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Show BRIGHAM YOUNG. I Interview With an Eastern Corresponded. What President Young Has to Say About the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Fromtha Now Y. rk Ho raid, Uny G. Cedar City, April 30, 1876. Having arrived at Salt Lice, od tho 12ih inot., a tslegrain from Brigliara Young laying, "ll you come quick you will find me at St. Georg," I started early lbs next morning on the journey leading in that direction, across the vast deeerta, over the wintry win-try divides and through canons ol Southern Utah. A second dupatch apprised me on th way that the pra.ident would leave St. (Jeorge for tbe north before I could posiibly arrive ther. Odar city, the remote little Mormon settlement from which this letter is written, was appointed as the place of meeting. Here, at the fool of an enormous mountain, and look ing westward across a desolate plam toward me scene ol me Mountain Moun-tain Meadows massacre and John D. Lee's execution, X was welcomed this morning at the home of the hospitable Mormon bishop, Henry Loot. Late in the afternoon President Presi-dent Brig ha m Young and his par!y, in a train of five carriages drawn by four mules or horses each, also drew up at the bishop's home. As evening even-ing descended lights shot through the windows from the broad fireplaces within, and a supper was spread in the dioiug room amid soundu of jollity and cheer. A. MORMON GATHERING, Shortly before 8 o'clock, having returned re-turned from a long walk, I entered the house and was introduced to John W. Yonng, who prepared the wy for my audience with bis father, the president. Crossing the nail, he led me into the Urge or grand room, beaming witb light from logs el pine and cedar, and containing a small and distinguished distin-guished company. Near the walls aat or stood several Mormon elders of this and neighboring districts. In root or mem two or tnree otauopa were seated. Grouped around the ceutre table were several of tbe most elevated dignitaries among the Latter-day prienthood. John W. Young, first councillor of the president, took a seat witb his back to tbe fire, looking look-ing as handsome, as wise and amiable amia-ble as be is really known to be. Brigham Young, jr., was not present, being confined to his bed by illness. To tbe right of Johu W. Young sat Daniel H. Wells, vice-president, hia great head, iron gray hair and beard and resolute features making a picture Of themselves. Wells was one of the earliest Mormon emigrants across the plains from Nauveo, and has sinee been among the strongest defenders of the Latter-day faith. He commanded the Mormon army which checked tbe advance of Johnson's troops, 1S67-8. Opposite Wells lounged in his overcoat, over-coat, and at his accustomed ease George Q. Cannon, fint apostle of the church and delegate of the territory terri-tory to Washington. His (ace glowed with a benevolent expression and his r manner showed all mat politeness wbi'jh is natural to him. In tbe furthest corner and in shadow, however, how-ever, sat tbe most commanding command-ing person in the room. Brigham Ynung never looked more thoroughly like the patriarch that his people love to call him than he did on this occa-siun. occa-siun. His (all, broad form was enveloped en-veloped from shoulders to feet in a r e or cape of dark cloth generously edged with lur, a glimpse of the red lining of which shewed from a corner turned up over his shoe. He wore a hat of peculiar shape, yet not unbecoming unbe-coming to bis looks or to denote bii dignity. Under his pale and pleasant fa :e was revealed a spotless cravat, and tbe huge collar of silver fox which flared away from hi throat and back behind his head set oft his features finely. My reception m the " grand room" was graceful and hearty, and after I had been introduced as "Mr. ," who represents the New York Herald, I was placed in the vacant eeit at tbe centre table. The following convention then took place, lasting without intermission intermis-sion nearly three and a half hours. I opened it by describing as accurately as I could trie excitement in the east and west, caused by recent developments develop-ments in regard to the Mountain Meadows massacre, and the strong disposition evinced in some quarters to fix the responsibility on President Young. I instanced (specially Lee's testimony respecting Geo. A. Smith, one of the twelve apostles at that time, whom Lee ssserts went forward ahead of the Arkansas emigrant company, preaching against them and stirring up the feelings of the people against them until the time was ripe lor their destruction. Brigham Young George A. Smith visited this whole southern region regularly, re-gularly, and held meetings, as we are doing now. In fact, he was the founder of Parowan tbe first settlement settle-ment to the north on bis way home northward. This was the year of the massacre. They met the company of the Arkansas emigrants not far from Fillmore. It was at Meadow creek, I believe. Some ol