Below you will find a set of six "Mormon Sketches" compiled by the noted 19th century, round-the-world
correspondent, Charles Carleton Coffin (1823-1896).

I was cleaning out a filing cabinet recently and came across the article xeroxes -- transcribed a few
years back -- I don't recall previously seeing Carleton's 1868-69 reporting mentioned on the web.

He was the last of the great investigative reporters to arrive in Salt Lake City, and to comment
extensively upon the situation there, just prior to the coming of the transcontinental railroad to Utah.

The result was a rare, detailed and insightful correspondence, sent to the _Boston Journal_ by a
careful and experienced reporter. Carleton got a few of his supposed "facts" wrong, but the overall
quality of his pen "sketches" remains remarkably accurate and informative

Enjoy...

Uncle Dale


=========== from the Boston Daily Journal. Jan. 2 to Feb. 13, 1869 ====================


[[published January 2]]

ROUND THE WORLD SKETCHES.
BY
"CARLETON."

----

_AMONG THE MORMONS._

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Enterprise and Prosperity
of the Saints.

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SCENES IN SALT LAKE CITY.

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NO. 1.

From the top of an overland stage-coach we have our first look at the chief city of the Latter Day Saints as we approach it from the west. We behold a beautiful panorama. Northward
is the Great Salt Lake, calmly reposing beneath an autumnal sky, not a ripple on its surface, not a living thing in its transparent waters; a solitude as profound as that brooding over
the Dead Sea of Palestine. Eastward rises a mountain wall, white with snow at the top, with hues like the ever-changing aniline dyes upon the slopes and in the ravines and gorges.
Southward is the Salt Lake valley, through which flows the Jordan, -- not the stream dear to the Church Universal, but the Jordan of this Latter-Day Church, flowing through a valley
ten or fifteen miles wide.

THE CITY

The city lies before us on the eastern edge of the valley. We cross the river upon a substantial trestle bridge, meet men with farm wagons -- long, lumbering affairs, common throughout
the West. Every farmer has a wife and children with him -- the women wearing shaker bonnets -- the children robust, chubby-faced, curly-headed, pictures of health.

We enter a broad street -- houses of one story on both sides, built of bricks dried in the sun. A stream of pure water flows down the street. The gardens are green with cabbages
and turnips. We look out upon peach orchards -- the leaves falling earthward with every passing breeze. Rosy-cheeked apples are still hanging on bending branches. Along the street
are rows of locust and ailanthus, with changing foliage.

A half dozen men are at work upon the highway, with ball and chain attached to their legs -- paying the penalty for crime. We turn into the main street of the city and behold a lively
scene -- wagons in from the country with produce, grain, apples, garden products, loads of wood, brick and stone; px teams, horses and mules. Farmers who have sold their produce
are making purchases for their families. In almost every wagon we see a new cradle or a bedstead, or chairs -- evidence of increasing population. The streets are already populous
weith children. Babies abound. Scores of women are on the sidewalk trundling baby carriages, or with children in arms.

We whirl past the Church store, before which are the public scales. A second team, loaded with grain, is waiting its turn. This is the tithing office, where one-tenth of the gross receipts
of every Saint is paid over to the church.

Brigham Young, with his one wife and numerous concubines, lives on this street at our left hand, as we whirl on to the stage office. We will take a look at his establishment by and by
when we draw another sketch.

We are in the heart of the city, gazing upon spacious stores. We have been five days and nights in the desert, looking out upon barren wastes, upon scarred mountains, breathing
alkali air, drinking bitter water, riding hundreds of miles without seeing a green leaf and it is like a vision of Paradise to behold such outward signs of thrift, prosperity, care and
comfort, happiness and peace.

With cracking whip and horses upon the gallop, we roll on to the stage office and descend from our high perch. We gaze astonished upon surrounding scenes. In this jewelry store
we may buy the best of Waltham watches. We may fit ourselves with a broad cloth suit of clothes in a store large enough to do credit to Washington street. Here is the great
wholesale house of Walker Brothers, who are reported to be worth half a million. Prints, by the cord, cotton by the hundred bales, goods of every description are to be had. Do you
want a draft on an Eastern city, or on the Barings of London, here are brokers who will accommodate you. Three hotels offer accommodation to weary travelers. One block distant
is the Townsend house, where we sit down to excellent fare, and take a long sleep between clean sheets after our five days and nights in the stage.

RETROSPECTIVE.

Let us lay aside all prejudice, forget, if we can, that the inhabitants of this city and of this valley, are polygamists, that we may see what virtues are theirs.

In the spring of 1847 Brigham Young, with 143 pioneers, started from Missouri to find a place far from civilization, where the church established by Joseph Smith might have room for
its full development. They arrived in this valley on the 24th of July, the same year. They were one thousand miles from the nearest Gentile. Beyond them was the great unexplored
desert, and still beyond was the Sierra Nevada, and beyond that was California. Gold had not then been discovered, or if discovered the news had not reached the Eastern States.
Amid the seclusion of the mountains, at the heart of the continent, with room for expansion to Mexico on the South, the Pacific on the West, the frigid zone on the North, with the
Rocky Mountains, that would be forever a barrier between them and those whom they deemed persecutors, the Saints determined to build a church and establish the State of Deseret,
a religion and government both diverse and antagonistic to any existing ecclesiastical organization or republican order of Government.

It was a forbidding prospect. This was a verdureless valley. The wild artemisia, which feeds on alkali, was the only growth of the plains. Along the river there were a few willows. Up in
the mountains there was lumber, and when the spring rains came there was grass on the hillsides; but the heats of July and August parched the ground and baked it into solid cake.
Swarms of grasshoppers came from the sands and devoured all vegetation. But streams trickled from the mountain sides, and the settlers saw that they could be turned to account
for irrigation. Ditches were dug, potatoes planted, bricks molded and baked in the sun, cabins reared, a city laid out. Food became scarce, wolves, foxes, fish, sage [sic - sego?] roots,
seeds of the mountain pine, were consumed. The first grain crop was a failure. It was not more than six inches high, and the grasshoppers devoured it. Many settlers became
discouraged and returned to Missouri. Some died. Then came the rush of overland emigrants to California. The gold fever took away some of the settlers, but others came to take their
places. Those who remained had strong faith and zeal.

They had covenanted at Nauvoo never to cease their efforts nor relax their zeal till every man, woman, and child who wished to come should have the means of reaching Salt Lake.
It was the great army of emigrants to California in '49 and '50, and subsequent years, that gave them rapid advancement. Here the emigrants rested, left money, purchased whatever
the settlers had for sale. A missionary fund was established, and missionaries went out in 1850 to England, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, and thousands of converts came trooping
to this land.

A beehive was adopted as the emblem and symbol of the church. We see it on the walls of houses, over the entrance to stores, above the gateway leading to the grounds of Brigham
Young -- a golden hive. It is the business of the Saints to fill it with honey. Work is the duty enjoined by the church.

In foreign lands the persecution which the Saints had in Missouri was the stock in trade of the missionaries. Their mission was to the ignorant. Christ and the apostles were persecuted,
and so were the latter day saints, for righteousness sake. Sympathy lent a willing ear.

The missionaries went to the poor, the toiling, the hopeless. In this far-off valley there was no moneyed power to oppress them; no laws to grind them down. Here was freedom, work,
plenty, comfort, -- a blessed future for time, and in the bosom of the church bliss for eternity. They preached the new revelation. God had not withheld communication to his children.
Revelation had not died out with the apostles, but it was still continued through the servant of the Lord Jesus, that holy apostle and head of the church on earth, Brigham Young.
Come and hear the tidings, be baptized for the remission of sins! Accept the bliss!

WHY THE CHURCH HAS PROSPERED.

Is it any wonder that willing ears and consenting hearts were found when the attractiveness of this new Zion was preached to the poor, toiling, ignorant people of Europe? England at
once became the grand recruiting-ground. Thousands who wished to come to America found that the church of the Latter Day Saints had the machinery of emigration in operation --
agents to help, steamships to carry them. The Church was ready to advance money to enable them to reach the land blessed of the Lord.

Benefits for this life and special blessing for the life eternal were strong forces. The Welsh miner, who had groped for years in darkness in the collieries of England, here might walk
over his own green acres. The men of Denmark, who found it hard work to keep soul and body together on the marshes of their native land, here could find ease and comfort in a
genial clime.

And if there were men with strong passions anywhere in the wide world, here, in the bosom of the Church, they could religiously gratify all carnal desire, and serve God acceptably
while so doing. They might become patriarchs under the new revelation and work out for themselves a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!

Religious error is always as zealous, self-sacrificing and denying as religious truth. The zeal of Paul was as earnest, vehement and sincere when he was a persecutor as when an
apostle. The Hindu wife, giving her body to be burned with the body of her husband, and the Mormon women, accepting marriage from a man already counting his concubines by
the score, alike are moved by religious fanaticism. The Mormon woman stifles the instincts of the soul, accepts the repulsive, because it is more blessed to herself and of greater
benefit to the Church, and more for the glory of God to take for a husband a man with many concubines, than to remain single.

Religious zeal, superstition and fanaticism have been strong elements toward building up this church. But the prosperity of the community is due to other causes. It is an industrious
community. It recruits mainly have been from the classes accustomed to labor. The teachings of the Mormon preachers are that labor is acceptable to the Lord, that by labor the
new Zion is to be established. Men are industrious here, as a general rule, but there are idlers here as well as in other lands. There are men who oversee things while their wives work

The isolation of the community -- so far from the States -- has contributed greatly to its prosperity. This city has been the chief trading point between St. Louis and San Francisco,
supplying all the country between New Mexico and Oregon. The discovery of gold in California, followed by the discoveries in Colorado, then Nevada, Idaho, Montana, then in Wyoming,
brought a rush of fortune hunters. The long lines of emigrant trains all tended in this direction.

Emigrants, miners, traders, trappers, all have had this as their outfitting point. There has been a steady influx of emigration -- about five thousand per annum, from the old world -- men
and women, with a new life before them -- hope, aspiration, ambition awakened and quickened.

It is a community -- a machine moved by strong forces, faith and zeal -- and all its energies directed by one man, with one object in view, to build up the church. It is a despotism.
Brigham Young, more than Louis of France, can say "I am the State." One-tenth of all that a man receives during the year -- not his net receipts, but the gross -- goes into the treasury
of the church, and it goes out only under the direction of Brigham Young.

The prosperity is not due solely to industry and frugality, but circumstances have all been favorable to the accumulation of wealth. The military expedition sent out during President
Buchanan's administration, at a cost of forty million dollars, inured to the benefit of the church. The ten thousand troops -- the great army of camp followers swelling the number to
seventeen thousand -- paid ready money and the highest prices for every article of provision the Mormons had for sale. Up to that time there was a great scarcity of iron, of wagons
and carts in the Territory, but when the expedition was recalled an immense amount of material was left behind, which the Mormons obtained for nothing. The construction of the
overland stage road, the movement of the thousands of emigrants all contributed to build up the church. For a long time Brigham Young had the government of the Territory in his
hands. The Territory was organized in 1850. President Fillmore appointed Brigham Governor. He held the position until 1858; was succeeded by Governor Cumming, who held the
office for three years, but upon his resignation Brigham again came into power. Being himself the State, owing no responsibility, having all the revenues of the church at his disposal,
obeyed implicitly, accompanying circumstances favoring, religious fanaticism, zeal and sensuality, the highest and lowest of human passions brought into play, he and his people
have transformed the desert to a fruitful valley, with the sound of labor breaking the long solitude of the ages.

LAW AND ORDER.

