Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-12
Walker Brothers. are anostate Nor

Walker Brothers, are apostate Nor
mons. They were four poor boys when
they came to Utah, but of a good Eng
llsh 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"
and successful business men. Then
there is a crowded. 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 a business. They have got into
It, have formed business relations with
the community, and have grown wealthy
with its developm ent, and they conclude
that it 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 as they please.
Brigham does not care 81 fig, and is sure
not to call upon them to preach what is
not in their hearts, and so there is q
perfect entente coeliale between the
prophet md 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. Is ga..f. no1 rsi}Trs $50
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 massacres, and no more Nor
risite murders and assassinations 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
in 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
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 in Authority was the quorum Of
twelve apostles. Had Brigham died
during that order of things, George 4.
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 own 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
forty years, and Orson Pratt. who was
next in rank, were both hustled down
the scale, on the plea that they had
once aapostatized, and Taylor and
Woodruff were elevated over their
shoulders.
That the youngest Of Brigham's three
sons, John W., will be the next presi-
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 man who has travelled a. great
deal, and, since. the building Of the, Pa
cific 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
and the best society, and by a stranger
he would never be suspected Of being
the heir presumptive to the Mormon
throne It seemed a short time ago
that he had abandoned his fathers
faith. Previous to his association with
the Gentiles he had three handsome
wives, the last Of whom turned his
heart from polygamy. He. gave the
first d divorce, as she had desired; the
second had only a church marriage
with him, and, as she could not get a
divorce, he made her handsome al
lowance4 and lived q monogamie life,
chiefly in Philadelphia, though he was.
a large portion Of his time q guest Of
the St. Nicholas in your city. He re-
turned here about a year ago, and his
father elevated him to his right hand
and made him his first counselor, and
he develops back again to faithful
saint 1t is reported that he has re-
sumed his marital -felicities with his
second wife, and it is said has also taken
to wife the young widow Of his deceased
elder brother.
Al I