Mormonism Going to Pieces—The Sons of Joseph Smith Propose to Disestablish Polygamy—The Wrath of Brigham.
[From the Salt Lake Reporter.]
A few days ago we mentioned the fact that William Alexander and David Hyrum, the younger sons of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, were on their way to Salt Lake City to set up the standard of the reorganized or anti-polygamy church. A singular interest attaches to the name of David Hyrum. A few months before Joseph's death, he stated that "the man was not born who was to lead this people, but of Emma Smith should be born a son who would succeed in the presidency, after a season of disturb-ance." Joseph Smith was killed June 27, 1844, and the son, named from his father's direction David Hyrum, was born at the Mansion House, in Nauvoo, on the seventeenth of the succeeding November. This prophecy is secretly dear to thousands of Mormons who are weary of the tyranny of Brigham Young, and yet hold to their faith in Joseph Smith. A few days ago the young men reached Salt Lake City, and soon called upon Brigham Young and announced their attention to organize their church at once, asking permission to defend their faith in the Tabernacle, proposing to argue with the Brighamites from the original Mor-mon books. We nave but scant reports of the inter-view, but it is said to have been very warm. Brig-ham was very angry at their presumption and denied them the me of the Tabernacle, sending word at the same time to the Bishops to shut them out of the ward meeting-houses. The brothers, at one point of their, denied that their father ever practised polygamy, citing their mother's testimony which Brigham retorted that their mother “was a liar, and had been proven a thief," with much more of the sort. Be it remem-bered that the lady thus spoken of is the Electa Cyria or "Elect Lady of God," in Mormon theo-logy, who was the glory of their early history. Like Pope Pagan, of the "Pilgrim's Progress," Brigham doubtless gnaws his nails in vain rage that he can not, as informer times, let loose the vengeance of his Nauvoo legion upon these sectarians, and crush the rebellion in blood. If his power were now equal to his feelings we should have repeated the story of the Morrisites, when a high civil functionary of Utah led the legion in broad day to slaughter the men and women who had surrendered themselves prison-ers. But nothing more than petty persecution will be attempted at this late day, and we earnestly hope the young men will succeed in their enterprise. Of their religious principles as opposed to Brighamism we know but little, but recognize in them tolerant men, good citizens and loyal subjects of the United States.