Every visitor, upon entering the city, is struck not only by the evidence of prosperity, but with the order in the community. It is order maintained by theocratic law, under the
administration of the church. Gambling is not allowed. All drinking saloons are licensed by the church. There are four kept by Gentiles, which pay each $300 per month in
advance, and one billiard saloon, which pays also $300 per month, making a total of $18,000 per annum paid into the treasury of the church from liquor and billiards. This is
so much money from the pockets of Gentiles, for the church has its own liquor store, and as the Saints are forbidden to trade with Gentiles, inasmuch as the church has no
license to pay, the church liquor store is exceedingly profitable. The church enjoins temperance, but does not require total abstinence. Men joining this church do not lose
their taste for whisky, but if they happen to get drunk, the church justice will exhort a heavy fine, which goes into the church treasury. It is not exactly sinful, but very unprofitable
to get drunk.

ESPIONAGE AND POLICE.

The church maintains a rigid police, -- ordinary, special, and ecclesiastical. The ordinary and special police are appointed by the Mayor, Mr. Apostle Wells, Brigham Young's right-hand
man, chosen by him to administer secular affairs. The policemen hold their office at the pleasure of the Mayor. The ecclesiastical police are the bishops of the church. The city is divided
into twenty wards, each under the superintendence of a bishop, who receives his appointment from Brigham. Subordinate to the bishops, and appointed by them, are teachers, who have
each a small district. It is their duty to keep track of all that takes place; to know who comes, who goes. They make frequent visits to every family, catechize men, women, and children,
not only upon doctrine and belief, but upon worldly matters. Their reports go to Brigham.

If a Mormon is disaffected, or indulges in religious doubts, he is at once surrounded with difficulties. Merchants do not care to trade with him. If a laborer, he will not be able to find
employment. He must cast out his doubts, accept unhesitatingly the authority and dogmas of the Church, and all will be well. There is law and order in Paris and in Rome. Louis
Napoleon has his secret police, and so has the Pope. Brigham, combining the systems of Fouche, of the first Empire, and Ignatius Loyola, of the Order of the Jesuits, has law and
order in Utah.

The theocratic state is a harp of many strings, and Brigham's fingers sweep every wire; or it may be likened to an organ, Brigham at the key-board, and every pipe responsive to
his touch.

THE CHURCH TELEGRAPH.

He is laboring to make his power not only supreme but universal throughout the territory. Walk up this side street and notice the telegraph wires radiating from his private office,
connecting it with every hamlet in Utah -- a line 500 miles long. Do the commercial interests of the people require a telegraph? Are the ignorant creatures who but a few months
ago were in the mines of Wales and the alleys of English cities now engaged in business here sufficient to demand a telegraph line? It is not an educated community, but on the
contrary, one of the most ignorant of civilized lands. Yet every settlement of half a dozen houses has a telegraph office. In every settlement there is a bishop who receives his
appointments from Brigham. A corps of girls have been taught telegraphy, through whom the bishop may make instant report of all that takes place. From his private office here in
Salt Lake City, like the watchman in the fire telegraph, Brigham may give an order or ring an alarm from Idaho to New Mexico.
CARLETON

[[published January 9]]

ROUND THE WORLD SKETCHES.

----

by "Carleton."

-----

AN INSIDE VIEW OF MORMONISM.

------

SUNDAY AT SALT LAKE.

------

How Brigham Winds the Mormons
Round His Little Finger.

-----

No. 2.

Brigham Young is the head of the Church Militant of the Latter Day Saints. Of course he is kindly affectioned toward his flock. Most of the Mormons believe in him to the death, for
they believe him to be the prophet of the Lord. Their sincerity is as true, their zeal as fervent as that of Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist or Methodist. No sect or denomination can
surpass them in religious zeal. Having the confidence and love of his flock, the prophet, the revelator of God's will, is supreme in his realm.

BROTHERLY KINDNESS.

Undoubtedly Brigham loves the Saints, but he has at times a qu__r, strange way of showing his kindness. Some years ago a well-to-do Englishman embraced the Mormon faith.
He had about $70,000. Before he left England for the Salt Lake paradise he was induced by Brigham to buy a house there for which he paid the Prophet $20,000. Brigham also took
him in -- the expression has a double meaning -- as partner in an iron foundry. Also as partner in a flouring mill. These investments absorbed nearly all of the $70,000. The gentleman,
with his wife, started for the new Zion, but he died on the passage. The bereaved widow went on, reached Salt Lake, found one of Brigham's concubines occupying the house, found
also that what had cost $20,000 was dear at $5,000. The concubine could not move just then. The widow had no deed of the property and could not take possession. The iron foundry
was not in operation, and there was some trouble about the grist-mill. She had left a good home, but was forced to take lodgings. The bereavement -- the reality so different from the
promise -- brought on insanity, and to-day she is a recipient of the pittance doled out at the tithing office, while Brigham has possession of her husband's estate.

BORROWING FOR THE CHURCH.

It seems to be customary for the bishop, elder and missionaries to borrow money occasionally for the church. "The silver and the gold is mine, saith the Lord," and they, being the
Lord's stewards, borrow for the benefit of the church. Sometimes they do not pay promptly, and the leaders go to Brigham, who has all the church funds in trust, asking for redress.
Having been bothered by some men who had loaned money, he preached a sermon, from which I take the following paragraph:

"If an elder has borrowed from you and you find he is going to apostatize, then you may tighten the
screws upon him; but if he is willing to preach the gospel without purse or scrip, it is none of your
business what he has done with the money he has borrowed from you. If you murmur against that
elder it will prove your damnation! * * * No man need judge me. You know nothing about it, whether I
am sent or not; furthermore, it is none of your business, only to listen with open ears to what is
taught you, and serve God with an undivided heart."

Several years ago one Williams became a Mormon in England, and was induced to emigrate. While on his way he became partner with some of the bishops for working an iron
mine in Southern Utah, and paid $15,000 into the concern. At St. Louis the bishop gave him a receipt for the money, and invested it in goods, which were transported across the
plains and put into the church store. The iron company had been chartered by the Legislature, but no certificates of stock had been issued, and at the next meeting of the Legislature
the Act of incorporation was repealed. The goods had been sold, and the saint from England had only his receipt to show for his $15,000. Under the administration of affairs in Utah
he can have no redress. The reason will be apparent further along.

CHURCH DISTILLERY.

In that story of Deacon Giles's distillery, which created no little excitement thirty years ago or more, the good deacon, as you remember, had a Bible depository in one corner of
the establishment, but this Church of the Latter Day Saints saw no impropriety in running a distillery on its own account to supply its own liquor store. In 1862 there were two distilleries
at Salt Lake, the owners of which were on the road to fortune. Suddenly they were appointed to go on a missionary tour. It was an order from the Prophet -- revelator of the will of the
Lord. God had called them. They objected; it would ruin their business; but it is a cardinal doctrine of the church that all orders must be unhesitatingly obeyed. Not to obey was loss
of eternal life. Brigham assured them that they would be damned forever if they did not go. They closed their distilleries and departed. But the Saints who remained were thirsty, and
Brigham opened a distillery himself, under the sanction of the Mayor appointed by himself, in order that the manufacture and sale of liquor might be regulated by the church, the
proceeds going into the hands of Brigham Young's Trustee!

But we turn from this to study the moral and religious aspects of the community.

SUNDAY AT SALT LAKE.

The Sabbath is a quiet day at Salt Lake City. All business is suspended. I went in the morning to a Sunday School, and although it was stormy there were about a hundred and
fifty children present. It was held in one of the ward school-rooms. The children were comfortably dressed and appeared to be as intelligent as those attending the mission schools
in Eastern cities. There were no Sunday Schools here till 1865, when one was opened by Rev. Norman McLeod, a Congregational clergyman. The children were delighted, and the
Mormons saw that they must open schools or that the Gentiles would steal the hearts of the children. The Mormon schools are conducted as those in Eastern Sunday Schools --
prayer, recitations from the Bible. Fervent request was made in the prayer that God would "bless Brother Brigham, endow him with wisdom and give through him new revelations for
the welfare of the church."

Looking into the library, I saw that it contained many of the publications of the American Tract Society. Besides lessons from the Bible, the Catechism is taught -- not that prepared
by the Westminster divines, but by the divines of Salt Lake. Care is taken to give sound doctrine to the children, not only through the catechism, but through the _Juvenile Instructor,_
a Sunday School paper of eight pages, illustrated with wood cuts, obtained from England. The number for October 15th lies before me, the first article being the story of Hagar and
Ishmael. I read as follows: "Abraham and Sarah lived together as man and wife a great many years, but had no children. The Lord, however, revealed unto Abraham the law of celestial
marriage. He knew that it was his privilege to have more wives than Sarah. Sarah herself understood this law, and when God commanded her husband, she took her handmaid, whose
name was Hagar, and gave to Abraham to be his wife. She did this because it was the law, and if Abraham had not obeyed the law the promises ot God could not have been fulfilled
wherein He told him that his seed should be as the dust of the earth."

The paper is edited by George Q. Cannon, who I also edits the _Deseret News_ -- an Apostle -- the most learned of them all.

THE TABERNACLE.

Near the center of the city, on the west side of the main street, is Tabernacle square, containing the old and new tabernacles and the foundation for the Temple. The new tabernacle,
viewed from the outside, resembles a huge dish-cover -- oblong and oval, with rounded roof. Approaching the city from the west, the tabernacle is seen looming above the other edifices,
and you think of a hotel dining table, the great meat platter with a cover in the center. The building will seat 15,000 persons. At one end, raised several feet above the general area, are
the seats for the prophet and his apostles and elders, and also for the choir and orchestra. An Englishman is constructing a large organ, the pipes being obtained from Boston.

SABBATH SERVICES.

Near by is the old tabernacle -- a long, low building which will seat more persons than any three churches in your city, in which Sunday services are to be held during the winter. We
enter on the side, see a small organ, a choir of men and women at one end -- men occupying the side seats, and the women the body of the house, and at the other end the platform
occupied by Brigham and the dignitaries of the church. A hymn was sung -- the 289th of the collection:

"The towers of Zion soon shall rise,
Above the clouds, and reach the skies,
Attract the gaze and wondering eyes
Of all that worship gloriously."

A brother offered prayer. Another hymn was sung, and then Apostle Cannon preached. The preachers of this new faith take no text, but fire away on any subject. This apostle took
a wide sweep, began with the beginning of the new Church, recounted its persecutions, trials, prosperity -- dwelt on the promises extolled the wisdom which God had given to
Brigham -- enlarged upon what the Saints had done -- saw nothing but destruction for the nations of Europe and the United States; then took up the railroad questions, predicted
that it would be of incalculable benefit to the Saints; would not solve the Mormon problem as the Gentiles hoped and predicted, but would strengthen the Church. God would give
them new revelations through Brother Brigham from time to time. All that they had to do was to have strong faith. Must give implicit obedience to the commands of God as made
known through Brigham. He gave a cut at those who have only one wife. "No wonder," he said, "that you grope in the dark, that you are subject to doubts and fears concerning
your eternal salvation. The law of celestial marriage is right, but you will not obey it, and those of you who do not accept this gospel of Christ can expect nothing but darkness.
There is no inducement for any man to become a Latter Day Saint unless he accept the spirit of God in his heart and obey His teachings."

In the afternoon there was a larger audience, nearly filling the tabernacle. An Englishman, who made sad work with the letter H, gave a harangue. He is looked upon by the Saints
as an enthusiast. He warned the girls to beware of the wicked Gentiles, young men who would lead them to perdition. Some of his language brought a blush upon many a check,
and one of the apostles finally gave his coattails a twitch and told him that Apostle Smith was ready to preach. Brother Williams sat down, saying, "There is lots more in my head yet."

Apostle George A. Smith is a large, heavy man, with a smooth face, plump cheeks, healthy countenance is accounted one of the solid men of the church, and, after Brigham, the
ablest saint. He has been appointed to the first presidency, filling the place occupied by Heber C. Kimball. His discourse was upon the building of Zion. It was to be done by industry
and education. Under this second topic Rev. Mr. Foote, Episcopal missionary, and his Gentile school were denounced.

