The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-29

4 MdCoHtD JOuIHdl. IFol. u. ~. Dufun
and family returned Tuesday from a
weeks overland trip to Nauvoo. via
LaHarpe, Carthage and Keokuk, They
enjoyed splendid trip and met with
many interesting experiences on the
unique outing.
] When in Nauyoo Professor Burns
made an exhaustive investigation in
! to the causes leading to the Mormon
war to which McDnnough county sent
zee volunteers and which resulted in
the determination Of the Mormon
hierarchy and the hegira of the Lat
ter Day Saints from Illinois. He in
terviewed two of the three surviving
residents of Nauvoo who lived there
during the Mormon predominance. He
also has gathered information from a
number of other reliable sources con-
corning the real motives leading to
the war on the Latter Day Saints
watch are not recorded in history.
The general concensus of opinion
and the causes given in historical ac-
counts of the deep antipathy against
the seet was religious, and more ex-
plicitly from the fact that they were
reputed to be polygamists, but in real
ity Professor Burns has found that
the real motives which moved men
from the surrounding counties to
raid the settlement were more vital
and practicable.
The cause of this feeling is a cum
Native one and which. when deyel-
oped, was bare of either political or
religious prejudices, but which at first
shared an element of both. The Nor
mons first settled in the western
/ part of Missouri, but were driven out
of that state by the governor, who
was a Democrat. The Mormons, or
Latter Day Saints, as they STYLED
themselves, chose Illinois as their
Mecca and settled on the Mississippi
river at Nauvoo. 1t was here that
political elements began to creep in
on the situation.
The coming OF the Mormons to this
state was in the year 1899 or 1870,
and in 1910 William Henry Harrison,
the Wing candidate, was elected over
Martin Van Buren, by a very small
majority. So close was the result that
the politicians began to feel solicit
GUS about the final outcome four
years thence. Illinois at this time
went for the Wing party by a very
small majority but was in fact a
Democratic state. OF course the COM
ing of the Mormons in great colony
to this state was significant politi-
cally, IS the race between the two
great parties was so close and bitter.
| The treatment accorded the Nor
| mons in Missouri naturally did not
add to the amity of the Mormons and
the Democrats. but nevertheless both
parties pandered to obtain the favor
of the new arrivals In the Sucker
state. But another incident happened
in which a local politician played a
prominent part which placed the
Wings in an advantageous position
While the Mormons were in Mis-
sonri 1t was alleged that Joseph
Smith, their leader, committed very
serious offense, and upon attempt to
arrest him he fled to this state, but
the necessary requisition papers were
obtained from the governor of Illinois
and Joseph Smith was held to trial.
Now at this point is where Cyrus
| Walker OF this city, prominent poll
tican and lawyer at that time. be.
came the hero of the Mormons. At
torney Walker was running for con-
gress on the Wing ticket and during
his campaign was hired to defend
Joseph Smith, the Mormon saint, who
after long trial, was acquitted.
The Mormons then joined with i'm.
plicit faith In league with the Wings
but of course not without expectancy
/ of some future favors. Preceding this
time Nauvoo had been without char.
ter, but now that the legislature was
/ disti1ctiyely of the Wing element
they deemed 1t the logical time to
obtain a suitable charter. Joseph
Smith then drew up charter which
VS. a masterpiece and has made him
| famous. Strange to say, the iharter
was granted, and then the troubles OF
the Morrrcns were over while they
were ensccnsed behind that legisla
tive fortlfication
Among the striking features of the
charter was an article which exempt
cd the Saints (Mormons) from trial
by the Gentiles, which meant every
body who did not subscribe to this
faith. Another article suspended writ
of habeas corps giving the office Of
deciding wilo among the Mormons
should Je incaTccrated for crime en-
tirely up to his saintship. Mayor Jo
sept Smith, and the. results of these
privileges, regardless of others. car
easily be imagined.
Nauyoo, possessed OF this charter
was despotic hierarchy in the
midst of land OF freedom 1t Their
became the rendezvous for all man
ner of banditti, thieves. counter
feiters. highway robbers, murderers
and all other lower classes of so
ciety who had base passions to graf
ify as the only qualifications neces
a lob fr l,