The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-15

arose in the minds Of their neighborS, and, on
March 90 1892, Smith and Il Sain, named Rlg-
don were tarrcd and fcathcrcd.
II was at about this time that Brigham
Young made his appearance among the saints
at Kirkland. At the period OF his accession
the government of the church consisted Of IA
Presidency, of which Smith Rigdon and Fred
crick G.. Williams were the incumbcns. His
talent, and shrcwdncss speedily made HIM
promincnt. and, in February 1880, further
Step in the organization Of the Hierarchy was
made by the institution of the quorum OF the
twelve apostles, and he was ordained one on
the twelve and sent forth with the other apps,
ties to preach The new doctrines. His field OF
labor-Was the Eastern States, and he was sig
naly successful in making converts. n SD
IA large and costly temple, which had been for
three year, IN process Of J.. ldir" -'.S cr. Sc
Grated at Kirkland, and, in -. ..1 hyde
and IIcbcr {. kimball were sent a, ulssiona-
rics to England In 1898 the bank at Kirkland
having failed Smith and Rigdon fled 10 Mis-
souri, in the night, holly pursued by Their
creditors.
The prophets were soon surrounded by the
faithful in Missouri, and the colony throNc Tor
IA while notwithstanding the enmty OF the
MisSOurians. This broke out at last in fierce
Of 5000, took refuge in Illinois. The town
of Nauvoo was started, under charter from
the Legislature of Illinois. As early rs 1888,
it is said, Smith began practically to carry out
his revelation of celestial marriage and plu-
rality Of wives, but it was not until lSl} that
polygamy was publicly authorized When
The revelation" became public great deal OF
indignation was felt even in Nauvoo, and Sc.
rious disturbances took place, the result OF
which was that Smith and his brother ilyrum
were thrown into prison at Carthage Illinois,
where they were murdered by mob June
2lth, 1874.
Smiths death caused great agitation and
confusion among his followers Sidney kg-
don and others aspircd to succeed him, but the
Council of the Twelve Apostles unanimously
elected Brigham Young, and from that day to
the day of his death the history Of Brigham
Young and Mormonism are one.
In 1915 the Legislature OF Illinois revoked
the charter of NauvOO, and the saints deter
mined to emigrate beyond the Rocky noun,
tans Young sent out explorers, who returned
with favorable reports of the great Salt Lake
valley. In February 1916 the first emigrants
crossed the icc-bound Mississippi stopped a
year or two in Iowa, and then marched across
the great wilderness. Brigham Young arrived
in the valley July 81, 1S47, and the main body
of the MOrmons in the fall of 1913 Salt Lake
City was soon founded an emigration fund eS-
tabliShcd and settlers poured in from all over
the world. In 1850 the Government Of the
United States admitted the new territory under
the name of Utah, and commissioned Brigham
Young as Governor and Indian Agent. Dis
trict Judges were also appointed by the Fed
cral authority, but these were regarded with
great dislike by the President of the Church
and the saints generally, and were finally drly
en- out of the country in 1851.
Brigham Young was now suspended from
his Office Of Governor, and Col. Stcptoe ap-
pointed in his stead, He arrived in Utah in
1854 but found it prudent to withdraw from
the country. The Mormon President said
boldly at this time: Il am and will be Gov
crnor, and no power can hinder it until the
Lord Almighty says, Brigham, you need not
be Governor any longer Daring the CnSu.
ing years collisions between the church ami
Federal officials became 50 frequent that the
whole of the latter were forced 70 leave the
territory. \ new Governor, Alfred Cumming,
was appointed in 1857, as also IA new Superin
tendent of Indian Affairs; beside, a force Of
$500 men was sent under Gen. Harvey to en-
force obedience to the national laws. Brigham
Young attacked the supply-trains and forced
the expedition to winter at some distance from
Salt Lake. Early next year negotiations were
had, and the Mormons submitted to the Fed
cral authority.
\ nominal regard for the supreme authority
of the General Government has been main
tanned ever since the time alluded to, but ii
has been only nominal. There was and Is but
one law or authority recognized by the Nor
mons, and that Is the church, through its
hierarchy.
Brigham Young was assisted in the Prcsi-
dcncy by Daniel {. Wells and Heller c. Kim
ball, with twelve apostles and two bodies OF
the priesthood, but while the doctrines Of the
church give these some authority, as matter
of fact everything and everybody over the
length and breadth Of the great Territory Of
| Utah has bowed to the iron will Of this man
without education, without humanity-a man
| of low dcgrc"