Year: 1875

The latest dispatches from Salt Lake
represent that Brigham Young, the great
hierophant of the Mormon faith, is in
dying condition. On Tuesday he was re-
ported to be much worse than on the pre-
ceding day. and it was said to be the
opinion of his physicians that he could
not long survive. Nevertheless he was
in resigned. if not cheerful mood, full
of hope, as becomes prophet and rev.
elator. He expressed himself as being
quite ready to 60 to Jail in case the Mar
shal desired to take him there, and, in
short, manifested an edifying meekness
somewhat inconsistent with the defiant
and clustering spirit of bravado that has
heretofore characterized his attitude to-
ward the Federal authorities. At one
time he was in the habit of indulging in
tall talk about resisting the whole power
which the United States could bring
against him. Now his tone is that of a
prosecuted saint who "resists not evil
but Is ready to accept the crown of mar
tyrdom with cheerful alacrity. Iti true
that he is still firm in his refusal to obey
the edict of the Gentle tribunal which
requires him to pay over So, 800 to Mrs.
Young No. IL. as alimpny. But this is
not SO much contumacious defiance of
legal authority as firm adherence to prin-
ciple. If the acquisitive Ann Eliza were
to receive so large cash premium for
her attempt to dissolve the silken hyme-
neal tie that bound her to her lord pre-
cedent would be established fraught with
the most calamitous consequences Tie
whole harem would be likely under the
baleful influence of such an example bait
ed with the golden temptation of 50, 500
to rise in revolt. and divorce suits would
become the rage. The Prophet S excheq-
uer might be unable to stand the run
upon it. if all the number were to initiate
the strategy of No. H. 1t would be un-
gracious to insinuate that Brigham is
shamming sick, and sending out fraudu-
lent bulletins in regard to his dying con-
d1tlon; nevertheless it is somewhat re-
markable fact in his history that he has
always had an opportune attack of "se-
rious illness" whenever iunctnre oc-
Cured which rendered such an afiiction
convenient. He is always sick when he
is wanted in Court. He was too sick to
appear and testify in regard to the Noun
tain Meadow massacre in the trial of Lee,
and there have been seveal other occa-
sions where he has been stricken down
by a timely illness which came like a spe-
cial providence to rescue him from some
disagreable dilemma or some painful or
deal. Possibly we may be justified in
hoping that he may recover from this last
attack as promptly as he did from the
others, as soon as his sickness can no
longer serve a beneficial purpose. At
present he is too sick to 60 to Jail, and
the humanity of the Federal authorities
will forbid his actual incarceration not
withstanding his refusal to obey the man
date of the Court. Meantime the dis
patches state that the proceedings of the
Third District Court of Utah, ordering
the Imprisonment of the Prophet until
he responds in coin to the demand of the
fearful Ann Eliza, have been submitted
to the Attorney-Gencral at Washington.
and will be made the subject of a Cabinet
consultation with view of determining
the exact status of the case. We trust
that the decision in the matter may be
speedy, so that Brigham may be permit
ted to get we'll. IS. F. Chronicle