Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-05-06
From Our Special Correspondent.
To the Editor of the WORLD:
SALT LAKE, UTAH, April 26, 1898.

oppressive feellng mixed Win awe feVer
ence and respect that one SO commonly
experiences, when in the presence of the
dead and, especially the great dead, came
over me.
Even Brigham Young, with all his
wives and wealth and power, died or, as
Herbert Spencer would say-"The rela.
tons in his organisms failed in their adj
justment to the relation in their inYiron-
ment."
The facts will bear me out in saying
that Young was one of the greatest lead
ers of this century; that he was thor
oughly consistent man; that he was an
enthusiast ard that if he deceived others,
it was because he was himself deceived.
Brigham Young was born at Whiting
ton, Vermont, June 1, 1901. His father
had been a captain In Washington's
army, and other members of the same
stock had taken part in every Indian con-
hict in which the colonies had been en-
gagged since their inception.
He was painter and glazier by trade,
but in 1882 travelled to Kirkland, Ohio,
where he met Joseph Smith and joined
the Mormon church and, at once, his
ability and power being recognized, was
appointed an elder.
His first important mission was IN
preaching the new gospel to the Yankees,
and it is stated that his ready wit and
eloquence enabled him not only to con-
quer their inclination toward persecution,
but to make many converts among them.
So forcibly had Young impressed hs
power on the Mormons, that in 1874,
when Joseph Smith was assassinated at
Carthage, Illinois, and it was necessary
for the church to elect another head,
Young easily succeeded in having him
self chosen, although opposed by Sidney
Rigdon. who had all along furnished the
literary ability that gave a sort of plausi-
bility to the very various palpably alb
surd theories connected with Mormon
ism. Not only did Young defeat Rigdon,
but he had him communicated from
the church for his presumption in covet-
ing a position for which God had SO evil
IDENTIFY elected him-Young. Those that
even voted for Rigdon shared the same
punishment.
Previous to the election which took place
at the church at Navou, Young, who was
president of the convention, is reported
to have declared, 81 want every man to
be perfectly free to vote as conscience
dictates, but remember those that vote
for Rigdon are prompted of the devil,
aud God will curse them that vote
against me his chosen and divinely ap-
pointed servant.
Young received 50 per cent. of the
votes cast. This was most fortunate
occurrence for the Mormon church, for
this was the stormiest and most critical
period in its history. The people at that
time needed just such a cool br aimed,
strong man of Inexhaustible resources MS
Brigham Young, through years of trial
had proved himself to be- Had, by any
mistake Rigdon been elected, the church
would have melted away before the red
hot unceasing prosecutions of western
ruffians and the mistaken enthusiasm of
a government founded on the principle
of free speech, free thought and free
press.
I do not mean to infer that this would
have been any loss to be at all regretted,
except perhaps, to the followers of Nor
monism and to few politicians and
clergymen who have succeeded in win
ming more or less notoriety through "giv-
ing it to the Mormons."
Sidney Rigdon, although something of
a scholar, was nothing of an executive
and, the way in which he was intimidated
and brow-beaten by Young, exhibited his
utter physical cowardice and weakness.
Brigham Young has been to the Nor
mon people all that Moses was to the
children of Israel-prophet, law-giver
and warrior.
The fleeing of the Mormons from Ma
YOU, Illinois, across the weary waste of
wilderness to Utah, is not less remarka-
ole than that of the Israelites from
Egypt to Canaan.
There is much that thrills the soul as
one beholds in Imagination that immense
army of $4,000 men, women and children
slowly marching across the great plains
with the order of military precision. Sew
eral years were required in this migra.
ton, and it was not until July "a, 1S47,
that Young at the head of the first de-
tachment beheld from Immigration Pass
in the Wosatch mountains this beautiful
and enchanting valley. The topography
and climate of this valley is said to be
very similar to that OF Palestine. The
Great Salt lake and Utah lake are situat-
ed about the same distance apart as are
the Dead Sea and Sea of Gallilee in Pal
estine, and both are connected by river
named Jordan. The Mormons have
named many of the mountain peaks of
4ba rY,rcrod ropuos cy1rroundino fbo vallov