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Brigham and His Saints

About This Item

  • Title: Brigham and His Saints
  • Date: 14 September 1858
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: per.01104
  • Source: Brooklyn Daily Times, 14 September 1858: 2. Our transcription is based on a digital image of a microfilm scan of the original issue. Microfilm of original issue held at Pennsylvania State University Libraries. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the journalism, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Editorial note: This piece is unsigned, as was the case for most of Whitman's journalism. However, this editorial is part of a series of texts that deal with a coherent theme that has been identified by the Whitman Archive journalism team as likely authored by Whitman. This decision is based on a combination of historical and (auto)biographical accounts, similarity to contemporary Whitman writings, a history of scholarly attribution, extant clippings retained by Whitman, computational stylometric analysis, and, in some cases, manuscript evidence in Whitman’s hand.
  • Contributors to digital file: Kaylen Michaelis Jamie DeRousse Jason Stacy Karie Cobb Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Brigham and His Saints." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 16 July 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: per.01104.xml (TEI)
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BRIGHAM1 AND HIS SAINTS.

It seems to us that the Mormon question, instead of being definitely settled by their forced submission to the government of the United States, is in reality as far from a satisfactory solution as ever. No sect was ever yet “put down” at the point of the bayonet, and though we may, by the aid of Col. Johnston’s2 command, and at an expense of some ten or twelve millions of dollars, have put an end for the time being to their warlike bluster, yet the relief will prove, if we mistake not, merely temporary, and the problem as to what will become of them is as far from solution as ever.

If it be a fact as is stated that the arch-Prophet and his “Destroying Angels” are on their way to Mexico, a new field for discussion is opened up. We have all agreed, long ago, that that beautiful but misgoverned land is yet to be subjugated and civilized by Anglo-Saxons—can it be that the Mormons are to lead the van, to pitch their tents and sit down under their own fig trees as bona fide residents, not sojourners, not speculators who go to pocket dollars, and make the best of their way back, but as founders of a new empire, apostles of a new faith, pioneers of a new civilization! If this be their intent and their destiny they will have plenty of fighting to do. Through much tribulation they will enter this promised land. But however that may be, the Mormon question is not dead yet. Boundless possibilities loom in the future.

Notes:

1. Brigham Young (1801–1877) was the second president of the Church of Latter-day Saints in 1847. He would then lead the Mormons to Utah, where he founded Salt Lake City. [back]

2. Albert Sidney Johnston (1803–1862) was a military officer who served in many wars such as the Texas Revolution, the Mexican–American War, and the Utah War where the U.S. military were to confront Brigham Young (1801–1877) and his followers over the Utah Territory. Johnston also served in the Civil War for the Confederates, and was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. [back]

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