"I desire," he said, raising his voice, "that my children shall be taught by men who believe in Joseph Smith and the Church
of the Latter Day Saints, who believe in a plurality of wives. A man who does not believe that is not fit to teach."

The last sentence was given with great emphasis.

While Smith was preaching, the deacons were administering the sacrament.

JOE YOUNG.

The benediction was pronounced by Joseph A. Young, Brigham's oldest. He is known in Salt Lake as "Joe." He is robust, red-faced, resembles his father, was in England two years
ago, where he was arrested and fined for driving a coach and six and taking too much liberty of the law. He smokes good cigars, drinks good liquor, gets drunk, plays poker, licks his
wives and preaches the gospel.


OTHER PREACHERS.

The Mormons are exceedingly religious. They are constant in attendance upon religious meetings. Services are held on Sunday evening in nearly all of the wards. In the Thirteenth
Ward, last Sunday evening, Bishop Watt preached. His subject was the cultivation of silk. He came to this country with his mother and half-sister nine or ten years ago. He called
upon Brigham to know if he could marry his half-sister. Brigham was not prepared to say, though there were the illustrious examples of Abraham and Ammon. He had not received a
revelation on those points. He wished to talk with Miss Watt upon the subject. She came to see him, was young and pretty, a Scotch lassie, and he concluded to marry her himself.
But it is said she had been unfaithful, and that after awhile he divorced himself and married her to her half-brother, by whom she had three children. Subsequently she fled from her
degradation with her mother to Camp Douglas, and was sent out of the territory with others, under military escort, to escape the vengeance of the church for her apostacy from the faith

MORALS.

"There is not a city in the world so virtuous as this," said a prominent Mormon to me.

Certainly, the outside look is fair, and that form of vice known as the "social evil" is not so apparent here as in other cities. My Mormon acquaintance would have me understand
that the Mormon religion is purer than any other. He claims that it purifies society. In a book of sermons which lies before me I find that it was revealed to Brigham that the best
service which man can render to God is the multiplication of the human race. As soon, therefore, as girls arrive at a marriageable age they become concubines. In other parts of
the world misplaced affection or a low sense of moral obligation, or poverty, leads many from the path of virtue; but here the Church teaches that concubinage is ordained of God.
To accept it is to glorify Him; to reject it is to reject eternal happiness. A man may have a score of concubines, he may be old, hateful, repulsive, but for a girl to reject his addresses
is to reject the gospel. Brigham consents, parents urge; there is the example of Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon. In the Sunday School and from the pulpit the doctrine of celestial
marriage has been taught, and so natural affection and the instincts of the soul alike are stifled, and the shrinking maiden is made a prostitute in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Ghost!

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE.

Does this seem to be incredible? It is the doctrine of the Church that revelation has not ceased. God still holds communion with his people, through his prophet Brigham, who in
1852 had a revelation in regard to "Celestial Marriage." On the 29h of August, 1852, Elder Orson Pratt proclaimed the new revelation in the Tabernacle of this city. I quote from his
sermon published in the _Journal of Discourses:_

"It is new ground," he said, "for me; it is rather new ground for the inhabitants of the United States. * * * A man's posterity in the eternal worlds
are to constitute his glory, his kingdom and dominions. Now let us inquire what will become of those individuals who have this law revealed to
them in plainness if they reject it." (A voice -- They will be damned.) "I will tell you: they will be damned, saith the Lord God Almighty."

On the 6th of October, 1854, Elder Orson Hyde preached upon the marriage relation. He I said:

"How was it with Mary and Martha, and other I women who followed Jesus? In old times, and it is common in this day, the women, even Sarah,
called their husbands lord. The word is tantamount to husband in some languages. Master, lord and husband are synonymous. * * * When Mary
came to the sepulchre, Jesus said unto her, 'Mary!' She said unto him, Raboni, which is to say master. Is there not here manifested the affection
of a wife? These words were the kindred ties and sympathies that are common between husband and wife!"

We are informed in this discourse that Jesus was himself the bridegroom at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, and that Mary and Martha were also his wives! To your readers this is
rankest blasphemy, but to the Mormon saint it is a grand argument for the truth. Polygamy is the corner stone of the ! church. Its blessings are as far reaching as eternity. Pretending
to believe that God has created millions of souls which are waiting for human habitations, and that it is the duty ot the church to provide such habitations, the male Saints go on adding
concubine to concubine to multiply the human race.

Brigham sets forth the doctrine in a single sentence in a sermon preached July 24, 1855. "Under this law," he says, "I and my brethren are preparing tabernacles for the spirits
which have been prepared to enter into bodies of honor and be taught the pure principles of life and salvation, and those tabernacles will grow up to become mighty in the
kingdom of God."

MORMON WOMEN.

There is no religious doctrine too absurd for human belief, it is possible for ignorance, fanaticism and superstition, in the name of religion, to transform sensuality to virtue.
Do you ask if these women of Salt Lake believe in polygamy? I answer, yes. They believe that Brigham is the servant of God; that his revelations are from God. They are
sincere and earnest in their belief. Do you ask if they like polygamy? I answer, no. They accept it as a religious sacrifice. It is the will of God. Accepting it, they glorify him,
secure their own salvation and bestow eternal happiness upon souls waiting for earthly tabernacles. I venture to say that there is not one really happy woman in Utah, if
united to a man with more than one woman. Polygamy is against nature. You see nature's protest in the sad and careworn countenance of every woman you meet.

Brigham preached upon this unhappiness of the sisters on September 20, 1856. He said:

"It is frequently happening that women say they are unhappy. Men will say: 'My wife, though a most excellent woman, has not seen a happy day since I took
my second wife.'" There is the secret. Woman's love must be undivided. It is not to be shared by another -- a score.

A gentleman in Salt Lake not long since heard two young unmarried Mormons discussing the question of polygamy. "Bill, polygamy would be all right, only you know the
women pull hair so like darnation!"

From this, and from other evidence, we learn that hair-pulling is a common occurrence in the Saints' terrestrial paradise. CARLETON.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2014 10:05PM by dalebroadhurst.

[[published January 16]]

ROUND THE WORLD SKETCHES.

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by "Carleton."

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CAPABILITIES OF UTAH.

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HOW THE MORMONS INCREASE.

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No. 3.

The population of the Territory of Utah is probably about one hundred and fifteen thousand. Will it increase? Is this still to be the paradise of the Latter Day Saints? Is this earthly
Zion to grow in the future as it has grown in the past? Throw out of the question for the moment the influences resulting from contact with the outside world, and look at the resources
of the Territory. The present population is scattered over an area larger than New York and Pennsylvania combined, though nearly half of the people are in three counties around
the Lake.

CAPABILITIES OF THE TERRITORY.

George A. Smith, who is said to be the best informed man in the Territory, who is called the historian of the church, who, since Heber C. Kimball's death has been appointed to the
Presidency, states that out of the forty-three million acres of land in the Territory, not more than five hundred thousand can be cultivated with profit. According to the report of the
Agricultural Society last year the number of acres under cultivation was 134,000, or about one-third of the land which can be cultivated by irrigation from mountain streams.

Artesian wells may be made successful on the sage plains and the alkali wastes, but it is a problem of the future whether they can be much used. Several attempts have been made
to sink them, but without great success thus far. A company was formed several years ago called the Jordan Irrigating Company, which undertook to irrigate about 11,000 acres of land
west of the city. An expensive dam was erected, twenty thousand dollars expended, but the floods carried away the dam, and not more than 500 acres have been brought under
cultivation. The land requires a great deal of water, and the canals must be enlarged before they can be made useful. The soil leeches badly, and unless the canals are lined with clay
much water will be lost.

In the statistical report made to the Territorial Legislature it is estimated that the tillable land not yet under cultivation will support a population of 400,000. This estimate gives 640
inhabitants to the square mile, a population more dense than that of any State in the Union. Upon the mountains there is some grazing land, but the [meat] stock must be always
limited on account of the severity and duration of the winter.

The farmers of Utah have small farms -- not more than fifteen acres. The average may be set at ten acres. They come to the Territory poor, and cannot find means to irrigate large areas.
It is the policy of Brigham to keep them small farmers. Large farms would keep out emigrants. The more emigrants, the more money in Brigham's pocket. The expense of irrigation is
considerable -- requiring a network of ditches and dykes. The water is taken by a sluice from the main canal, and brought upon the growing crops, through shallow ditches generally
about five feet apart.

FUEL.

There is no timber in the valleys, with the exception of a little cottonwood along the streams. All timber comes from the mountains. Even there it is not abundant. Near the [main] line,
three thousand feet above the valley, there are groves of cedar and fir trees of small size. Wood in Salt Lake City is worth $15 per cord, lumber $40 to $60 per thousand. Nearly all of
the houses are built of adobe bricks dried in the sun. Lignite coal has been found in several places, and probably is abundant enough for fuel. The nearest is fifty miles east of the city.

EDUCATION.

The number of children in the Territory in 1866, between the ages of four and sixteen, was 18,182; of these 9,849 were enrolled as attending school. The Legislature at its last session
made an appropriation of $10,700 for education. A person looking into _Appleton's Cyclopedia_ would obtain an exalted opinion of the attention paid to education by these people -- of
their free school system and the University of Deseret. I am informed that there is no free school system. There were 164 school houses and 225 teachers in the Territory in 1866. The
school houses were erected at the expense of the public, but the teachers charge tuition. They are very ignorant, and the standard of education is of a low grade. The teachers are
almost as ignorant as the scholars. The University of Deseret is simply a school for boys. In no sense is it a university.

GENTILE SCHOOL.

The Gentiles have a school conducted by Rev. Messrs. Foote and [Baskins], missionaries connected with the Episcopal church. The children of some who have left the Mormon church
attend. It is looked upon by the Mormons as one of satan's agencies for undermining the church, its influence is feared. I heard it severely denounced from the tabernacle pulpit on Sunday.

EMIGRATION.

The first Mormons were Americans, but now the recruits are almost wholly from abroad. Mr. Hooper, delegate in Congress, says that the population in the territory other than Mormons
never has exceeded two and a half per cent. Other residents here place it even lower than that. The emigration from Europe began about 1853, was small at first, but has gradually
increased till now the number is about 5,000 per annum.

I had an opportunity on Sunday of hearing the experiences of a returned missionary. He has been among the Danes and Swedes -- himself a Dane. He spoke hopefully and encouragingly,
and gave facts to show that the church was not only gaining ground in Denmark, but in England.

About one-third of the emigrants pay their own expenses; the expenses of the others are defrayed by the church through the

PERPETUAL EMIGRATION FUND.

This was started about twenty years ago, and is a powerful engine in the hands of Brigham Young. Religious zeal started it, and shrewd management keeps it up. In the East, in
England -- throughout the world, there are missionary organizations -- American Boards, Presbyterian Boards, Baptist Boards, sustained by the churches; but I venture to say that,
unless it be the order of the Jesuits, there is not an organization in the world which has done more with its means than the Mormons with the fund. It is made up of gifts, contributions,
legacies and tithes. Contributions are taken in all the churches every Sunday -- not only here but throughout the world where there is a Mormon church. The amount contributed here
in Salt Lake last year exceeded $150,000. What other community has given, according to its means, more liberally? It costs from $100 to $125 to bring an emigrant from Liverpool to
Salt Lake. At $125 per head and 5,000 emigrants per annum, one-third of whom pay their passage, we have an outlay by the church of $416,000 per annum. It is stated by Mr. Hooper
that between $8,000,000 and $9,000,000 have been advanced by the church to assist foreign saints to reach this new Zion!

