Another Interview With Brigham Young, Jr.—His Opinions on Various Interesting Matters—Woman Suf-frage, &c., &c.
[From the Philadelphia Post.]
Owing to the general amount of attraction and comment created and educed by our report of an interview with Brigham Young, Jr., we were led to solicit a second one, with the ultimate object of ob-taining his views upon certain matters which had escaped our attention on the first occasion. We found Mr. Young dressed in a neat clerical suit of black, and looking the very embodiment of health. Mr. Young, as his conversation showed, is a man of more than ordinary ability, has travelled a great deal, and has profited thereby; besides this, he has an easy but forcible style of delivery, which at once rivets his hearer's attention, and gives much weight to his words.
POLYGAMY.
The first question we propounded was:
“What are your views of polygamy?"
He answered. "Of course, you know I believe in polygamy; it is one of the fundamental doctrines of the Church; but to fully answer your question I would be compelled to enter into the full details of all the minutiae connected therewith. We believe in Divine inspiration—that the Almighty has at certain times made divine revelations to those of his choice. We have followed the teachings of certain men as handed down by the Almighty to us through them, and have found those teachings to lead to all that is good, just, and right. Now, the doctrine of polygamy came to us just in the same way, and since we have put our faith in the others and proved them to be right, why should we doubt this particular doctrine? It is to us as much a Divine revelation as any of the others, and if we were to doubt it we might doubt all. Take, for instance," said he, “the ten commandments, and strike out one of them; is there then any good reason why you should obey the others and not strike them out also? Just so it is with us. Polygamy is part of our faith, and as such we adhere to it."
“Yes, but what is the moral effect of it?"
“Most excellent. The system is regulated by law. The man protects the woman. The husband assumes the care of all, and he is required by law to educate his children. The proportion of schools in Utah, according to the population, is equal to that of any city in the Union, and perhaps more so, owing to the large amount of children. Again, a lewd woman is a thing unknown in Utah. We have no houses of prostitution, nor none of the evils attendant thereon. Nor can a man marry at his own whim and pleasure. He must first demonstrate his capability of providing for a wife before he takes one.
THE CONDUCT OF UNITED STATES OFFICERS.
“What is the conduct of the United States offi-cers?"
“Some treat us fairly, and some do not. The present United States District-Attorney, Hempstead, has for some time been endeavoring to bring for-ward the question of polygamy, striving to make a case in which Joseph A. Young shall be brought in. Thus far he has not succeeded very well. As a matter of course our people look upon him as an enemy, but beyond the mere expression of their opinion they do not allow themselves to be led. When the government sends us good officers, none are more highly respected; but when it sends us bad ones, of course we express our dissent.
BRIGHAM YOUNG'S SUCCESSOR.
"Who are the principal men after Brigham Young, Sr., and who would succeed him in case of his death?"
"Well, that is a difficult question to answer; the men who stand next to him are his two counsellors, George A. Smith and Daniel H. Wells, but whether they will succeed him or not, cannot now be deter-mined. That is something we never look forward to. At the time of Joseph Smith's death, it was not known who was capable of succeeding him, but a man suddenly arose who has faithfully led his peo-ple; so we believe, in the case of Brigham Young's death, a man will be provided who is fit to lead."
THE REPORTED SCHISM.
“How about the reported schism?"
“The schism mentioned in the papers a day or two ago is, in my opinion, all 'bosh.' Stenhouse is the editor of a paper, and thereby wields some little influence; but, as compared with that of Brigham Young's, it 'is but a drop in the bucket.' I know Stenhouse intimately, and I take it upon myself to deny the whole story, and denounce it as a mere fabrication."
THE RELATIVE PROPORTION OF THE SEXES.
“What is the relative proportion of the sexes—adults?"
"The females number to-day one-third more than the males; but," he added, “I do not mean that any opinion shall be predicated on this, for some men do not marry, and many others take but one wife, so that no fair estimate can be made."
“What is the proportion amongst children?"
“With these families of which I can speak, there are more females born than males, and more male children die than females."
ADMITTANCE AS A STATE.