the emigrant emi-grant company came up to bim and passed some remarks, inquiring about the roads, etc. Brother George A. Smith gave them all the desired information. in-formation. Some of the catile be longing to the company died, which they poisoned, and lrom the effects of the poisoned meat some of the lu-v lu-v . dians who found and consumed the carcasses, died. These carcasses also poisoned some springs. This raided the wrath of the Indians. Here President Young turned to Daniel H. Welts, his second councillor, council-lor, saying: "Brother Wells, do you remember if Brother George A. was down here at that time for anything special ?" Daniel H. Wells No, sir, he was not. He was preaching in the settlements settle-ments between here and Salt Lake, as we usually do. He had part ef his family living in Parowan, having huilt a residence there, and his being here was only one of several visits. Brigham Young Brother George A. Smith's testimony in regard to this it published to the world, and I believe be-lieve it to be true. It can be found among Howard's reports. George A. Smith knew no more about that com pany or about their heijffcintcrferetl with than you did in New York. Had he possessed that knowledge I would certainly have heard of it, for he would have told me of it. He knew nothing about the company Until he in. t them on his return north, near Fillmore. There was at thai time do telegraph line running , down here; no mails were carried to i r Utah. The United States governmei hud stopped the mails, and we had i mails running from settlement to su tlemeut as we have now. Correspondent The conviction settled in the east, especially by tl testimony on the Lee trial, that thei was Borne powerful direction of tl part taken by the whites ia the mai nacre. Thisconviction is streiigtheut by the statements in Judge Grade baugh's speech. Brigham Young There is no tloul that the aflair was directed by Job D. Lee, and he evidently was a whil man. Correspondent It appears incredi ble to outsiders that Lee would hav undertaken a task like that on hts ow responsibility; the responsibility ai laches, in their opiniou, to the Mm mon chruch, eveu to its highest ind vidual officers. Brigham Yoang My disposition i such that had I known any lb in about it I would have gone to th.i camp and fought the ludians am white men who took uart in the nr pelratiou of the massacre to tbe death rather than such a deed should bav been committed. J. W. Young John D. Lee, io h'n Lstimony, says he informed Presideu Young of the afluir when he visitei Suit Lake city. I happened to h present when he came in father1! office, and I was present during th interview. He commenced to relau the circumstances of the Indians kill' ing the emigrants, but did not inli mate a single word about the whitei taking part in tbe killing. When he commenced to speak of the mannei of tbe deed father stopped him, saying, say-ing, that tbe rumor which had al ready reached him was so horrifying that be couid not bear to hear a recital re-cital of it. Brigham Young I never knew the real facts of this aflair until within the If it few years. I myself proposed to Governor Curamings, who came here soon after the massacre, to render ren-der him and Judge Cradelbaugh every assistance in hunting up the perpetrators and bringing them to justice, and if Mr. Cradlebaugh knows anything about this aflair he must know that to be true. That proposition proposi-tion was made in the spring of 1S5S. Daniel H. Wells There are plenty of witnesses to that, for I heard bim Correspondent (to Brigham Young) What of your own experience ad governor and ex officio Indian agent at the time? Brigham Young Governor Cum-miugs Cum-miugs took it away from me. Tbis point too was difficult to reach from Salt Lake, and besides, according to the rumors that reached us, tte people peo-ple thought themselves that they would do well if they escaped the vengeance of the United Stales troops. The burden of these rumors was that the MorniOD were to be massacred. Correspondent To what do you ascribe the massacre? Brigham Young If you were to inquire of the people who live here abouts, ana lived in the country at tiiat time, you would find, if it should be accordmg to what I have heard, that some of this Arkansas company boasted that they had had the promise from the United States that the Mormons Mor-mons were to be used up by the troops, and that they had boasted, too, of having helped to kill Hiram and Joaepa Smith and the Mormons at Missouri, and that they never meant to leave the territory uutil similar scenes were enacted here. This, if true, may have embittered the feelings of those who took part io the massacre, and the probabilities are that Lee and hia confreres took advantage ad-vantage of theio facts and the disturbed dis-turbed Btate ol the country to accomplish accom-plish their deBires for plunder, which under other ch-cu instances would not have been gratified. Correspondent Have you an opinion opin-ion ol Klingenstnilh's testimony ? Brigham Young I do not kuow anything about it. Correspondent How was it that Lee was at last, and not at first, convicted con-victed by a Mormon jury ? Brigham Young The supposition is that there was not enough evidence against him at the first, that there was sufficient evidence against him at the last trial, and that the people of Utah could not obtain justice with any other jury. Correspondent Considering that your people believe they get their inspiration through you, do they not consider themselves responsible to you for their acts ? What excuses them for crime ? Brigham loung What causes men to steal or commit any sin ? Do I prompt them ? No! but the devil and his agents do. All evil doing is contrary to our covenants and obligations obliga-tions lo God and to one another as members of tbe church. Correspondent Do you believe in blood atonement ? Brigham Young I do, and I believe be-lieve that Lee has not half atoned for hia great crime. The Savior died for all the sins of the world by shedding his blood, and then I believe that be who sheds the blood of man wilfully, by man shall bis blood be shed. In other words, capital punishment for offiences deserving death, according to the laws of the land. And we believe be-lieve the execution should be done by tbe shedding of blood instead of by hanging, il the murderers of Joseph Smith were to come to me now, giving giv-ing themselves up, I would not feel justified in taking their lives, hut I would feel justified in having them taken to Illinois and there triod for murder. Correspondent Recurring to the Mountain Meadows massacre, you are satiefied that Lee could not have received any previous intimation from the north as to what might be doue in the case of the Arkansas company who were coming down from Salt Lake? Brigham Young None that I have any knowledge of, and certainly none from me. Correspondent You did not give any direction whatever as to the disposition dis-position ot the emigrants' elects ? Brigham Young I kuew no more about them than you, nor do I to day. I have heard that they have been made use of, which I suppose is cotrect. Klingensmith, who was a Mormon and an active bishop, shared in the spoil, and because he held such a position it is believed that the church used it. Correspondent Was he in the church? Brigham Young No, he was only a poor, miserable sioner. Correspondent In this southern country do the bishops exercise the functions of justices ol the peace? Brigham Young I do not know that any of them do; if any do it is not because they are bishops, but because be-cause they are elected justices according accord-ing to tho laws ol the land. Correspondent The Mountain Meadows massacre was so unique that many curioua questions are it asked in regard to it for instance, 0 why were the Indiaus angry against the Arkansas emigrants only? Other emigrant parties ware paaning through in the country and were not molei-twtl? e Brigham Young As I understand e it, for poisoning thewatorand poison-1 B ing dehd cattle, which some of the i. ludians afterwards ate ul and dud. I J would, however, refer you to the settlers of Crow and Meadow creeks, who lived there at the time. ,t Correspondent Is it true that Geo. 1 A. Smith advised the people not to e sell their grain ? uuuuiu iouni; a imu ueei scarce ot breadstuff, and nature e ot his counsel was not to une theii grain for feeding animals, neither U sell it to emigrants for that purpose; . but no such word was ever uttered by . him not to sell it lor breadstuff. We have always made a practice of selling s wheat and flour to the emigrants ever wince we came here. And I will say t that I am at the defiance of the 1 world to prove that the heads of the church had anything to do with the Mountain MeadowB massacre. , Correspondent With regard to Haight and Higboe. Havo you any-i any-i thing to say as to their reasons for I tvrling out of the country ? I Brigham Young No, Bir. I pre-. pre-. Mime, however, they are trying to evade the law. . Correspondent You do not con-. con-. aider yourself in the least degree responsible res-ponsible for them ? Brigham Young No, sir; not any more than Mr. Beecher or any man of your city is. Correspondent It is understood at the east that the Mormon church is a structure far more closely cemented than this would imply an exclusive organization, standing in the midst of the continent, aud governed from the head downward by a system which renders its leaders peculiarly responsible responsi-ble for the people over whom they preside. Brigham Young If tho people over whom I preside do as I tell them to do thero never would be such occurrences. oc-currences. But if a member of our church lies, cheats, steals or kills his neighbor Brigham Young iB not re sponsible for his evil acta any more than, if a Catholic were to kill, the Pope of Rome would bo responsible for his crime. I m responsible on) fnr the doctrines I teach; hut I caunoi make people do right unless the) choose to. I am responsible for m man's