It not a gift. It is one of the peculiar features of this perpetual emigration fund, that whatever goes out comes back again. It is truly a perpetual motor. As the rain falls upon the
mountains, rolls onward to the sea, turning great mill wheels, then ascends to the clouds to fall again and to turn the wheels once more -- an endless round of change and power --
so is this Mormon contribution devised by Brigham Young. If an emigrant cannot pay his passage from Europe the church helps him on. Arriving here he gives an obligation to
repay what has been advanced. The church bides its time; does not press him; gives him an opportunity to make a little headway. But the bishops are on his track. All of his
transactions are known. No emigrant can sell house or land without Brigham's consent. The tithing officer is sure to call for the tithing. Little by little the $125, with ten per cent
interest, comes back into the treasury, and so this benefaction river rolls on, constantly increasing its volume and power.

Brigham directs it, as trustee for the Church. Years ago he used to make a statement of receipts and expenses at the annual conference, but of late years no exhibit has been made.
He is under no obligation; has no auditors, no finance committee. The saints have implicit confidence in him, ask no questions, pray for him every Sunday, and all goes as smoothly
as the turbine wheel of a great factory.

APOSTACIES.

Brigham has not been able to lead all who have embraced the Mormon faith. There have been a great many apostates. In a conversation with Rev. Mr. Foote, an Episcopal clergyman
here, he admitted that fifteen out of every twenty of the original American Mormons have apostatized. George A. Smith, the historian of the church, said five out of every six Americans
had turned back. Foreigners are more faithful.

The first general apostacy was in 1852, under [Gladdon Bishop], who, while holding on to the book of Mormon, condemned polygamy.

Brigham preached a sermon in March, 1853, from which, we take the following sentences:

"When a man comes right out like an independent devil, and says, 'Damn Mormonism and all the Mormons,' and is off with
himself to California, I say he is a gentleman by the side of a nasty, sneakng apostate, who is opposed to nothing but
Christianity. * * * Now, you Gladdenites, keep your tongues still, lest sudden destruction come upon you. I say, rather
than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath my bowie knife and conquer or die."

The second apostacy was commenced in 1860. Joseph Morris felt himself inspired and made a revelation and set up a new church. In the course of three mouths he had five hundred.
These followers of Morris refused to train in the Nauvoo legion, were fined, their property taken and confiscated to the church. The fines and costs amounted to $60 per individual. They
had a settlement on Weber river, north of Salt Lake, where, in the spring of 1862, they seized a load of flour and the man driving the team, and held on to the property and the man,
demanding satisfaction, and a proper adjustment and abatement of the fines.

Brigham went to Judge Kinney, U. S. Judge, obtained writ of _habeas corpus,_ sent the sheriff, Robert T. Burton, with a thousand men of the Nauvoo legion and five pieces
of artillery, to wipe out the Morrisites and put down the apostacy.

The Morrisites showed fight -- Burton opened upon them with his cannon -- there was some musket firing -- two of the legion and several of the Morrisites killed, when the latter
surrendered. Burton rode into the settlement, found Morris, pulled his revolver and shot him dead -- turned round, saw Morris' chief follower, Banks, killed him with a second shot.
Mrs. Bowman said, "You blood-thirsty wretch."

"No one shall say that and live," replied Burton, and shot her through the heart.

A Danish woman made a wild outcry at such atrocity, when Burton blew her brains out.

_Yet this man is the present Collector of Internal Revenue in this city!_

The prisoners were plundered, everything taken -- clothing, watches, jewelry, cattle, wagons, furniture -- and confiscated to the Church. They were brought to Salt Lake City, placed
under bonds by Judge Kinney for appearance at Court, were tried, fined and imprisoned.

General Conner came soon after, established a military post 174 miles north of Salt Lake, gave notice to all persons who wished to go that they could have an escort and transportation.
Eighty families put themselves under his protection, and are now in Idaho Territory, beyond the jurisdiction of Brigham Young. So ended the [Morrisite] apostacy.

In 1863, began the apostacy of the Josephites, under the lead of Joseph Smith, Jr., son of the prophet. He has set up the Mormon Church, East. He is not in [the] territory and his
followers are leaving it. In 1864, three hundred left the Territory under an escort furnished by General Conner. It is estimated that not less than 1,500 have left in all. They accept the
book of Mormon, the Bible, believe in continued revelation, are loyal to the United States and to the laws. The following extract from their articles of faith will show how they regard
Brigham Young and his doctrines:

"We believe that the Church in Utah, under the Presidency of Brigham Young, have apostatized from the true order of the gospel.

"We believe that the doctrines of polygamy, human sacrifice, or killing men to save their souls, Adam being God, Utah being Zion, or the gathering place for the saints, are doctrines
of devils, instituted by wicked men, for the accomplishment of their own lustful desires and with a view to their personal aggrandizement.

"We believe in being true and loyal to the Government of the United States and have no sympathy or fellowship for the treasonable practices and wicked abominations indorsed
Brigham Young and his followers."

The _Daily Reporter_ published here is the organ of the Josephites. The editor has lately received threatening letters -- one containing the picture of a gallows and himself
hanging by the neck. He was publicly threatened by Brigham at the late conference meeting,

SPREAD OF MORMONISM.

The _Deseret News_ for the week has a column of missionary intelligence, from which we learn that during the latter half of last year and the first half of 1868, 3,435 were
baptized into the church in England; that great success had attended the Swiss mission; that the prospects abroad were never so bright as now.

It may be set down that the natural increase in the Territory, with emigration, will add about 12,000 to the Mormon population during the present year -- or 1,000 a month.
Brigham with good reason may boast that Mormonism instead of dying out, has increased never so fast as at the present time. CARLETON.

[[published January 23]]

ROUND THE WORLD SKETCHES.

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By "Carleton."

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Progress of Polygamy in Utah.

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LAW OF CONGRESS A DEAD LETTER.

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The Atonement of Blood.

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MASSACRE OF MOUNTAIN MEADOW.

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No. 4.

"Is polygamy dying?" I put the question to a leading Mormon at Salt Lake, the other day.

"By no means, sir. On the contrary, it is spreading faster than ever."

"How large a proportion of the people, in your opinion, are polygamists?"

"About one-third, I think."

"Why do you practice it?"

"We believe it to be ordained of God to restore the human race to its primal condition of strength and beauty, as a means of counteracting sin -- in short, that it will
regenerate the human family. This will be the first result, but its blessed effects will be as far reaching as eternity, for we are rearing sons for the glory of God."

The views of this Mormon in regard to the spread of polygamy confirm that advanced by Judge Drake, of the United States Court of Utah Territory, before the committee
of Congress. He says: --

Since 1865 polygamy has increased at least 100 per cent throughout the Territory. Previous to 1863
this doctrine or practice was not generally held to be a religious necessity, but merely a tolerance to
be indulged in by those who desired it. It is now held to be a cardinal point. That and the shedding
of the blood of apostates to save their souls are the two soul-saving doctrines of the Mormon faith.

THE LAW OF CONGRESS AGAINST POLYGAMY.

In 1862 Congress passed a law against polygamy, which it was hoped would stop the growing evil, but it is a dead letter. How can a law be enforced in a community which is
hostile to the law -- where jury and witnesses are leagued to prevent its execution? The United States has its judges here, ready to do their work faithfully, but no Mormon jury
will convict Brigham or any of his Apostles of polygamy, when they themselves are polygamists; nor will any witness testify against Brigham. They love and reverence their prophet.
They also believe in polygamy as an institution ordained of God. They look upon the law of Congress as levied against the corner stone of the church, and as in direct
contravention of the Constitution, which guarantees to every man the right to believe whatever he pleases in religion.

I dare say that it will be difficult for your readers to understand how men and women can, by any process of reasoning, or sophistry, or by any workings of the mind, come to
accept such a belief. But is there anything too absurd, repulsive, or horrible for human belief in matters of religion? A few months ago, while riding through the jungles of India,
the place was shown me where Thugs, in former days, waylaid their passing victims, knocked them on the head, dragged them into the depths of the jungle as acceptable
sacrifices to their gods, and if those heathen could come into such a religious belief, why may not the Mormon come to believe that concubinage "is ordained of God" -- especially
with the examples of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David, of the patriarchs and kings of Israel for examples? Is it any wonder that the law is a dead letter? Is it any wonder that the
Mormon thinks he is doing God service by doing all he can to delay its execution? When Judge Titus was here an attempt was made to enforce this law, but resulted in failure.
Leading Mormons were brought before the grand jury, but not one of them knew anything about polygamy. It might exist, it might not; they couldn't say. The law cannot be
enforced. Its meshes are not small enough to catch Brigham. He can defy it. He is stronger to-day than ever. His power is increasing, and from what has lately transpired, it is
evident that he intends to make it felt.


NON-INTERCOURSE WITH GENTILES.

The proclamation has been made that there must be non-intercourse with the Gentiles in trade. The outside traders who do not believe in Mormonism are to be driven out. A Mormon
may take a Gentile's money, he may work for a Gentile -- may take, not give; may sell to him, but not buy of him. Take all you can -- fleece the unbeliever! is the watchword. -- The
proclamation was made at the grand conference meeting a few weeks since. Brigham said on that occasion -- I quote from the _Desert News:_ "I want to tell my brethren, my friends
and my enemies, that we are going to draw the reins so tight as not to let a latter day saint trade with an outsider, We will trade with you if you will give us your money: we are entitled
to it. * * * Our outside friends say they want to civilize us here. What do they mean by civilization? Why they mean by that to establish gambling holes, grog-shops and houses of
ill-fame; also swearing, drinking, shooting each other. Then they would send their missionaries here, with faces as long as jackasses' ears, who would go crying and groaning through
the streets: 'Oh, what a poor, miserable, sinful world!' That is what is meant by civilization. But the Saints don't want it, and we will not have it. * * * My feelings are that every man
and woman who will not obey this counsel shall be severed from the church, and let all who feel as I do lift up their right hand."

The vote was unanimously in favor of the proposition.

This was in October, and measures were at once taken to establish a grand co-operative association with a capital of two millions, so that every Gentile trader might be driven out
of the city. It is another scheme for enlarging and perpetuating the power of the few over the many.


THE ATONEMENT OF BLOOD.

There is one article in the Mormon creed which I think is little understood by the American people -- that it is only by the shedding of the blood of an apostate that his soul can be
saved from eternal damnation.

"Polygamy," says Judge Titus, "and the shedding of the blood of apostates to save their souls are the two cardinal points of the Mormon faith." But upon this point it is well to have
the exposition and explanation of the prophet himself. The explanation of the doctrine was given by Brigham in a sermon preached Sept. 21, 1856: --

"There are sins," he says, "that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that
which is to come; and if they had their eyes opened to see their true condition they would be perfectly willing
to have their blood spilt, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins, and the
incense would atone for their sins. * * * I know when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from
the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine, _but it is to save them, not to destroy them._ It is true that the
blood of the son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit
[sins] which it can never remit. There are sins which can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar as in ancient
days, but there are also sins which the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle doves cannot remit, _but they
must be atoned for by the blood of the man."_

The religion of these people makes it right to take the lives of enemies -- especially of those who by word or act have done injury to their religion; also to take the lives of apostates.
Brigham does not leave it for the saints to decide individually whom to destroy, but has instituted the Order of the Avengers. In former years they were known as Danites. The Order
is mystic. Brigham Young, Wells and Smith and others of the apostles are the high priests. There is a grand council, composed of bishops, who examine cases of offenders, who
submit the results of their investigations to the high priests. The Danites are the Avengers, who strike when commanded by the high priests. All are bound together by the most
terrible oaths.

There is no doubt that many murders have been committed by the Avengers. I am informed that since the organization of the territory _not one of the murderers has been brought
to justice!_

It would take too much space were I to give a full catalogue of the murders. I select a few only, committed during the last ten years.


DOINGS OF THE AVENGERS.

