The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and ChildrenWaite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
History
The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and Children
Waite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
Latter Day Saint churches; Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
On Monday, the 8th of August, 1864, a Convention of Delegates from the
several Wards in the Territory assembled, in accordance with this scheme
and by direction of the "President," at the Tabernacle, in Great Salt
Lake City, to adopt measures for the establishment of the prices of
produce _upon a gold basis_.
The scheme signally failed. Temporarily, supplies for the troops were
brought across the Plains, and were purchased as they could be had. But
General Connor more than hinted that if this plan should be persisted
in, what supplies he could not purchase at a fair price with the
currency of the country, he would _take_. This had the desired effect,
and after some further spasmodic efforts, this attempt to lay an embargo
upon the traffic of the people with the Government, was abandoned.
This meeting, like every other in Utah, merely gave expression to the
preconceived views and preconcerted measures of the leaders. No steps
were taken to raise the wages of the mechanic or laborer. Brigham
denounced the mechanics bitterly, because they were opposed to raising
the price of produce, calling them a parcel of thieves and rascals. He
indulged in a tirade of abuse and vulgar language, unfit for
publication.
This may be cited as one of the instances in which he misjudged human
nature. By espousing the interests of one class against those of the
other, instead of attempting to reconcile them, he introduced a new
element of discord into his already inharmonious kingdom. Two of the
delegates at the meeting had sufficient manly dignity and moral courage
to plead the cause of the mechanic and laborer; also of the poorer class
generally; showing the amount of misery and suffering that would be
entailed upon them by the adoption of the proposed measures. To which
Young replied, in a tone of sarcasm and contempt, that even if he were
to build houses for the poor, and provide them with all the necessaries
and comforts of life, they would not be satisfied unless they had free
admission to his house and the privilege of listening to his daughters
playing on the piano.
The fact that leading Mormons were found to vindicate the people,
notwithstanding the degraded condition which such language implies, and
openly to oppose Young's measures in a public meeting, is a hopeful one,
and of deep significance.
In pursuance of the same policy of segregation of the faithful, and
preparatory to the accomplishment of his ambitious schemes, Young has
established a system of militia training and reviews, confined
exclusively to Mormons. This system he sedulously fosters and maintains,
commanding the Mormon militia as _Governor of the State of Deseret_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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