nets save my own. Young Person (in shadow) Then under no circumstances doea the power of the president of the Church of the Latter dny Saints extend so far that men's lives are at its mercy? For example, were you to day to say, "Lttsuch a perou be killed," would the wish be in any instance complied with? Brigham Young If I were to say, "Kill this or that man," I ruyseli would be a murderer; or to say, "Take such a person's money," I would be a highwayman. Correspondent Yet, is it possible that Buch a thing could be? Brigham Young It never has been tried. Correspondent I want to find out what ia the power ot the Mormon church. Brigham Young The church haB do power to do wrong with impunity any more than any single individual. Correspondent Yet we know, do we Dot, Mr. President, that such power has been exercised in the world's history? his-tory? Brigham Young You ask a question ques-tion that does not apply to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Daniel H. Wells Judge Brocchus once said that if Brigham Young ''had crooked hia finger," etc., he (the judge) would have been torn to atoms; but all there was to that wa, President Young did not crook his fincer. Correspondent (to Brigham Young) What of the allfged order of Dan ites? Brigham Young That is all folly. Correspondent Then, as to the extent of the temporal power of the church ? Brigham Youug It extends only as far as membership is concerned. I may, howover, advise a man how to buiid or improve his garden, or field, and if he chooses to be may either receive it or reject it without involving involv-ing his fellowship. Correspondent Does not the temporal tem-poral government of the church, in extreme cases, assume the functions of courts 7 brigham Young We have what we call bishops' courts, which amount to relerees in ordinary cases of business, busi-ness, and in cases of disagreement between members or immoral con- j duct. From these courts cases may 1 be appealed to our High Council, , which consists of a president, two councilors and twelve members. Their power extends no further than membership in the church is concerned. con-cerned. Correspondent How far does the authority of the church go in dealing with cases of apostacy ? Brigham Young We have nothing to do with them; we let them seriously seri-ously alone. They say the church authorities iujnro them. They lie. We have no dealings at all with such men, for their acta prove their un-worlhinesa un-worlhinesa of membership in our church. Correspondent How do you pio-tect pio-tect your faith from outside influences hfw do you keep it isolated? Brigham Young We are diflerent from all other Christian sects. We I are believers iu the Bible, as well as all the revelations the Lord haa given to the cniidren ol men, as contained in tho Old and New Tcstiment, Book of Mormon and Book of Doctrine anJ Covenants, and also what he reveals through hia authorized servants when speaking or preaching under the influence in-fluence of the Holy Ghost. When a man speak a by that spirit it is revelation, revela-tion, and if his hearers are possessed of the Bfime they are able to judge of the correctness of what he says. Job says, "Them is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giving him understanding." This is what 1 refer to. The object of my laboni among tbe people is to get them the truth, and the whole truth, as it his been revealed. And they must live so that this good spirit can bear witness wit-ness to them. Were it otherwise 1 might deceive them; but as long as they have tbis spirit no man csu deceive de-ceive them. Correspondent You, like the old prophets, receive direct revelation from God? Brigham Young Yes; and not only me, but my biethren also. Correspondent Does that extend to all the church without reserve or rank? Brigham Young Yes; and it is just aa necessary for the mother to possess this spirit in training and rearing her children as for any one else. Correspondent It is not absolutely nooessry, then, that each person receive re-ceive revelation through you? Brigham Young Oh, no; through the spirit of Christ, the Holy Ghost; but to dictate the church is my part of it. Correspondent Aod your authority to dictate is givun directly by heavenly : inspiration? Brigham Youug Yts. I can relate re-late a little oircumstance which explains ex-plains that and whieh may be interesting inter-esting to you. When I, with others of the twelve, was sent to England on a mission in the year lS-iU, I fre- .p.vuv.j -ci ut,Dt.tiu Miim IIUTI TTO should do this and thai? Said he: "Brother Brieham, I waut you to understand un-derstand the doctrine ns it iB. When you reach England the Lord will teach you what to do, just aa he toaches me how to act here." This I found to be verily true. Brother Hebcr C. Kimball and I started on that mission in poor health, without money and without clothes. My family, fam-ily, too, were sick aud but poorly of)', we having been driven from our linuses in Missouri. We started from Terre Haute and traveled