The Aiken party of six persons, on their way to California, had offended the Mormons and all were shot. In the fall of '57 a Mormon sued Brigham for false imprisonment; the day
before the suit came to court he was shot in his own house. In '58, two men obtained a judgment of the court against a leading Danite, and both were shot in cold blood. About the
same time, Mr. Babbitt, Secretary of the Territory, had a quarrel with Brigham, and was murdered. In '66, Mr. Beanfield of Austin, Nevada, a highly respected gentleman, had some
difficulty with the Mormons, and was shot. In October, the same year, Dr. Robinson, surgeon in the United States Army, who had taken possession of unoccupied land was called
from his house at night to visit a patient and was shot. In August, 1867, three men -- Potter, Wilson and Walker -- who had given offense to the church were arrested on the pretense
of stealing a cow and put into jail. At midnight sixteen Avengers, disguised, broke open the jail and murdered all three. The U. S. Marshal arrested them but the Mormon Sheriff
permitted them to escape without any effort to retain them, and the _Deseret News,_ the organ of the church, published a threatening letter to Judge Titus and backed it up by
editorials, warning the Chief Justice to leave the Territory, menacing him with death if he remained!

"The bones of murdered men are bleaching all over this Territory; and not a murderer has been brought to justice," said a gentleman in my hearing at Salt Lake.


MOUNTAIN MEADOW.

In the extreme southeastern part of the territory, 300 miles from Salt Lake, is a place called Mountain Meadow, the scene of a terrible massacre. The story may be told in brief. Some
years ago one of the Mormon missionaries, Parley P. Pratt, was in Southern California preaching, and made a convert of a married woman, whose husband was absent. She left him,
joined herself to Pratt, became his concubine. The husband determined to be revenged, followed them to this city, then to Arkansas, where Pratt was preaching, and took vengeance
by shooting him. Months passed on. One day a party of emigrants from the county in Arkansas in which the homicide was committed reached Salt Lake, on their way to Southern
California. It was a party well to do in the world -- 40 wagons and about 150 persons. In one wagon was a piano. One emigrant and his family rode in a well built carriage. They
purchased provisions of the Mormons and passed on, reached the green meadow among the mountains and stopped to recruit their stock before entering the desert.

Several Mormon settlements were near by; some houses within sight. Suddenly they were attacked by Indians, or white men disguised as Indians. It was at daylight. The emigrants
fought from behind their wagons, threw up a ditch and kept the assailants at bay. The fighting lasted a week. One morning a Mormon advanced, told them that if they would give up
their arms, the Indians would not harm them. They complied with his request. Then began the massacre. All but seventeen children were killed, and the oldest of these was only six
years old -- too young to give certain testimony, except that their fathers were shot down, their mothers and sisters outraged and then had their brains beaten out by men, who, though
wearing an Indian dress, could speak the English language.

A few days after the massacre, wagons, horses, carriages, the clothing of the murdered ones, were brought to Salt Lake and sold. Ten per cent of the proceeds went into the treasury
of the church. Brigham bought the carriage for his own use, and I am informed that the piano is now owned by one of the leading Mormons.

It was a long while before this massacre, which occurred in '57, became known. The public never knew much about it. In 1859, Gen. Carleton was ordered by the General commanding
the department of California to visit the spot. He did so, and found the bones bleaching on the ground. He gathered them up, erected a cross bearing these words: "Vengeance is mine;
I will repay saith the Lord." The monument has since been destroyed. The report of Gen. Carleton has just made its appearance. It was printed the last session of Congress. The
evidence in the report goes to show that this terrible massacre was planned by the Mormons, and in fact carried out by them to avenge the death of Pratt, one of the most effective
preachers of the Mormon faith. These emigrants came from the county where he was killed, and hence the vengeance. So much for the atonement of blood. CARLETON.

[[published January 30]]


ROUND THE WORLD SKETCHES.

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By "Carleton."

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THE PROPHET'S HAREM.

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THE APOSTLES AND THEIR CONCUBINES.

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_Brigham at the Theatre._

------

NO. FIVE.

In the Orient there is one institution which has long been established -- concubinage. The modern Turk, the Arab, Hindoo, Feegian, and King of Ashantee all follow the footsteps of
their fathers. They keep concubines by the score. The harem never has flourished under the Christian civilization of Europe, but, it has been transplanted from the Orient to Salt
Lake City by the prophet and apostles of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, and is thriving with great vigor. In the city of the Sultan and everywhere else in the East it is established
in lust, but in the saintly city of Utah it is held to be ordained of God for the welfare of the human race and the glory of God through time and eternity.

THE APOSTLES AND THEIR CONCUBINES.

The prophet, in imitation of the Lord Jesus Christ, has ordained twelve apostles to assist him in his ministry. In this church of the Latter Day Saints, he who will be greatest in the
kingdom of heaven is he who has the most concubines in this life. The apostles, therefore, imitating their prophet, add to their number of concubines as they feel able, that their
glory may be great in the eternal world. Do you ask whether the idea uppermost in the mind of the Oriental, the gratification of passion, may not also be an inducement with an
apostle to take a concubine -- a half dozen? Those sober-minded men of Salt Lake will assure you that they seek only to do the will of God. Each added concubine will be a jewel
in the immortal crown, and over each new born child there is joy in heaven, for it is a soul released from its prison house and started on its way to glory.

All of the Apostles are married, and all have two or more concubines, in addition to their one lawful wife. They rank as follows:

1st Apostle Orson Hyde has three concubines.
2d Apostle Orson Pratt has three concubines.
3d Apostle John Taylor has six concubines.
4th Apostle Wilford Woodruff has two concubines.
5th Apostle G. A. Smith has four concubines.
6th Apostle Amasa, Lyman has four concubines.
7th Apostle Ezra Benson has three concubines.
8th Apostle Charles Rich has six concubines.
9th Apostle Lorenzo Snow has three concubines.
10th Apostle Erastus Snow has two concubines.
11th Apostle Franklin Richards has three concubines.
12th Apostle G. Q. Cannon has two concubines.

Daniel Wells, who is associated with Brigham in the presidency of the church, has a large number of concubines. Heber Kimball, who was also a member of the presidency, but who
died last summer, had a large harem. He was not much liked by the Saints -- was coarse, brutal, and used obscene language in the pulpit, abused his concubines, worked them hard,
gave them little to eat, pulled their hair and let them understand that he was master of the situation. I am informed that some of them are not inconsolable now that he has gone,
and that they hope for a period of rest before joining him in glory. It is not stated as a fact, but only as a current report.

THE PROPHET'S HAREM.

A few steps up Main street from our hotel, a turn to the right and we see the prophet's harem. The grounds occupied by Brigham are inclosed by a high wall, laid in cement. An eagle
with spreading wings, clutching a bee-hive in his talons, is mounted over the gateway -- emblematic of Brigham and the church. The main entrance faces south. The grounds are well
laid out, and there is an abundance of apple, pear and peach trees. Grape vines climb the walls and hang on trellises.

At the southwest corner of the grounds is the tithing office, where a tenth part of all that is produced in the territory passes into Brigham's hands. In rear of the tithing office are
extensive sheds, where the saints find shelter while paying their tithing. Here also are several small buildings where Brigham's servants live -- those employed about the premises.

A few steps east of the tithing office is the three-storied building, standing end to the road, large enough and long enough for a factory boarding house. It has a steep shingled roof,
with ten gabled windows on each side. On the balcony over the door is a crouching lion.

This is the harem. A covered passage leads from the ground floor to another building East in which is the general business office of Brigham Young, and from which telegraph wires
run to every hamlet in the territory. Another passage leads to the private office of Brigham -- back of which is his private bed room, where his concubines wait upon him -- Amelia
to-day -- Emeline tomorrow, Lucy the day after.

Brigham's lawfully wedded wife was Mary Ann Angell -- a native of New York -- the mother of five children -- Joseph, or ''Joe" as he is called at Salt Lake, Brigham A., John, Alice
and Luna. She married the prophet while he was a young man, before he was a prophet, and with him accepted the revelations of Joseph Smith. She lives in a large stone building in
the rear of the harem. Brigham does not often visit her now.

BRIGHAM'S CONCUBINES.

The number of concubines in the harem is not known to the Gentile world. One report makes the number seventy, another gives only thirty. It is probable that the larger number
includes those who are sealed to Brigham for eternity and not for time.

His first concubine is Lucy Decker. She is the lawful wife of Isaac Seely, mother of two children; but Brigham could make her a queen in heaven, and so, bidding good bye to Isaac,
she became first concubine, and has added eight children to the prophet's household.

Her younger sister, Clara Decker, also aspired to be a heavenly queen, and became his second concubine, and is the mother of four children.

The third is Harriet Cook, mother of one turbulent boy, who does pretty much as he pleases, as so does the mother. When in her tantrums she does not hesitate to send Brigham
to the realm of evil spirits.

Lucy Bigelow is said to be one of the most lady-like of all the concubines. Mrs. [Watts], wife of one of the United States Judges of the Territory, who saw all of the ladies of the harem,
describes her as of middling stature, dark brown hair, blue eyes, aquiline nose, and a pretty mouth. She is pleasant and affable.

Miss Twiss has sandy hair, round features, blue eyes, low forehead, freckled face, but as she has no children, is not of much account in the eyes of the prophet. She looks after
his clothes, sews buttons on his shirts, and acts the part of a housewife.

Martha Bowker is another of the same sort, quiet, neat in dress, motherless, and therefore of little account.

Harriet Barney, like Lucy Decker, left her husband and three children to become a concubine that she might have exaltation in Heaven, but has not been honored in the harem,
not having added any children to the household.

Eliza Burgess is the only English woman in the harem, small of stature, black eyes, quick tempered, but mother of several children.

Ellen Rockwood, daughter of the jail-keeper, is another of the unfortunate women -- not having had children.

Mrs. Hampton, whose first husband died at Nauvoo, afterward married a man by the name of Cole, who left her at Nauvoo and went to California. Brigham, hearing of his departure,
sent for his wife, who obeyed the summons and became a concubine, lived in the harem eight years, then was cast out by Brigham. She now lives at Ogden City with her son,
Nephi Hampton.

Mary Bigelow is another castaway. She lived in the harem several years, but Brigham became tired of her and sent her away.

Margaret Pierce is another who, not having added to the glory of the prophet by being a mother, is of little account, though still in the harem.

Emiline Free, as described by Mrs. Waite, is the "light, of the harem," tall, graceful, mild, violet eyes, fair hair, inclined to curl. She was a lively young lady and Brigham fell in love
with her. Her father and mother were opposed to polygamy, but Emiline had ambitious projects, accepted his proposal, and became the favorite of the harem. The favor shown her
brought on a row. The other concubines carried this jealousy to such a pitch that the prophet had a private passage constructed from his [bed-room] to Emeline's room, so that his
visits to her and her's to him could be made without observation. She has contributed greatly to his glory in the future world by presenting him with eight children in this.

The poetess of the church is Eliza Snow, said to be [quite] intellectual. In one of the poems published in Brigham's paper, the _Desert News,_ she thus exalts the Mormon religion:

''We have the ancient order,
To us by prophets given;
And here we have the pattern
As things exist in heaven."

From which we are to understand that there are harems in heaven! So the Turk believes.

Zina Huntington also writes poetry and acts as a sort of governess to the numerous children of the prophet. Zina came to Salt Lake with her lawfully wedded husband, Dr. Jacobs.
Brigham liked her; sent the doctor on a missionary tour to England; took his wife into the harem, and became the spiritual father of her children -- made her his temporal concubine
that he might exalt her to be a queen in heaven! The doctor returned from his mission, apostatized, and went to California, where he now resides.

Amelia Partridge has added four children to the prophet's household. She is said to be of a sweet disposition and is not jealous when the prophet turns his attention to the other
concubines.

