The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-17

Finally the governor issued a procla-
nation to the effect that the Mormons
must be regarded as enemies and must
be driven from the state. This was the
beginning of a regular campaign
against the church The Mormons were
worsted, and they were compelled to
sue Tor terms. It was stipulated that
hey should all leave the state except
the leaders, who must remain and stand
trial for their crimes. Smith, Rigdon
Z nd others were tried at Liberty, and
the most damaging testimony was Civ
en- against them all. They were con-
fined for awhile and then set at liberty,
first promising that they would leave
the state at once.
The fourth fixed habitation of the
saints was in Illinois. There the fates
were equally unpropitious. That they
should be subject to the same trials
which had afflicted them in Missouri
was inevitable since the same condition
of border lawlessness prevailed in Hi
nois Smith purchased the town of
Commerce, on the banks of the Missis-
sippi, for $4,000 and changed its name
to Nauvoo, which, he explained, was
Hebrew for beautiful" The new city
of the saints grew marvelously. This
rapid increase was due to the vigorous
propaganda which was going on in all
the states east of the Mississippi Pub
lie syr--nathy was expressed for the
NTormons in mass meetings held in New
England cities, and their prosecutors
were denounced for meddling with reli-
gious conviction. These meetings were
engineered by Mormon missionaries,
who took every occasion to represent
the saints as men who were being made
to suffer for their faith In England
Orson Pratt, one of Smiths lieutenants,
was making multitudes of converts
among the illiterate weavers and min
ers. His most potent argument was
the promise that each neophyte should
become the owner of d farm in a land
where the Lord was raining down man
ma in rich profusion.
In a few years AIormonism nourfshed
both financially and politically The
Mormon vote became a bone of conten-
ton among political candidates. Smiths
capacity to control votes led to the en-
largement of his political ambition. He
called on President Van Buren, with a
claim for over a million and a quarter
dollars for Mormon losses. Failing to
impress the president, he appealed to
Henry Clay and John G. Calhoun.
Finding these statesmen noncommittal.
he announced himself as a candidate
for the presidency.
Finally Smith was arrested and sent
to Jail in Carthage, Ill, on charge OF
melting to riot and attempted treason.
There he was assassinated on June q.
1914 His murderers were men whom
he had wronged bitterly. and they Sc
cured the cooperation of the guard.
entered the prison and deliberately kill
ed smith and his brother. At Smiths
death three persons claimed the success
sion-Brigham Young, J. ]. Strang and
Smiths son. Strang was murdered on
account of his polygamous practices by
the relatives of one of his victims.
Young Smith founded the Young Jo-
sephites, called also the Reorganfzed
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
/ Saints. This claims to be the original
body and has been recognized by some
courts as such. Its headquarters are at
Lamont, Ia. There is a flourishing
branch at Independence, Mo. This
church has a membership of about
/ AZ, 900, and its president is Joseph Smith
III. It has always disowned polygamy,
Brigham Young was recognized by
| the bulk Of Mormondom as Smiths leg-
! icaI successor. He was that worthy's
friend and coufidant and knew all the
secrets of the cult. He it was who en-
/ gineered the hegira to Utah and reared
in that remote region the foundations OF
1 the mighty superstructure which has
been built upon the alleged revelations
of the illiterate young dreamer who saw
visions and "conversed with super=
naturals'' in central New York
GEORGE H. PICARD.