to Ohio; every placo we stopped I found money in my trunk, and our expenses only amounted to $S(j, and, as I live, I had no more $13.50 when I started. I have one gratification when I tell people that anything is true, they know it is true just as well as I do. The prophet, whose massive figure occasionally swerved and trembled in I its seat in the shadowy corner I have spoken of, lifted his face and both hia hands with this last utterance, making mak-ing an impressive and reverent gesture. ges-ture. Correspondent If all members ol lllfi Mnrmnn M.nrr.l-, a ra Hin a anil nnrarl with divine vision, how is it possible that any number of Mormons could have brought themselves to the commission com-mission of such a crime as the Mountain Moun-tain Meadow massacre, if they did not find an excuse for doing so in their own faith, or if they did not believe be-lieve it would be approved by the prophet? pro-phet? Brigham Young Because the men who did it were wicked. Correspondent What defect is there in the organization of your church that it allowed the Bernetra- ; tionof that deed to go without instant punishment? ; Brigham Young That was a mat ) ter tint pertained to the law of the land. That alone indicts punishment. punish-ment. Tn ere is no delect in the organization of the church the defect de-fect was in those who took part in the massacre. The laws of the land are good, hut still men do not always keep them. The Savior says that "the wheat and the tares will grow together until the harvest." II we had none but good men among us such sad experiences would never happen, but because we have Borne wicked men Bbould we be blamed for their actions? Correspondent Were not Bomeof the men who figured in the massacre chiefs in your church? Brigham Young Lee was a farmer among the Indians, but held no presiding pre-siding office. P. K. Smith, however, was an acting bishop. In regard to the participation of the Indians in tbis affair, the following conversation took place: President Young When I was at St. George General C. C. Rich, of Bear Lake, told me that he met part of this company in Salt Lake city; he had just come in from California, having traveled this southern route. And talking with me he told me that he advised them to go north, and he believed they went as far north as Beiver river. They returned, saying they would take the southern nnd. Tnoy laid idle over six weeks, when they should havB been traveling, and when they moved they moved Blowly; and it ws believe !, for thoy Baid it themselves, that they were waiting for the arrival of the army. It was very noticeable thattheydid not hurry along like other emigrants. Daniel H. Wells And that company, com-pany, remember, was not in the territory ter-ritory when George A. Smith left Salt Lake to make bis southern tour. How, then, could he, as has been said, kill the people by arousing a malicious feeling against the emigrantssaying emi-grantssaying they had poisoned springs, etc. at a time when the emigrants were hundreds of miles away, when he had not seeu any of them, and no one knew any of their names, and when the emigrants themselves had not yet determined upon their route through Utah? Par-tics Par-tics traveling to California either take the northern route, by way ot Bear river, or the southern route, which they took. Aa for the advice about not selling grain, that was founded on a principle having no particular reference to individuals or classes. When he went back lo the city Brother George A. Smith met these emigrants at Meadow Creek, as the president has stated. They were afraid of the Indians, and they came to him asking if he was not afraid of Indians, and he answered no, and then thfy turned out their horses too at Meadow Creek. He was informed o( the conduct of these emigrants in Utah also; (hat one Indian had died from the effects of eating poisoned meut, and that they had lied one Indian In-dian to a wagon, kept him there some time and whipped him, which made them mad. if this be true, and I have do reason to doubt it, what could we do about it? We had all we could do ourselves to keep ptace with the Indians at that time, iu 1S56 and 1Sj7. Our crops failed and from that time more or less unlil now have the people been counselled to care for their grain, and not dispose of it unless un-less in case necessity. Brigham Young The thousands of emigrants that have passed through here can teetify that wo have always sold food to them, even in times of over-scarcity. Aud although I have been offered $1 a pound for flour, I have never taken from them more than the ordinary price. Daniel H. Wells The truth about this Mountain Meadows mnsnacre, Bir, is that it was the result of a combination com-bination of circumstances such as will probably never exist again in any country. Your people at the east cannot understand it in all its aspects, though thiy may be able to uuder-staud uuder-staud some of them. Even the people west of us who occupy a country similar to our own have blinded themselves