Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-16
TEE MoRMoNs AT NAuvoo.
A Leaf OF Hitherto unWritten History
or Events Ralf Century Ola.

CARTHAGE, ILL, March 5.--F0rty-Gye
or more years ago, when Chicago had
population Of about 1900 people, Man.
voo's census showed that nearly $4,000
neople dwelt within its limits. Next to
st. Louis it was the most important CEN
trail point and supply depot Ok the West
rrn Territory. Its streets teemed with
humanity and its Wharves were busy with
commerce and trade. W men the religious
sect called the MormOns migrated from
Ohio to settle permanently, as they
thought, in The fertile valley oil the MIS-
sissippi, Joseph Smith, their leader ana
founder OF the Church, claimed 70 nave
had a revelation IRON heaven In a
vision. he said, he saw an anger winch
commanded him 20 stop with DIS pao-
pie. on the banks OF the river ana
there build a temple and city. Inc
heavenly messenger also kindly pointed
out the exact spot where the band was TO
make its home. On tnls spot they
bounded their Holy cry which they
called NauvOo. This was in september,
1888. More regulations followed as rapid
~ as necessary, and the people were told
Ghat the Lord had brought them to the
s'Promised Land" The command was
sent out 10 all the world, and tide Of
prOselvtes began TO set toward NauYoO,
Che Zion OF the "Latter Day Saints"
"A city began TO grow with mar
Vicious Tapidity. A magnificent tenn
pie, a structure that was to have
Surpassed the grRndest buildings Of the
world and cost a fabulous amount, was
put in course Of construction. Public
attention was drawn from all over the
country to the horraons and their Won
derful city. The growth Of the church
was remarkable. Fanatics. religious
franks, Adventures, and criminals, and,
indeed, all thai Heterogeneous jetsam and
flOatsam OF the world that is borne on the
surface Of all popular movements driited
to the new Canaan. In three years Nau-
WOO grew 10 a fiourishing city Of 10000
people.
THE FIRST TROUBLES.
Before the Mormons had reached the
zenith Of their power mutterings OF the
coming storm began 10 be heard. The
people Of the county Hancock who we're
mot IN sympathy with tue doctrines OF the
church soon saw that they could not live
with the MormOns in peace. The first
troubles arose from the fact that the Nor
mons held the balance Of political power,
and this fact was taken advantage Of by
designing men to enhance their personal
Interests. The Prophet fJoseph Smith
held such an influence over his deluded
followers that be could throw the Mormon
vote as ne pleased. The famous clog
cabin and hard-eideEo campaign Of 1910
afforded opportunity for Smith to eX-
hibit his power, and he carried the county
tOF the Wings by an overwhelming ma
tOrIty, all the county officers elected being
Bither MOrmOns or sympathizers, called
Jack MOrmons. Then, too, deprsda-
tlOns began on the property OF the old citi-
Eens in accordance with Smiths teach
ings that the property of the Gentiles be-
1ORged righttully to the church, and all
OF these outrages were charged against
the MOrmons. The Prophet issued an
edict calling to Hancock county the faith
ful everywhere desiring TO concentrate
the full power Of the church. A "Danite
Band.n sworn TO assassinate all persons
obnoxious to the Prophet, was formed
THE ANTI.MoROIoN PARTY FORMED.
Several mysterious murders OF Gentiles
aroused the people and a meeting was
held at Carthage, the county-seat, from
which meeting dated the formation OF
the anti Mormon party, About this time,
grown holder and more arrogant with
autocratio power, the Prophet eDuncia-
ted new doctrinal points, which he
claimed were revelations direct from God.
They were:
First. The plurality of God-that the
God ofearth IS not the God OF the uni
verse. but much inferior to the latter, and
only Immediately presides over u.s."
u
WiVes-that certain persons could marry
virgins and have many spiritual wives"
From this doctrine has grown the p0lyg-
amous practice OF the Mormons in Titan.
'SThlrd-The doctrine of unconditional
sealing up=-that person may be sealed
up on this earth. and that no matter what
sin ne may commit he Will still be saved
eternaIly."
The FORMULATION Of these new tenets
n1canntinn a
less ignorant members et the church and
a small party arose that opposed the in
nOvations. The dissenters started pa
per IN Nauv0O which was to combat the
teaohings of the leader, although still
holding TO the old doctrine of the religion.
This paper was called the NauvoO ET-
pOSttOT, and its first and only issue APP
peared June Z, 1874. The prophet
once called a meeting OF his twelve apos-
ties among which were Brigham Young
and President Taylor) and other leading
men, and they issued an order for the de-
strueti0n Of the EIp0s!tOT office, which
was done.
A FIRE-EArING EDITOR.
About fifteen miles down the river
stood and still stands the town Of War
saw. Warsaw was the seat of the anti
Mormon movement and this party had its
origin in the W arsaW StQn0t. The Signal
was edited by Judge Thomas Z. Sharp,
now the publisher OF the Carthage Gazette,
and gentleman OF superior ability and
attachments. At that time he was
young man OF peculiar power as Wig
orOus writer and was virtually the leader
OF the anti-Mormon party. so fearless
and scathing were his denunciatiOns Of
the MormOns and so potent were his APP
peals for their expulsion from the county
that his life was sought several times by
the Danites. When the news Of the
wrecking OF the EJpOSitor Office reached
Warsaw, the Signal appeared with the
following, after reeiting the facts.
"We have only 10 say that this is sufi-
cient. War and determination are in
evitablei Citizens, arise, one and alll
Can you stand by and suffer such internal
devils to rob men Of their property and
rights without avenging themy We have
no time for comment; every man Will
make his own. Let II be made with pow
der and BALL"
In the number Of the Sigual containing
the above appeared also an extract from
the speech made by the prophet when the
ETDOSttOr matter was under discussion (:
''lf you will not stick by me and wade
10 your knees ia blood for my sake you
may 70 10 hell and BE- damned, and will
build another city"
Hyrum smith, brother OF the prophet,
also made an inilammatory address. in
which he alluded to Dir. sharp In OpprO-