“Do you object to admittance as a State if poly-gamy be stricken out?"
“If Uncle Samuel wishes to admit us as a State he must admit us in our entirety or not at all; we will have no exceptions."
THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.
“Do you think that the government will press the question of polygamy with you?"
“We do not believe that the government will ever press the question of polygamy. In 1850 the people might have been illiberal enough, but men are too much enlightened now-a-days."
“Where should you go to in case you were forced to leave Utah?"
"We should return to Jackson county, Missouri. I will tell you for why. In 1857, when we had the difficulty with the United States troops, we moved south as far as Provost, some fifty miles from Salt Lake City—but first let me tell you," said he, “something about that disturb-ance. One of our prominent men took the govern-ment contract to carry the mail, and called upon some of our capitalists to aid him therein. Belays of horses had to be established about every ten miles, and, of course, buildings had to be provided and men to take care of them. When the United States troops first advanced, they seized these men, placed them in irons and burned the buildings. When the news reached us, we of course supposed they intended to treat us the same way, and therefore the whole of us rose en masse. We removed all our valuables and filled our houses and public buildings with all the combustible materials we could find, so that in twenty minutes we could have left the place in ashes. But we were spared this. Well, when we turned back from Pro-vost to reoccupy Salt Lake, we entered upon the back track, which is to eventually bring us to Jack-son County, Missouri.
THE NEW JERUSALEM.
“And mark my words, we will reach it if it takes us forty years, as it did the Israelities before they entered Canaan. Our children are daily taught to look upon the place as their Zion, where we are to build the temple of the New Jerusalem, the corner-stone of which was laid in 1834 by Joseph Smith. And, remember, these children are continually in-creasing, and soon will number tens of thousands. Jackson was revealed to us as the place, and there we intend to build the city and temple. Our eyes have ever been fixed upon the place as our Zion. I, from the early age of four years, when I was driven out with my people, have always kept my eyes on it."
“But," said we, “what right have you there?"
“The best of rights—the ownership of the land which we bought and paid for, giving the govern-ment every cent they asked for it. Why, sir, my father holds the deeds of nearly every inch of ground in Independence, Missouri."
“When did you purchase the land?"
“It was purchased of General Jackson, and oc-cupied and improved by us until we were driven out by the militia of Missouri."
THE HEALTH OF THE RISING GENERATION.
"Are the children born in Utah generally healthy?"
"Yes, sir."
"How do they compare with those in the States?"
“Very favorably; they are fine-looking, well de-veloped, physically and mentally, and are as healthy as any I have ever met with either in the United States or elsewhere."
HIS OPINION OF GENERAL GRANT.
“Well," said we, “what do you think of Presi-dent Grant?"
“Undoubtedly Grant has great abilities as a com-mander in the field, but his political abilities, we think, consist simply in knowing how to hold his tongue."
MORE ABOUT UTAH.
“How old is your father?"
“Sixty-nine years."
“Is Salt Lake destined to be a great manufactur-ing city?"
“It is, decidedly, destined to be a great manu-facturing city; Utah is a great country for raising sheep."
“Have you either gas or water-works?"
"No, sir; neither as yet. Our water is furnished by mountain streams and wells."
"Have there been any mineral developments?"
“Yes, there is gold and silver and iron-ore, and we hope to find coal. We are now establishing a foundry, and have already made some excellent iron. I have also seen as fine specimens of quartz picked up in Utah as ever were found in Colifornia."
“How do you observe the Sabbath?"
“The same as you do; by resting from all work, attending church, and partaking of the sacra-ment."
“Have you any government bonds in Utah?"
“Yes, there are some held there. When I was at Washington, some time ago, I drew the interest on them for several parties."
“Could you exist without intercourse with out-siders?"
“We could, but it would deprive us of many comforts; in ten years more, however, we will be self-sustaining; even now it is but a matter of clothing."
“Do you favor the greenback system?"
“Yes, sir! We would far rather have paper money than gold or silver. Why, it used to be an intolerable nuisance to us to carry our tub-loads of gold with us when we came eastward to make pur-chases."
“Are there many adult Americans among you?"
“About one-half of our people are American born?"