Mrs. Augusta Cobb was formerly a Bostonian, became converted to Mormonism eighteen years ago, left her home and accepted a position in the harem.

Mrs. Smith, a devout Mormon, wished to be sealed to Brigham for eternity, but the prophet did not care to make her a heavenly queen. He sealed her to Joseph Smith for eternity
and to himself for time.

One "poor unfortunate," Clara Chase, became a maniac, and has gone to where the wicked cease from troubling.

Amelia Folsom, a native of Portsmouth, N. H., is the mistress of the harem. She entered it on the 29th of January, 1863. She is about 19, and the prophet 63. She has things
pretty much her own way -- private box at the theatre, carriage of her own, silks, satins, a piano, parlor elegantly furnished. If the prophet slights her, she pays him in his own coin.

Such is an outline of this saintly household -- thirty women or more, and seventy or eighty children. Unless human nature is vastly different in Utah from what it is in other places,
there must be many family jars. The outward appearance is of a peaceable and orderly community, but if there is a fraction of truth in common report, it is one of the saddest
communities in the world. Brigham comprehends the fact that life under polygamy is a wearisome burden, and has taken measures to amuse the members of his church.

BRIGHAM AT THE THEATRE.

He owns a theatre which cost, it is said, $200,000, and which has yielded a large revenue. It is a well built edifice, nearly as large as the Boston Theatre, with parquette and circle,
dress circle, family circle and gallery. Gentiles are consigned to the dress circle, though Saints also sit there.

Climbing a narrow stairway we find ourselves in the dress circle, occupying a front seat, giving us a good position to study the audience. We are not there to see the play, but the
people. The curtain is still down, and the audience are taking their seats. The parquette is arranged with slips like those in a church. At the right hand side, in the parquette circle,
is Brigham's family pew -- distinguished from all other seats by its red plush or damask upholstery. In the right hand aisle of the parquette is a rocking chair, which Brigham sometimes
occupies, when he wants to be on a familiar footing with the Saints.

The light in the building is rather dim, gas not having been introduced to Salt Lake, coal oil being used instead, but there is light enough for us to study the countenances of those
around us. On seats adjoining ours are two young girls, fresh, fair, rosy-cheeked, accompanied by a young man well-dressed -- Gentiles, I judge, from a remark dropped now and then.
At our right hand is a woman with a baby in her arms, three other children by her side. Beyond her another woman with a baby and a great strapping fellow with red whiskers by her
side. Behind us are three roystering fellows from the mines of Montana, ogling the girls in the parquette. They are Gentile wolves. Elder Williams cautioned the girls last Sunday to
beware of those who come in sheep's clothing to lead them away from the church and down to perdition. These wolves do sometimes carry off the fairest lambs of the flock. Some of
the girls prefer the undivided love of a hardy, good looking young Gentile to the fortieth or fiftieth part of a withered old Apostle.

Two seats distant is another baby. The mother is wrinkled and careworn. We can see the lines of care and suffering across her forehead, and in her sunken cheeks, as if time had been
turning deep furrows and his plowshare had gone down into the subsoil and had cut the heartstrings. Not hers alone. We see the same joyless cast of countenance on every female face.
Artists, who with pen and pencil paint character -- who can read the joys and sorrows of life in the lines of the human face -- should come to Salt Lake City. They would find it one vast
studio -- every woman a subject. "Dead Affections" would be an appropriate title to their pictures. Stifled, rather. These women never have known what it is to love or to be loved. They
know only sacrifice. They are slaves -- bondage to the church and to the devil at the same time. They are ground to powder between two mighty millstone -- the upper one a religious
idea, the lower one the lewdness and lust of hard-hearted men. Heaven and hell together are brought into action, crushing out human affections and the highest and holiest instincts
of the soul.

The priests of Buddah, in China, in one of their delineations of the damned, have accurately portrayed the condition of these women at Salt Lake. I remember a scene in a temple at
Canton -- a mill in which human souls were ground up -- a slow, steady turning of the stone. The soul went in head foremost. Down below there was a trickling stream of blood and
brains, It is so here. Intellect, joy, happiness, hope, peace, brains and hearts are ground slowly out in this infernal mill!

But there is the man who runs this mill -- the head of the Church -- President and Revelator -- in the private box by the side of the stage. He is portly, his hair is nicely brushed. He
wears a white vest, black broadcloth coat, kid gloves, puts an opera glass to his eyes and looks over to the gallery containing us Gentiles, to see who is there. He has a broad forehead,
large nose, and whiskers turning white. Ability, decision, duplicity, shrewdness, cunning -- the good and bad elements of character -- are plainly marked in his countenance. Apostle
Wells, a tall, thin, spare man, nearly as old as Brigham, is by his side.

In Brigham's family circle we see two of his concubines and twenty-two of his children -- all but three of them girls. One of the women is past the prime of life -- plain countenance,
plainly dressed. She is sad -- sad when others laugh! The play is the _Somnambulist,_ but the comic scenes which set the crowd a laughing brings no smile to her face.

At the end of the seat is one of the favorite concubines -- a woman of thirty, pale, thoughtful, with an intellectual cast of countenance, with a book in hand which she reads between
the scenes. She has large lustrous eyes, dark brown hair, jewels on her fingers and a mother of pearl opera glass in her hand. She is elegantly dressed -- wears a costly fine cape.
Did I not know that they were Brigham's concubines I should set them down as teachers of a girls' boarding school, who had come down with their classes to enjoy the evening.

It is a motley audience -- saints, sinners and Indians. Far up in the gallery I see three of the Ute tribe, in moccasins and blanket, gazing with imperturbable gravity on the scene.

Brigham looks upon the audience most of the time -- turning his attention to the stage only when something especially attractive or laughable occurs. He talks with Brother Wells,
takes a knife from his pocket, pares an apple, which he slowly munches. He has the appearance of a man not well acquainted with the usages of good society, but who is well off
in the world, independent of everybody, and who for the remainder of his life is going to take things easy and have everything his own way. CARLETON.

[[published February 6]]

ROUND THE WORLD SKETCHES.

----

by "Carleton."

-----

Solution of the Mormon Problem.

------

SHALL UTAH BE ADMITTED AS A STATE?

------

NO. SIX.

In the sketches which have already been given of Mormon life, it has been my aim to set forth fairly the situation of affairs in the territory of Utah, not
forgetting that the Mormons are industrious and enterprising, and that they have built up a prosperous, thriving and rapidly increasing community in what
not long since was a desert; neither have we left out of mind, on the other hand, that the church of the Latter Day Saints is founded on belief and practice
abhorrent to Christian civilization and antagonistic to the law of the United States.

Doubtless those who may have found time or inclination to read what has already been given relative to the Mormons, have had some such questions as
following arising in their minds: What is to be the future of that community? Is concubinage to continue to be one of the institutions of the United States?
Are the laws of the country to be always set at defiance? Will the people of America permit the building up of a polygamous state? And if not disposed to
tolerate the continuance of concubinage, what measures will they take to put it down? Shall the law be enforced by the bayonet? Is it a cancer to be cut out?
Or are there milder measures which will do away with this "twin relic of barbarism."

There is an impression abroad that the completion of the railway will bring such new influences to bear upon Mormonism that it will melt away as easily
as the ice of winter before the spring sunshine.

WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECT OF THE RAILROAD?

We had a frank and lengthy conversation with a leading Mormon upon the railroad, and its effect upon the future of Utah.

"What effect do you think it will have upon your community?" we asked.

"I believe that it will greatly strengthen us."

"Such is not the general belief among the people of the United States, and may I ask on what grounds you base your own opinion?"

"We are a united community. We have firm faith in our religion and in our future destiny. The railroad will enable thousands of our faith in Europe, who
are npw waiting to join us, to reach Salt Lake at a moderate rate of expense as compared with the present cost. We anticipate a large emigration next year."

"Perhaps the railroad may take some away who are now here," we ventured to suggest.

"If any one wishes to leave us he will have perfect liberty to do so," was the reply.

Brigham thus far has kept the church isolated from the world, though there has been a steady stream of emigrants passing through the territory. Miners,
frontiersmen, Californians -- men far from the restraints of civilized life, far from the reach of civil law -- have made Salt Lake City a half-way house -- a place
of refuge in winter, when the snows were upon the mountains. Yet we have this fact that they have made very little inroads upon the Mormon flock. Will the
influx of Gentiles of another sort -- of milder temperament and gentler ways -- swerve them from their faith?

THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH.

We are not in our estimate of that people to lose sight of another fact, that there is no religious community in the world which is showing greater zeal, or
which has practiced more self-denial to advance their cause. They believe that they are the favored people of the Lord. The Jews of the time of Christ were not
more infatuated with the idea that they were chosen of God, than the Mormons are of their high election. As the children of Israel believed, and as the Christian
church now believes, that God once spoke to the human race through Samuel, Isaiah, Hosea and Amos, so do the Mormons believe that God spoke by Joseph
Smith and that Brigham Young is a man who now has direct revelations from God. They also believe that were Brigham to die, there would be a continuance
of revelation through his successor, to be elected by the church.
human

There must be a complete change in the religious belief of this people before they will cease to be Mormons. They hold their belief with a sincerity
unsurpassed by any who may read this sketch, be they Episcopal, Baptist, Unitarian, Orthodox, or Methodist. Is it to be expected that an entire
community will at once set its face against concubinage, when a few passing travelers or summer tourists stop at the hotels to spend a night in the city?

While in Utah we endeavored to ascertain the opinions of those who are not Mormons, and who are best acquainted with the state of affairs, and there
was a general agreement that the opening of the railroad would have little effect upon the church. Here and there were some disaffected ones who might
leave, but the community as a whole were sincere adherents to the church, ready to accept everything which came from Brigham as coming from the Lord.

Brigham does not fear the railroad. "Mine must be a damn poor religion if it won't stand one railroad," -- was his remark reported not long since.

Instead of fearing it he is taking measures to have a branch line constructed to Salt Lake City. He has offered a tract of land in the city to the company
for a station and is ready to take a large portion of the stock. The main line runs about thirty-two miles North of the city. If it had been carried South of the
Lake it would have passed through the city. Surveys were made to carry it there and Brigham professed to be anxious to have it come.

Work will be commenced in the Spring upon the branch line, the surveys having been made last November. He has a large contract on hand in grading the
main line -- employing none but Mormons -- and it is estimated that about two million dollars of the money raised on the lands [sic - bonds?] of the United
States by the company, will go into his pocket as net profit.

The construction of the railroad is a golden opportunity for the Mormons. Every pound of grain, oats, barley, wheat and corn, every ton of hay and every ox
and sheep is quadrupled in value. The contractors on the railroad are paying from twenty to twenty-five cents a pound for grain for their horses. Probably no
community in the United States is so prosperous at the present time as the Mormons.

How the opening of the road will work out the solution of the Mormon question, no one seems to know. A few months hence the public may have more light
on the subject. In this sketch we only attempt to give the present situation.

WILL BRIGHAM HAVE A NEW REVELATION?

Another idea prevailing in the community is that Brigham will soon have a new revelation -- that he will say to the saints that the Lord has shown him that
polygamy is no longer necessary to the welfare of the church. The only ground for such a supposition seems to be the suggestion which Mr. Colfax gave to
Brigham when he made his trip across the continent. Since then concubinage has greatly increased, and it never was so thriving as now. Brigham has
added several women to his harem since Mr. Colfax was at Salt Lake and the apostles have followed the example of the prophet. As slavery was the
corner stone of the late confederacy, so is concubinage the rock on which Brigham has built the church of the Latter Day Saints. Joseph Smith began the
foundation on the one wife plan, but before his death he had several spiritual wives secretly sealed to him. Brigham, after Joseph's death, took bold ground
and made concubinage and the multiplication of the human race the corner stone of the church. A new revelation prohibiting concubinage would not be merely
the disruption, but the utter destruction and annihilation of the church and the social fabric which has been reared. Where is the probability that Brigham will
see new light, when such will be the inevitable result?