in a great degree to everything which would give them an accurate view of the affair. Our previous history, the condition of our people and their crops at the time, our relations with tho Indians and tho extraordinary news and rumors which accomoanied the simultaneous alvanceon Utah of Harney's United States army and the Arkansas emigrants emi-grants these things ought to be looked at carefully and examined before be-fore a great people are censured end a groat church is prejudged according to the purjury of a few wicked members. mem-bers. The previous exoduses of our people had taught them what a threat from the United States govern-1 govern-1 m en t to drive them from any ground they had chosen might lead lo. They had been ex polled from Missouri and Illinois by thousands and from other states by hundreds within the recollection of the majority of adults then living, ana! forced to travel aeross the American Ameri-can desert under circumstances and against obstacles which would certainly have subdued the courage of communities whose members are not upheld by a religious faith or fanaticism," superior selfishneis or pride. Every one of those wagon trains and handcart trains and mule pack trains which brought the early Mormons and the later away up and over the Rocky Mountains to tbe Pacific -lope brought those and only those who were anxious to escape from the dangers and unhappiness they had endured in the east and to find on tho whole continent of America that solitary place for settlement which was never likely to be invaded by other peoples, while the surrounding surround-ing and fairer portions offered so many advrntagee to agriculture, mining and other pioneer pursuits. We came here, in fact, because we be lieved nobody else would waut to come nere. We were willing to go through weeks, mouths and years of privatiou and self-denial such as I honestly believe were never endured by a Christian community. But now we had made the desert to blosiom; established ourselves, in fact. Our possessions were surveyed, known and understood to us. We had numerous nu-merous settlements, thriving towns and villages, cities, eveu. Though Dm olimlf hail nn.i.eH no tn-.r.rn disaster we were proud of our increase and of our improvement. At such a juncture we had heard news o Harney's advance upon us; thai unauthorized advance which, as you know, wan euhsuquently repudiated by tbe United States government. After the many years since we left the states mutual struggles, sufferings, helplulness, extending fhrough the period of planting and forming Utah itself, all the settlements in the territory terri-tory had been informed that the United States army was again advanc ing io urive mem out, oi h into some other place, perhaps to destroy them altogether. Many eastern gentleman will recollect the fury that flamed when that news entered Utah. Our folks wer desperate. It seemed they had nowhere to turn; every one prepared pre-pared to resist; there was not a man, woman or child who was not for resistance. re-sistance. Now, when it was whispered, whis-pered, and it soon began not only to be whisperad, but asserted, that these Arkansas emigrants were leagued with the soldiers, and that some of them had been engaged in the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, at Nauvoo, the air might have seemod almost aB heavy over Lower as it certainly was over Northern Utah. Everybody remembers how tbe pnople behaved when ordered out by President Young to prevent Johnston John-ston from entering the territory, at what might have seemed to another man a most dismal moment of his career. The president issued an order which, while it obliged us to burn forage in advance, set fire to the grass at night, carry ofl' animals and do various other things to hold back the enemy, absolutely forbade a single man to shed a drop of blood. I remember when a young officer of command was captured by one of jtiui uuupa a naiivi luunu on nim contained an order to him, eignwd by me, on the back of which was the usual inscription, "Shed no blood." That order was taken first to Johnston, John-ston, and was afterward taken to Washington and brought out in .the famous debate of the next session. When the Arkansas emigrant company com-pany passed through Utah, and were in many parts forgotten almost as soon as reported, there seems no doubt that much cf the disgusting and blasphemous braggadocia with which many of the men were charged must have been very aggravating at the time. This impression I receive, of course, from what I heard long years alter. There may have been some settlement scuQloa on the route profanity and ribaldry arrayed agaiuBt each other, perhaps; and the emigrant's greater height and strength warranted until in almost any kind of domineering. But I don't believe that even a man like Lee old, crafty, experienced and sympathetic as he was could have got together a force of Mormons in all Ulan to do deliberately, deliber-ately, knowing that they went to do it, the deed that