time was
the first presidency, composed Of Brig
ham and two councillors. The next
step III Authority was the quorum of
twelve apostles. Had Brigham died
during that order Of things, George A.
Smith, who carried the order for the
Mountain Meadows massacre, would
have, by right, succeeded him, and the
twelve apostles would have sustained
his claim. To cut off the possibility of
such an occurrence, Brigham increased
the number of his counselors to seven,
and put into that quorum five new
men, two Of whom were his W sons.
There was dissatisfaction, of course, but
no opposition. To placate the apostle
Taylor, the quorum of the twelve apos-
ties was remodeled. Orson HYDE, who
had been the president for thirty or
forts years, and Orson Pratt. who was
next in rank, were both hustled down
the scale, ON the plea that they had
once apostatized, and Taylor and
Woodruff were elevated over their
shoulders.
That the youngest Of Brigham's three
sons, John W, will be the next prcsi-
dent of the Mormon church, is. in this
condition of thingS, morally certain.
He Will be acceptable to the believing
Mormons if Brigham says so, and to
the unbelieving Mormons because he is
better than any of the others who could
be chosen for the position. He is a
young mar who has travelled IA great
deal, and, since the building of the Pa
citic railroad, has made railroad build
ing his profession. During the last five
years he has lived more in New York
and Philadelphia than in Utah. He
has come in contact with business men
and capitalists both in the Pacific and
Atlantic States, and would be remarked
for his gentlemanly bearing wherever
he might be. He enjoys refinement