The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-09-04
THE LAST OF THE PROPHETS,
DEATH or TIE 0RE1 7 mon pRyES1,
OF1IiE .MORJlONS.

o[1ghom Young no moreA Che ckered
Career--His Early Life--Restorino
Polygamy--HisL Latter Days.
Brigham Young died at Salt Lake,
Utah Territory, on the29th of Au-
gust, after an illness of several
days. Thus has passed away one
of the most celebrated characters of
the nineteenth century. His long
career was chcckorcd and remarkn-
bile. Whether laboring undor tho
inspiration of fanaticism, or whether
coolly and persistently maintaining
what he knew to be gigantic fraud,
he succeeded in accomplishing won
tterful foats. He was born in
Nottingham, Vermont, Juno 1st,
1901, and was, in his early life, .
jealous Baptist, being something of
a preacher. He joined the NIor-
mons in 1882, and soon rose to bo
one of the twelve apostles, HAVING
been sent in 1885 to spread the
doctrine. then taught by Joseph
Smith, among the Eastern States.
So successful WAS he iii this, and 50
popular did he become, that after
the tragic death Of Smith, in 1914,
he became president. It was under
his leadership that in 1916 the
Mormons made their almost un-
precedented pilgrimage to Salt
Lake. Hore Young has SO managed
the temporal affairs of both the
government and himself rs to
render both prosperous and flour
ishing. He was probably immensc~
ly wealthy, and by sheer force of
will and influence introduced the
feature Of polygamy into the Nor
mon church in 1852. BY the same
iron will, tireless vigilance and
never failing astutencss, he suc~
cesssully conducted the affairs Of
his unusually constructed commune
ty, made converts, kept his people
ccntented, and successfully resisted
collisions, with no interference from
the United States. So long as
Brigham Young and his colony
were segregated from tho rest OF
mankind, he was the sole arbiter of
the lives and fortunes of all who
dwelt in that fertile basin along the
River Jordan which flows into the
American Dead Sea. His blessing
was the touchstone of success; his
anathema was certain death in
this world, with the promise of
everlasting torture in the next.
The "Danites" who were sworn to
do tho bidding of their prophet,
were indeed the "engels Of death,
to all unfortunates that fell beneath
that prophets ban. The confes-
sions of Bishop Lee, who was
executed q few months since for
the wholesale massacre Of en-
migrants in Mountain Meadows
many years ago, almost positively
fastened upon Brigham Young the
crime Of instigating and planning
that horlid deed.
The completion of the grand
trans Continental Pacific Railroad
was o. stunning blow to Brigham
Young AMI the Mormons. Skirting
around the northern shore of the
Great Salt Lake, and connected
with Salt Lake City by q branch
it quickly poured into the midst Of
the latter day saints host of
gentle immigrants who worshippcd
only tho almighty dollar and
despised Brigham, and who have
maintained q constant warfare
against tho Mormon church. 1t "a
impossible for community so
unique in its character, and observ-
ing practices abhorred by the rest
of the enlightened world, to flourish
whom brought into dose contact
with q superior civilization and
Brigham Young was wise enough i
to see that his course and that of
his people wore well-nigh run. This
may have fastened his end, though
natural causes are sufficient to
snap tho thread of life that has
been spun out oyer threo quarters
of a century.
What will become of the Mormon
church eventually, is apparent to oil;
but it may be that under Brigham