John D. Lee, per- haps a crony or two and a lot of dupes and thieves and savages under I his command are actually proven to havedone in that dark valley. General Wells, having epekan for some ten minutes as vehemently and forcibly, some one said, as he ever did in his lite, your correspondent found by a nod from President Young that ho was at liberty to proceed. pro-ceed. Correspondent Do foreigners generally gen-erally admire your system of organization? organi-zation? Brigham Young Yos; only excepting ex-cepting their surprise that each man is responsible for his own acts. A gentleman from Pennsylvauia who greatly admired our organization, when he was about to leave asked me if I believed the Mormons were perfect. per-fect. The question was so absured that I had to laugh. If we were perfect we could not remain here on the earth; while we ourselves are imperfect imper-fect the doctrines we teach are perfect. per-fect. Correspondent Could the church ever have accepted from John D. Lee the explanation that he muni e red the emigrants at Mountain Meadows to shed their blood for tho remission of their sin?. Brigham Young No; that expresses ex-presses the same old lolly of our enemies. ene-mies. Many men do wrong, and afterward repent and become, perhaps, per-haps, even better men than they were before. Peter did wrong in denying the Savior, but still ho repented and became a great and good man. Any body may lean over church walh after thorough repentance and, forsaking for-saking their sins, may return to membership. Correspondent After the faceB I havo seen and the hospitality I have experienced in Utah, Mr. President, I don't thiuk I need inquire particularly particu-larly at this late hour about your present system of polygamy. Brigham Young I do not believe in polygamy the riefinition of which means a plurality of wives and husbands; hus-bands; but I do believe in p&lvgenny, which means a plurality of wivs. Correspondent What is there to warrant the saying that the system of polygamy has a tendency to check the growth of intelligence? Brigham Young The most satisfactory satis-factory proof that such a aaying iB untrue would be to attend either day or Sunday schools. Look at one practical effect of it s?e how it assists child-bearing women. A woman in child-bearing should not cohabit with her husband, and neither should she exhaust her strength iu any other way. This ortler of marriage, when carried out according to its laws, is the very highest order of marriage. Scientific : men who have visited us say that if wo adhere faithfully to our order of marriage there can be no question that we can have the finest race of people ou the earth. We believe, too. in all learninir to work aud beine industrious, aud that every man nnd woman should have the opportunity of developing themselves mentally as well as well as physically. In the present condition of the world this privilege is only accorded to a few. Correspondent Do you know anything any-thing about the origin of wh;it is called the Spulding story, which is said to be iu reality the origin of tho book of Mormon? Brigham Young I will tell you all I do know about it, Joseph Smith and I were born iu the same state, aud though unacquainted we lived nearo-ich other. And years before I was a "Mormon" I read in the newspaper, before puraecution arose against him, that a young man by the name of Joseph Smith, living near Palmyra, had it revealed to him by an angel where there waa & record concealed of the aborigines of our country. And who knows (it said) but what the Indians will have a bible as well as the Jews in Palestine. This was in 1819, long befora the Spanning Spann-ing story arose, which has often been proven false, and eleven years belore the church was organized. I vAJiiwapniiuam, j.ne peopie or the i east are anxious to knew something of the agreement with the women in f polygamy. Brigham Young It is none of their business, no more than it is our business to inquire of them what agreement they make. I have been a protector , of virtue all the days of my life. Correspondent How could the i women cousent iu their hearts to share the same husbands? Brigham Young We believe that the plural order of marriage is true, and the truth is just as auplicable for ! woman as man. I dare say there are men to-day who wish they had another an-other wife: and thera nro si nolo women who wish they were married to such and such a man. This is without any regard to divinity. Aud if the law of the land did not prevent men from marrying more than one wife thero would not be to-day bo many " thousand old maids in the state of Massachusetts. Plural marriage mar-riage appeals lo our noblest feelings because we regard it as a divine principle. It is not for any carnal gratification; if it were we need not go to the expense of keeping and educating several families, for we might adopt the cheaper and more popular way. It is the highest state of social moral society, and will sooner or later be recognized as such, |