Men do not often voluntarily resign despotic power, though there are some examples in history. Charles V laid down the sceptre of en empire and became
a monk -- but Brigham is already devoted to religion. His despotism is a religious despotism. He has power over the bodies and souls of those who follow
him, and professedly he is wielding it for the welfare of the human race and for the glory of God. Will he resign it voluntarily? It will be out of the usual course
of human nature should he do so. Behind him are men who have power and influence -- the apostles and bishops. They are in position to accumulate
wealth, and it is not to be expected that they will urge the prophet to give a new revelation which will take away their advantages.

BRIGHAM'S POLICY.

The policy adopted by Brigham last October is this: to do no trading with the Gentiles. He believes that it will drive out the Anti-Mormon element now at
Salt Lake, and that it will keep out all Gentiles who may be thinking of settling there. We were at Salt Lake in November, since which time an attempt has
been made to drive out Rev. Mr. Foote of the Episcopal church, who is keeping a school there. He was arrested on a trumped up charge for violating some
ordinance of the city.

As yet there has been no sales of public lands in the territory, but the land office is now open, and the sale will commence in the spring, when
every available acre will be taken up by the Mormons under Brigham's directions, thus shutting out completely the Gentile element; for no Mormon
can dispose of his lands without Brigham's consent. By withholding intercourse from the Gentiles, by taking up the public lands, by bringing new
emigrants from Europe, by the natural increase of population, by adherence to the faith, the Mormons, one and all, believe that the Church will
become firmly established. Their faith looks forward to the time when Mormonism will be the prevailing religion in the United States, when concubinage
will be universally practiced.

Perhaps the male population are firmer believers in the ultimate spread of concubinage than the other sex. Young girls, we found, were not very favorably
disposed toward it. Women, who are not Mormons, but who reside at Salt Lake, are vehement in their opposition. A young lady in the stage, the evening
of our departure from Salt Lake, gave a forcible reply to our questioning.

"Would you marry a Mormon?" we asked?

"Goodness gracious! Not if I know myself. _You bet!_

HOW SHALL THE QUESTION BE SETTLED?

The Mormon problem is soon to come before the people of the United States for solution. An attempt will probably be made by the Mormons, at the next session
of Congress, to obtain admission to the Union as a State. Are the people of the United States ready to have concubinage one of the pillars in the new temple of
Liberty which they are rearing on this Continent? It will be largely a Mormon population. They will choose their Senators, make their own laws and administer
justice on Mormon principles and for the interest of the church. They will be beyond the reach of Congress if Utah becomes a State.

It is proposed to cut the territory into slices, with the hope of dividing Brigham's authority, but his power is not limited by territorial lines. There are Mormons in
Idaho and Montana who believe in him and are ready to do his bidding.

Shall we ignore political action and trust to schools and missionaries? How shall we get schools established? how obtain the ground? how get a foothold in a
community determined not to accept any teaching opposed to Mormonism?

It is suggested that Congress should abrogate the act by which the territory was established and a military Governor be appointed, so that men who are not
Mormons may be protected in the territory, and new laws of Congress against polygamy be put in execution.

It is not our intention to discuss any of these propositions; we leave it for the members of the incoming Congress.

A new element will soon make its appearance in the territory. One, if not two, towns will spring up on the line of the railroad, wherever the two companies locate
their repair shops. In all probability they will be peopled by men not in sympathy with Brigham Young, and who will be ready to "pitch in and clean out" the Saints
whenever they have an opportunity. We have heard the above expression used already. A collision between the rough men who are to be found in all the frontier
towns and the Mormons is possible. It is desirable that there shall be no shedding of blood in the settlement of this question, but it is very evident that things
cannot always go on as they are now going. If Utah asks to be admitted as a State the question of concubinage will be brought before the people of the United
States, and the quicker it comes the better for the welfare of the country. The system based on the barbarism of the past delusions, on Mahomet, the Turk, the
Hindoo and the Hottentot, and the system of Christian civilization, cannot continue side by side. One or the other must give way. Which shall it be?
CARLETON.



[[published February 13]]

Correction.

_To the Editor of the Boston Journal._

In one of the "Sketches" lately published concerning the Mormons, it was inadvertently stated that the _Reporter,_ published at Salt Lake, was the organ of the Josephites,
or dissenters from the doctrine of polygamy as held by Brigham Young. The statement needs correction. The Josephites have no organ, so far as I know. The _Reporter_ is
a lively paper, its own organ, standing on its own merits and is conducted with much ability. It is extensively read and the Mormon fraternity have an opportunity of reading
some wholesome truths in its columns.

Another typographical error was the statement that the money paid to Brigham Young for constructing a section of the railroad was raised on the lands of the United States.
It should have read, "upon the _bonds_ of the United States." CARLETON.

I've never read this report before and found out several things I didn't know. Unlike Jim Jones in Guyana, the Mexican War and westward expansion gave Brigham Young the space and the means to set up a cult and run scams beyond Joseph Smith's wildest dreams. Brigham was not only a crook but a murdering butcher as well. Mormonism Be Damned.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2014 01:37AM by anybody.

anybody Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've never read this report before and found out
> several things I didn't know. Unlike Jim Jones in
> Guyana, the Mexican War and westward expansion
> gave Brigham Young the space and the means to set
> up a cult and run scams beyond Joseph Smith's
> wildest dreams. Mormonism Be Damned.

Contemporary reports say that Brigham fought against
the railroad coming to Utah, until it became evident
that he could not stop it -- then he made plans to
co-opt as much of the rail traffic north and south
of the main line as he possibly could. He paid for
his own expansion of those branch lines with the money
collected from the Union Pacific, for his Mormon workers
laying out the railroad grading, etc.

The net result was that, after 1869, Utah was forever
changed and Brigham's intended isolation of his followers
grew less and less effective.

In the 1870s and 1880s it began to occur to the Mormon
leaders that their Utah "Zion" had filled up to its
useful capacity of housing new emigrants -- and that
adjacent Idaho, Arizona, etc., were also filling up.

The railroad had brought thousands of new Mormons, but
that increase also spelled the doom of Utah as "Zion."
Gradually the emigration fell off -- and those new converts
who did arrive in America were shuffled off to Idaho, etc.

So, the railroad eventually ended the Mormon "gathering."

It also provided a means of escape for unhappy apostates.
In the past, they arrived in Utah famished, broke, and in
debt to the Church -- unable to leave. But, with the new
railroad line, converts could zoom right past Salt Lake
City and Ogden, and (if they had a few dollars to spare)
extend their ticket all the way to California. Unhappy
Mormons could also escape by getting on the train and
taking off for the eastern states.

Although it did not end Mormon power, influence and dominion,
the vanishing isolation did change the theocracy. In 1870-71
the Mormons offered up their last effective political "bluff,"
either make Utah a sovereign state, or the Mormons would
tear up the railroad and start a confederacy-style rebellion.

But it was too late. The bluff didn't work -- the isolation
had effectively ended, and the LDS leadership had to learn
how to deal with their diminishing power in the West.

UD

The closest thing I've read to this is "The Prophet Of The Nineteenth Century" but that was written before the Mormons went to Utah. I've always guessed the Brethren abandoned polygamy in exchange for economic and political power but didn't know the details. It will be interesting to see what they will do now to keep the scam going in the twenty-first century. Thanks.

Well Brigham knew Abraham Lincoln was coming after him as soon as the civil unpleasantness ended.

Old Abe finally did the brigand in..... and from the grave even, by laying down the rails of the Railroad Act.

heh heh

Hey Uncle, have you read "Nothing Like It in the World" by Stephen Ambrose ?

That book kicks Briggy's ass pretty good.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nothing-like-it-in-the-world-stephen-e-ambrose/1100319569?ean=9780743203173

From Ambrose's book:

Chapter One: Picking the Route 1830-1860

August 13, 1859, was a hot day in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The settlement was on the western boundary of the state, just across the Missouri River from the Nebraska village of Omaha. A politician from the neighboring state of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, went to Concert Hall to make a speech. It attracted a big crowd because of Lincoln's prominence after the previous year's Lincoln-Douglas debates and the keen interest in the following year's presidential election. Lincoln was a full-time politician and a candidate for the Republican nomination for president. The local editor called Lincoln's speech — never recorded — one that "set forth the true principles of the Republican party."

In the audience was Grenville Mellen Dodge, a twenty-eight-year-old railroad engineer. The next day he joined a group of citizens who had gathered on the big porch of the Pacific House, a hotel, to hear Lincoln answer questions. When Lincoln had finished and the crowd dispersed, W.H.M. Pusey, with whom the speaker was staying, recognized young Dodge. He pointed out Dodge to Lincoln and said that the young engineer knew more about railroads than any "two men in the country."

That snapped Lincoln's head around. He studied Dodge intently for a moment and then said, "Let's go meet." He and Pusey strolled across the porch to a bench where Dodge was sitting. Pusey introduced them. Lincoln sat down beside Dodge, crossed his long legs, swung his foot for a moment, put his big hand on Dodge's forearm, and went straight to the point: "Dodge, what's the best route for a Pacific railroad to the West?"

Dodge instantly replied, "From this town out the Platte Valley."

Lincoln thought that over for a moment or two, then asked, "Why do you think so?"

Dodge replied that the route of the forty-second parallel was the "most practical and economic" for building the railroad, which made Council Bluffs the "logical point of beginning."

Why? Lincoln wanted to know.

"Because of the railroads building from Chicago to this point," Dodge answered, and because of the uniform grade along the Platte Valley all the way to the Rocky Mountains.

Lincoln went on with his questions, until he had gathered from Dodge all the information Dodge had reaped privately doing surveys for the Rock Island Railroad Company on the best route to the West. Or, as Dodge later put it, "He shelled my woods completely and got all the information I'd collected."

The transcontinental railroad had been talked about, promoted, encouraged, desired for three decades. This was true even though the railroads in their first decades of existence were rickety, ran on poorly laid tracks that gave a bone-crushing bump-bump-bump to the cars as they chugged along, and could only be stopped by a series of brakemen, one on top of each car. They had to turn a wheel connected to a device that put pressure on the wheels to slow and finally to stop. The cars were too hot in the summer, much too cold in the winter (unless one was at the end nearest the stove, which meant one was too hot). The seats were wooden benches set at ninety-degree angles that pained the back, the buttocks, and the knees. There was no food until the train stopped at a station, when one had fifteen or fewer minutes to buy something from a vendor. The boiler in the engine was fired by wood, which led to sparks, which sometimes — often — flew back into a car and set the whole thing on fire. Bridges could catch fire and burn. Accidents were common; sometimes they killed or wounded virtually all passengers. The locomotives put forth so much smoke that the downwind side of the tracks on the cars was less desirable and it generally was on the poorer side of town, thus the phrase "the wrong side of the tracks."

Nevertheless, people wanted a transcontinental railroad. This was because it was absolutely necessary to bind the country together. Further, it was possible, because train technology was improving daily. The locomotives were getting faster, safer, more powerful, as the cars became more comfortable. More than the steamboat, more than anything else, the railroads were the harbinger of the future, and the future was the Industrial Revolution.

In 1889, Thomas Curtis Clarke opened his essay on "The Building of a Railway" with these words: "The world of to-day differs from that of Napoleon more than his world differed from that of Julius Caesar; and this change has chiefly been made by railways."

That was true, and it had happened because of the American engineers, one of whom said, "Where a mule can go, I can make a locomotive go." The poetry of engineering, which required both imagination to conceive and skill to execute, was nowhere more in evidence than in America, where it was the most needed. In England and Europe, after George Stephenson launched the first locomotive in 1829, little of significance in design change took place for the next thirty years. In America nearly everything did, because of the contempt for authority among American engineers, who invented new ways to deal with old problems regardless of precedent.

