Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-04-05
WHY JOE SMITH WAS MosBED.
EarIy Practices of Mormons That
Caused Their Expulsion From Maui

Early Practices of Mormons That
Caused Their Expulsion From Nau'
| VOC.
The Rev. H. r. Trickett, pastor OF
the Christian church here. owns a
farm near Nauvoo, the Illinois town
founded by the Mormons In lS4O. he
resided for many years at Nauvoo
and yet visits the town occasionally
says a Macon, Mo-, letter.
Taking its location and general
history, Nauvoo is the most romantic
spot in the west" remarked Mr.. Trick
ett. II could hardly imagine more
beautiful site for a town. Indeed, the
Mormons seem to hay had a pecu-
liarly correct eye for the beautiful IN
all the places they selected for set
tlement.
"Nauyoo is situated at the head OF
the rapids, and looks down upon
scene unsurpassed for majestic beau
ty in all America At its feet Is
broad stretch of table land, fertile as
valley of the tropics, now covered
with vines which produce as fine
wine as anything that comes from
Italy or France.
There is no railroad touching Maui
VOC. You have to descend a sharp
road to the river and cross on a ferry
to Montrose, a town on the Keokuk
and Northwestern road. Tradition
has it that when the people OF Illinois
began making trouble for Joseph
Smith and his followers he cursed the
place and declared 1t should never
grow and have railroads and conven-
fences like modern towns.
There was a valid reason for oppo-
sition to the old Mormons, as they were
called. Joseph Smith and his brother
Hiram sought to establish a sort OF
independent kingdom in the heart OF
the United States. Some Of their ad-
herents became careless Of the rights
of other peoples property.
There came an alleged revelation
like this: The world is the Lords and
belongs to his people, to which the
Mormons added: And we are his peo-
ple.' Old citizens have told me they
had to tie their horses outside their
bedroom windows. with one end OF
the rope wrapped around their hands
as they slept. else they would wake
up and find their animals gone.
Some protesting the greatest piety
were guilty Of thefts and outrages OF
various kinds. There was a sort OF
public safety society known as The
Whittlers.
when an officer would come over
from the county seat to serve a writ,
or to arrest a man for stealing, these
Whittlers would suddenly, as If by
chance, appear on the scene, with pine
sticks and long knives. They would
be whiting with seeming indifference
but all the time the Whittlers would
increase in number and, with affected
carelessness, close in on the officer.
when he was completely surround
ed, hemmed in and at the mercy OF
score of long, cruel knives. one OF
the Whittlers would say, as If dis
cussing the weather.
"'Going back soon, amt you? Looks
bit like rain"
THE officer generally took the hint,
and went back-alone.
THE uprising against the Mormons
which resulted in the death Of JOS
eph and Hiram Smith at Carthage at
the hands of a mob was not because
of general indignation over their re-
ligious views, but because Of their de-
fiance Of the government. I don't
think polygamy was practiced.
The sect was really at war with the
United States, and did not recognize
the rights Of life or property unless
under the protection of their belief.
The church was supreme, and the
state must bow to it.
The Whittlers were known in Utah
as Danites, sort Of Malta organi-
zation Of cutthroats and assassins. 1t
was a body pledged to rid the church
Of it's enemies.
THE tithing house or treasury,