“Are you ever troubled with missionaries?"
“We have a few such friends that are most anx-ious for our eternal welfare, but they give us up as hopeless. Some of this class have visited myself since I have been in the city."
“How do the Western people look upon you?"
“Very favorably, so far as I can judge. The peo-ple of California, especially the business men, are well disposed toward us, and respect us highly. No people stand higher with them than we do. In Chicago and New York our credit cannot be im-peached."
“What Christian church nearest approaches yours in belief."
“Any church that believes in the Bible from Genesis to the Revelations, and which accepts the gospel as preached by Matthew and Mark. By this I mean a church that accepts the Bible just as it was written by those inspired of the Lord, not that one which construes it so as to suit its own particular creed."
“Is a proselyte compelled to make a formal re-nouncement of his previous faith?"
“No, sir. Everything that is in the Scriptures he retains. That is essential. Of course, if he pos-sesses any peculiar dogmas, they must be dropped."
“Are you a vindictive people?"
“No, sir. All this talk you hear about the ven-geance of our people is ‘bosh,' and it is refuted by the very fact that our most deadly enemies roam our streets with impunity, and are safer therein than is a man in the streets of your city after nightfall."
“How many hours constitute a day's work with you?"
“Well, the eight-hour system is pretty generally practiced. We have always found that a man will do more work in eight hours than he will in ten, for the reason that he keeps fresh during the eight hours, whilst after that he wearies and looks around for amusement."
THE QUAKER INDIAN POLICY.
“What do you think of the Quaker Indian policy?"
“I think it a very good one, and we look upon it as the very best means that could be adopted to bring peace to the Western settlers; it is conducive of much good."
“Will the Indians interfere with the Pacific Rail-road?"
“I think they will, unless the Quakers succeed beyond expectation, and even then I don't think that the day of peace will have arrived, because there are certain bands of Indians that will always be hostile, no matter what is done for them. At present, however, the Pacific Railroad has more to fear from snow than the Indians."
“Have they ever troubled you?"
“Oh, yes, indeed; but we have always considered it cheaper to feed them than to fight them. We would rather any time give them one hundred head of fine fat cattle than lose the life of a single man, woman, or child; and this is the policy we have pursued from the beginning. Some years ago," said he, "a party of emigrants, in crossing the plains, lost a couple of horses, and at once suspected the Indians of having stolen them. As a piece of malice they sprinkled the meat of an ox that had died through the night with strychnine. After their departure a band of Indians found the meat and ate of it; the result was that nearly all that did so died; the remainder of the tribe then took up the trail, and gaining fresh accessions by the way, came up with the emigrants at Mountain Meadow, where in three days they killed 130 of the party. Some of our people, noticing that something was wrong, followed after, and arrived in time only to save the remainder of the train, some sixteen women and children. That is the history of the 'Mountain Meadow Massacre,' for which we have always re-ceived the blame. We have frequently rendered trains assistance, for the Indians, in a measure, re-spect us, and our words with them have weight."
“Have not the Indians been badly treated?"
“They have been badly treated by the officers of the government, but I believe that the government provides liberally for them; it is the officers who deal unjustly."
HIS OPINION OF PERE HYACINTHE.
“What is your opinion of Pere Hyacinthe?"
"Well, I think that he is too liberal-minded for the Catholics, and that is what troubles them."
WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE.
“What do you think of woman's suffrage?"
“Why, I think it is perfectly right and proper. Our women always vote, and the thing works splen-didly; we find that they are more careful of the country's honor than the men are, and evince better judgment in their choice."
HIS OPINION OF CONGRESS.
Our next question was, “What do you think of Congress?"
“Well," said he, "that's a tough question. In Congress there are some good men, and there is also a set of 'scalawags.' I must confess, though, that I never saw a more dissipated set of men anywhere than I saw there a year or two ago."
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.
“Do the European governments interfere with your missionaries?"
“Yes, some. In Prance, Prussia, Bavaria, Aus-tria, and different parts of Germany, they are not permitted to preach. In England, Sweden, and Denmark the governments protect them. This is now also the case in Norway."