America was riper than anywhere else for the railroad. It gave Americans "the confidence to expand and take in land far in excess of what any European nation or ancient civilization had been able successfully to control," as historian Sarah Gordon points out. The railroad promised Americans "that towns, cities, and industries could be put down anywhere as long as they were tied to the rest of the Union by rail."

Between 1830 and 1850, American engineers invented the swiveling truck. With it placed under the front end of a locomotive, the engine could run around curves of almost any radius. It was in use in 1831 on the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad. There was nothing like it in England. So too equalizing beams or levers, by means of which the weight of the engine was borne by three of the four driving-wheels, which kept the train on rough tracks. Or the four-wheeled swiveling trucks, one under each end of a car, which let the freight or passenger cars follow the locomotives around the sharpest curves. Another American invention was the switchback, making it possible for the locomotives to chug their way up steep inclines.

Something else distinguished the American railway from its English parent. In America it was common practice to get the road open for traffic in the cheapest manner possible, and in the least possible time. The attitude was, It can be fixed up and improved later, and paid for with the earnings.

The wooden bridge and wooden trestle were invented by Leonardo da Vinci in the sixteenth century and put to use for railways by American engineers beginning in 1840. The Howe truss, invented by an American, used bolts, washers, nuts, and rods so that the shrinkage of new timber could be taken up. It had its parts connected in such a way that they were able to bear the heavy, concentrated weight of locomotives without crushing. Had the Howe truss bridges not tended to decay or burn up, they would still be in use today.

The railways made America. Everyone knew that. But there was much left to do. Henry V. Poor, editor of the American Railroad Journal, wrote a year before the Lincoln-Dodge meeting, "In a railroad to the Pacific we have a great national work, transcending, in its magnitude, and in its results, anything yet attempted by man. By its execution, we are to accomplish our appropriate mission, and a greater one than any yet fulfilled by any nation." The mission was, he summed up, to establish "our empire on the Pacific, where our civilization can take possession of the New Continent and confront the Old."

Obviously Dodge wasn't the only engineer who did surveying on the west side of the Missouri River. But he envisioned and convinced Lincoln that the transcontinental railroad should be on a road running almost straight out the forty-second parallel from Omaha, alongside the Platte Valley until it reached the Rocky Mountains and then over the mountains to meet the railroad coming east from California. With help from many others, Dodge and Lincoln inaugurated the greatest building project of the nineteenth century.

Lincoln's first query to Dodge — the best route for a Pacific railroad — was, next to slavery, the foremost question in his mind. He was one of the great railroad lawyers in the West. Born on February 12, 1809, to frontier parents, Lincoln had grown up poor. He educated himself and became a lawyer — a "self-made man," in the words of his political hero, Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky. At age twenty-three, he had entered politics as a candidate for the Illinois state legislature over an issue that would remain with him for the rest of his life, railroads. There was a plan in the legislature to build a railroad from the Illinois River to Springfield. In a campaign speech Lincoln declared that "no other improvement...can equal in utility the rail road." It was a "never failing source of communication" that was not interrupted by freezing weather, or high or low water. He admitted that there was a "heart-stopping cost" to building a railroad, however.

Lincoln lost the election, running eighth in a field of thirteen candidates. But his campaign speech was remarkable. The Rocket, built in Britain by George Stephenson, had undergone its first successful trial at Rainhill in 1829, only two years earlier. The first American train, The Best Friend of Charleston, made its initial run in 1830, the second, The Mohawk & Hudson, in 1831. But that year the twenty-two-year-old Lincoln, with less than a year of formal education, was contemplating a railroad in Illinois and was right on the mark about the advantages and disadvantages it would bring, even though, like most Americans and all those living west of the Appalachian Mountains, he had never seen one. He had read about trains in the Eastern newspapers, but his travels had been limited to horseback or buggy, raft or boat.

The American future was hitched to this new thing, to conquer the distance across the continent which was so vast. There were bountiful farm lands that were waiting for immigrants to turn the soil. But without railroads or rivers there was no way to move products of any size from the territories in the West to markets on the East Coast or in Europe. As early as 1830, William Redfield (eighteen years later elected the first president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science), who maintained a lifelong interest in railroads, published a pamphlet in New York City proposing a railroad to cross the country to the Mississippi, with extensions going on to the Pacific.

In 1832, the Ann Arbor Emigrant in Michigan called for a railroad from New York City to the Great Lakes, then over the Mississippi River and on to the Missouri River, then up the Platte, over the mountains, and on to Oregon. Lincoln and nearly every person in the United States wanted it done. The agitation grew over the nearly three decades between 1830 and Lincoln's meeting with Dodge in Council Bluffs. The 1830 population was 12.8 million. By 1840, it was up to seventeen million. By 1850, it had grown to twenty-three million, putting the United States ahead of Great Britain. Then it jumped up to thirty-one million by 1860.

Lincoln was a gifted pilot on Western rivers and eager to build canals — in 1836, when he was in the legislature, he cast the deciding vote for a bill to authorize the state to loan $500,000 to support the bonds of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. But even more, he wanted those railroads, which had so many advantages over canals, and he wanted the federal government to let the state use the sale of public lands to raise the money to promote railroads.

Lincoln was ahead of but still in touch with his fellow citizens. By 1835, "railroad fever" had swept America. It was inevitable in a country that was so big, with so many immigrants coming in, creating a desperate need for transportation. Despite the limitations of the first trains — their cost, their unproved capabilities, their dangers — everyone wanted one. Railroads were planned, financed, laid throughout the East and over the mountains. Even though the Panic of 1837 slowed building considerably, by 1840 nearly three thousand miles of track had been laid in the United States, already more than in all of Europe.

So many people and so much land. And the locomotive was improving year by year, along with the track and passenger and freight cars — trains were getting faster, safer, easier to build. By 1850, the lantern, cowcatcher, T-rail, brakes, skill of the engineers, and more improvements made a transcontinental railroad feasible. Pennsylvania, with enormous deposits of both coal and iron, had more rail manufactures than all of England.

As one observer noted, "The key to the evolution of the American railway is the contempt for authority displayed by our engineers." The engineers were there to build a transcontinental railroad, as they had built so many tracks, curves, and bridges by the beginning of 1850. The country owned so much land that paying for a railroad was no problem — just create a corporation and give it so much land for every mile of track it laid. Lincoln was a strong proponent; in 1847, just before beginning his only term in Congress, he wrote a letter to the IL Journal that supported the Alton and Sangamon Railroad and called it "a link in a great chain of rail road communication which shall unite Boston and New York with the Mississippi." He also strongly urged the United States to give 2,595,000 acres of land adjacent to the proposed road to Illinois, to enable the state to grant that land to the IC.

I feel myself greatly enriched after that read. Thanks

initially, the UPRR east-west line didn't go to SL; it crossed thru Ogden.

some mormons built a 'separate' branch line to SL which was eventually extended to the south (Provo/beyond). another line went SW (towards Cedar City, I guess)

when I First went to Ricks (65?) , I took the train from Seattle.

Briggy contracted with the RR, 'called' men to work on the UP, was stiffed for (part of?) the wages.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2014 09:24PM by GNPE.

...Thanks! More much-needed background history, by a reputable reporter on Brigham's abuse, way-out west.


http://i.lv3.hbo.com/assets/images/series/big-love/episodes/3/28/on-trial-1024.jpg

Well the linkup between the UP and CP lines was a dodgey affair so to speak.

At one point they were laying rail past each other.

Promontory Point was chosen after some finagling involving der Brigmiester as I recall.

Fascinating time in our history. Thanks Uncle.

Shummy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well the linkup between the UP and CP lines was a
> dodgey affair so to speak.
>
> At one point they were laying rail past each
> other.
>
> Promontory Point was chosen after some finagling
> involving der Brigmiester as I recall.
>
> Fascinating time in our history. Thanks Uncle.


Your excerpt from Chapter One: Picking the Route 1830-1860,
was interesting. The initial transcontinental railroad might
have just as easily taken a southern route to Los Angles,
rather than running just north of the Great Salt Lake ---
but it ended up going through Ogden and that Mormon town
became the great junction point in the West, for many years.

Between Ogden and Promontory was Corinne -- and that town
would have been a more practical place to locate the junction.

However, Brigham had already foreseen what could happen if
Congress authorized the two approaching railways to meet at
Corinne (a Gentile town). Brigham lured the railroad companies
and Congress into accepting Ogden as the meeting point (tho'
the actual initial joining of the lines was at Promontory).

All the while, Brigham was securing lands allowing for rail
lines to run north, from Ogden, to Soda Springs and up to
Montana, as well as south from Ogden, through Salt Lake City
to Provo and points beyond that.

Brigham out-smarted the Corinne Gentiles and effectively got
history to bypass their hopeful town on Bear River. The line
promoted to run north from Corinne, through Malad, and thence
to Montana and Oregon was never built. Corinne died.

All of this maneuvering required Mormon gold in Congress and
offers of Mormon favors to Congressmen. One political party
was always fighting the policies of the other, rival party;
so Brigham merely had to choose sides to make political allies.

The full story probably never will be told -- but it would
make fascinating reading, to learn of Brigham's secret dealings
both before and after the 1869 joining of the railroads in Utah

UD

I noticed the statement that Joe Young, son of Brigham, "licks his wives and preaches the gospel."

What a life he must have led.

Well the advantages of a southern route through Santa Fe or El Paso were obvious. Flatter than the Platte by dodgeing around the southern end of the Rockies.

However, politics in civil war America forbade anything southern if you know what I mean.

The ATSF and SP lines were eventually built, but well after the South was prostrate.

I remember hearing of the joy and rapture that filled the bosoms of my Snowflake stake ancestors when they could take the train from Holbrook to get hitched in the Salt Palace by 1889 in lieu of the arduous wagon journey.

Ain't technology wonderful? Isn't it marvelous?

So who's messed up the Phorum?

Twittering mishies?

Deseret Danites?

Anyway I must say that the drum beat of history marching across North America is hypnotic when you has your DNA mixed up with the USA.

The Battalion's march preceded as well as enabled the Great Nauvoo skedaddle.

As soon as wagon trains became commonplace, along comes the pony express to Zion.

The horses were retired before they died by SB Morses's "what hath God wrought" telegraph wire.

Brigham Dung saw the writing on the cliff alright.

He fought the rr tooth and nail but the wily old goat always managed to make sugar out of shite.

Awesome. That was really neat to read. Hearing about Brigham's wives and the general atmosphere at the time was really fascinating!

Thanks for this thread. I always like your posts Dale. This was very interesting. It made me sad to read the description of the women at the play.


"We see the same joyless cast of countenance on every female face.
Artists, who with pen and pencil paint character -- who can read the joys and sorrows of life in the lines of the human face -- should come to Salt Lake City. They would find it one vast
studio -- every woman a subject. "Dead Affections" would be an appropriate title to their pictures. Stifled, rather. These women never have known what it is to love or to be loved. They
know only sacrifice. They are slaves -- bondage to the church and to the devil at the same time. They are ground to powder between two mighty millstone -- the upper one a religious
idea, the lower one the lewdness and lust of hard-hearted men. Heaven and hell together are brought into action, crushing out human affections and the highest and holiest instincts"

So sad.

Cynical sophistry hath ever ruled but dayum if it didn't take a singularly sinister form during America's middle ages.

I am also impressed Dale, with your CoC roots and all, at how thoroughly you have deconstructed the Brighamites.

And then was midlake:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3599/3621572820_7d238821a5_z.jpg?zz=1

This needs to be archived and put on the web somewhere permanent.


I feel I know a little more about my history now.

Ditto

This is one of the most interesting posts I have read here in the last few years. Thanks so much for posting it.

Very interesting material about Brigham and the railroad. Thanks for posting.